[2] The play opens with a clerk at the Kameya courier house dealing with customers who are irritated because their monetary deliveries are late from the capital.
Chubei's adopted mother expresses confusion and disappointment over the many delayed payments, and worries over the reputation of their courier house, which had always been outstanding up to this point.
She expresses puzzlement over the fact that Chubei leaves with three packages of tissue and brings none home; "How can he blow his nose so much?"
Chubei makes excuses, but eventually breaks down and confesses that he spent Hachiemon's money trying to buy out Umegawa's contract.
The second act begins in the pleasure quarters; Umegawa has just arrived back and laments to the other girls that she is afraid Chubei's competition will be able to buy her.
The final scene is considered a dance sequence and requires additional shamisen players and narrators.
[3] The Australian National University's Za Kabuki performed a version of the play in 2004, directed by Shun Ikeda.