This work is based on the Kabuki play "Ren-jishi".
A lion and lioness guard a stone bridge (shakyo). The story begins with the parent lioness kicking the cubs down into the valley. Legend has it that the cubs are cast off and only those who can return might survive. The lioness peers into the valley, wondering if cubs will crawl up. When the lion cub sees its parent's reflection on the surface of the river, it leaps back up to the valley and returns to be raised.
The lively and heroic image of the lion cub and a slightly comedic storyline are expressed through various effects and tempi of the ensemble.
Premiered by Koyamadai Senior High School Symphonic Band, Tokyo in January 2009.

(Yosuke Fukuda)