Act Ten Summary

The merchant Amakawaya Gihei watches as laborers load his merchandise onto a ship. Goemon and Rikiya arrive to check on their shipment of armor and equipment. Gihei assures them that everything is in order, adding that he has taken extraordinary measures to avoid arousing suspicion, even to the point of sending his wife away and firing most of his employees. The samurai express their appreciation and depart.

Ryochiku, Gihei's father-in-law, arrives. He complains about having to support his daughter and threatens to send her straight home unless Gihei signs a writ of divorce. Fearful that his wife's untimely return will blow the operation, Gihei signs the divorce papers. With this done, Ryochiku smugly announces that he plans to remarry his daughter to a wealthy husband. Disgusted, Gihei kicks Ryochiku out.

Later that evening, Gihei, tricked into answering his door, finds himself...