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Yoshitsune (played by Otani Tomoemon) is fleeing to Kyushu and forbids his lover, Shizuka (Nakamura Shibajaku), from accompanying him on such a dangerous journey. His men tie her to a tree to prevent her following him but to console her, he leaves her a precious drum which is named “Hatsune”.
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Comical soldiers arrive from the capital to capture Yoshitsune. Finding Shizuka, they are about to take her when she is saved by the timely arrival of Sato Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ebizo), one of Yoshitsune’s most loyal retainers. Tadanobu is played in the heroic aragoto acting-style and he easily defeats the men. In gratitude, Yoshitsune returns and makes him a present of armour. He also bestows upon him one of his own names, Genkuro, and then departs, leaving Shizuka in Tadanobu’s care.
Shizuka leaves but as Tadanobu follows her he begins to act strangely. He follows her, leaping and bounding like an animal…
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In this dance scene, Yoshitsune’s lover Shizuka and Tadanobu are on their way to meet Yoshitsune who is sheltering at the mansion of an old friend. They travel through the beautiful landscape of Mt. Yoshino, famous for its cherry trees. Shizuka is sad to be parted from her lord and Tadanobu consoles her. He sets up the suit of armour on a tree stump, and Shizuka places the shoulder drum on top. In this way, the armour and drum can represent their lord’s presence and both bow before them.
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Yoshitsune is being sheltered by the mountain priest Kawatsura Hogen. Tadanobu arrives to see Yoshitsune whom he has not met for many months. However, when Yoshitsune asks for Shizuka, Tadanobu has no idea what he is talking about. Just then, Shizuka herself arrives reporting that Tadanobu was in her company until a few moments ago. There appear to be two people claiming to be Tadanobu so this one is arrested until the mystery is solved.
Shizuka remembers that whenever she lost sight of Tadanobu along the way, she only needed to strike the drum, “Hatsune” in order for him to appear. They decide to try this again and Tadanobu magically reappears. Slowly it dawns on Shizuka that this “Tadanobu” must be a magical fox.
Employing an amazingly quick change of costume, the actor transforms from Tadanobu into his real fox form.
In a moving example of filial piety, he tells how the drum is actually made from the hides of his fox parents. So drawn is he to the drum that he transformed himself into Tadanobu in order to be near it.
Having lost his own father at an early age and now hunted by his elder brother, Yoshitsune is so deeply moved by the fox’s tale that he makes him a present of the drum. A group of comical priests enter with the intention of capturing Yoshitsune, but the fox defeats them with his supernatural powers and joyfully flies off with the drum.
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