The Rokkasen (Six Immortal Poets: 六歌仙) were ninth-century literarygiants whose names were first linked together in the poetic anthology Kokinwakashû (Collection of ancient and modern poems: 古今集)in 905 AD. The term kasen (immortals of waka, 和歌, or Japanese poems) was derivedfrom the Chinese term shixian (Immortals of poems: 詩仙) and may have been adopted for theRokkasen by the mid-10th century. There were various dance plays performed (inEdo), such as Rokkasen sugata no irodori (Six immortal poets in theguises of love) in 3/1834. A much earlier Osaka version called Yosooirokkasen (Six poets in colorful attire) was staged in 1789 by ArashiHinasuke I (1741-96). For a later version, Nakamura Shikan II retainedHinasuke’s structure but had the play re-choreographed and set to new music.The dances were fanciful mixtures of modernized domestic tales (mostlyinvolving unrequited love for Komachi) and historical legends. The dance roleswere usually performed in the manner of hengemono (transformationpieces) employing hayagawari (quick-change techniques).