The play is based on the historical event known in the Noh play "Sumida-gawa River," in which Umewaka YOSHIDA was kidnapped by a human trafficker called Shinobu no Sota and died on the bank of Sumida-gawa River.
能の『隅田川(能)』で有名な、吉田梅若が人買いの忍ぶの惣太にかどかわされて隅田川の畔で死んだ故事をもとにしている。