Prelude



     The time was the 17th century.  The place, feudal Japan.  There was a form of entertainmentforming.  It was a new revolution in Japan, entertainment in the form of "theater."  The gaijin influence is obvious, but the Japanese have reformed it.  There was no talking, only music.  The actors performed martial arts to tell a wordless story.  Wearing make up and weapons, the actorswere very skilled.
     In this new entertainment, there were two different styles and schools.  One was more formal and for the royal class, called Noh.  The other was less formal and more for the lower class, called Kabuki.
     The Noh were not just entertainers, but protectors of the Shogun.  The Kabuki were also
protectors, but protectors of the people.  Vigilantes who stood for justice.
     In the year 1750, an evil shogun came into power, and wanted to get rid of the vigilantes.  He sent out ninjas and spies and, through them, found out the identities of the Kabukis.  Being bitter enemies, the Noh went out and fought the Kabuki.  Many Kabuki were killed.  The school was destroyed and their homes burned.  The Noh established a new school, a Kabuki school to be
controlled by the Noh.
     Those Kabuki soheis who survived became monks and practiced their art in secret.  For two
centuries the Kabuki became legends with their exploits and adventures with the Noh not even aware.  Which brings us to the present day . . .



     Toshiro Obata is a modern day Kabuki sohei.  No longer performing in the public, he only
practices his vigilante work.  Wearing the traditional weapons and clothes, he fights crime in a city where the law is a minority.  His father was a sohei, and his mother was a gaijin with a Japanese soul.  Toshiro was truly unique.  Born of two worlds and accepted by neither, he fights to protect those who hate him.  These are his stories . . .