“Now, as time went on, the Emperor became more and more infatuated with the beautiful Tamamo No Mae. He began to spend more and more time with her, and she became the darling of the court.”

Many puppets come and go, gracefully moving along the stage, depicting the Emperor conducting the affairs of state, with Tamamo No Mae kneeling next to him. The accompanying music is happy and light, but soon begins to take a more somber turn.

The narrator’s voice now sounds heavy, each word coming from his lips falling like a stone into a deep well. “But soon,” he says, “a pall of darkness descended over the kingdom. The Emperor began to grow weaker and weaker, and all his ministers were at a loss to explain his illness. After an examination, his personal physician declared that the sickness was caused by a malevolent influence, and thus, no medicine would be effective against it. Wringing their hands in despair, the ministers sent for the famous astrologer, Abe No Yasunari. They asked him to determine the Emperor’s horoscope and after he had done so, Abe No Yasunari fell silent and did not want to tell what he had seen. Though pressed from all sides, he would not reveal his discovery, for he knew the Emperor would not like his words and might punish him severely. Finally, after much pleading and perhaps a few threats as well, Yasunari revealed the secret.