Theatrical performances go on from six in the morning until six in the evening.  Just as the day is about to dawn in the east, the sound of the drum is heard, and the dance Sambaso is danced as a prelude, and after this follow the dances of the famous actors of old; these are called the extra performances (waki kiyogen).

The dance of Nakamura represents the demon Shudendoji, an ogre who was destroyed by the hero Yorimitsu according to the following legend:—­At the beginning of the eleventh century, when Ichijo the Second was Emperor, lived the hero Yorimitsu.  Now it came to pass that in those days the people of Kioto were sorely troubled by an evil spirit, which took up its abode near the Rasho gate.  One night, as Yorimitsu was making merry with his retainers, he said, “Who dares go and defy the demon of the Rasho gate, and set up a token that he has been there?” “That dare I,” answered Tsuna, who, having donned his coat of mail, mounted his horse, and rode out through the dark bleak night to the Rasho gate.  Having written his name upon the gate, he was about to turn homewards when his horse began to shiver with fear, and a huge hand coming forth from the gate seized the back of the knight’s helmet.  Tsuna, nothing daunted, struggled to get free, but in vain, so drawing his sword he cut off the demon’s arm, and the spirit with a howl fled into the night.  But Tsuna carried home the arm in triumph, and locked it up in a box.  One night the demon, having taken the shape of Tsuna’s aunt, came to him and said, “I pray thee show me the arm of the fiend.”  Tsuna answered, “I have shown it to no man, and yet to thee I will show it.”  So he brought forth the box and opened it, when suddenly a black cloud shrouded the figure of the supposed aunt, and the demon, having regained its arm, disappeared.  From that time forth the people were more than ever troubled by the demon, who carried off to the hills all the fairest virgins of Kioto, whom he ravished and ate, so that there was scarce a beautiful damsel left in the city.  Then was the Emperor very sorrowful, and he commanded Yorimitsu to destroy the monster; and the hero, having made ready, went forth with four trusty knights and another great captain to search among the hidden places of the mountains.  One day as they were journeying far from the haunts of men, they fell in with an old man, who, having bidden them to enter his dwelling, treated them kindly, and set before them wine to drink; and when they went away, and took their leave of him, he gave them a present of more wine to take away with them.  Now this old man was a mountain god.  As they went on their way they met a beautiful lady, who was washing blood-stained clothes in the waters of the valley, weeping bitterly the while.  When they asked her why she shed tears, she answered, “Sirs, I am a woman from Kioto, whom the demon has carried off; he makes me wash his clothes, and when he is weary of me, he will kill and eat me.  I pray your lordships