Yakumo tells YotarŠthat they have been invited to a family performance at the Kabuki-za in two months time. Meanwhile YotarŠlistens to tapes of Sukeroku’s performances and search for his own style. Higuchi gives YotarŠcopies of different versions of Inokori to study and bring out his own Inokori Saheiji. On the day of the performance Yakumo berates YotarŠfor spending time in the red light district, until YotarŠexplains that he completed the tattoo that covers his back. At the performance, after YotarŠYakumo performs Hangan-ko, with Konatsu accompanying on Koto. During the performance he sees a vision of Miyokichi and collapses at the end of the performance. Yakumo sees himself in a room filled with candles, and sees Sukeroku who says nothing, but then tries to strangle him.