SYNOPSIS

ACT I: The courtyard of Ko-Ko's palace.
In the introductory chorus, If you want to know who we are, Japanese nobles introduce themselves, saying they are the originals of the paintings found on vases, screens and fans.

Nanki-Poo (the son of the Mikado in disguise) enters asking for the maiden Yum-Yum. He introduces himself, giving examples of his répertoire (A wandering minstrel). When the noble, Pish-Tush asks why he wants to see her, Nanki-Poo tells him how he met her while he was playing Second Trombone in the Titipu town band. They fell in love but, as she was engaged to Ko-Ko, he left town. Having heard Ko-Ko is to be executed for flirting, he has returned. However, Pish-Tush imforms him Ko-Ko has instead been elevated to Lord High Executioner, the highest possible rank for a citizen. In Our Great Mikado, virtuous man, he tells Nanki-Poo how the Mikado decided the judge who condemns a man and the executioner who carries out the sentence are morally no different, and he combined the two offices into one. He also declared that, although they usually objected, young men who flirt should be beheaded. To solve this problem, the townspeople of Titipu, in their wisdom, released the next in line for execution, Ko-Ko, made him the Executioner, and said he couldn't kill anyone else until he had cut off his own head.

When Pooh-Bah appears he tells how he, as the one noble willing to serve under the executioner, and at a great sacrifice, he took on all of the other government jobs as well as, degrading as it was, their salaries. He then tells Nanki-Pooh to give up all thought of Yum-Yum. She is to marry Ko-Ko this very day (Young Man dispair). The nobles greet the arrival of Ko-Ko (Behold the Lord High Executioner) who tells his story (Taken from the county jail) and recites his list of candidates for execution should he ever be called on to act professionally (As some day it may happen). He consults all of the officials (i.e. Pooh-Bah) about the expenses for his upcoming wedding to Yum-Yum.

Just then Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing enter, hailed by a chorus of school girls (Comes a train of little ladies) who wonder what life will be like now that they are free from school. This is followed by a trio (Three little maids from school). Reluctantly, Yum-Yum allows Ko-Ko to kiss her. When the girls see Nanki-Poo, they greet him ecstatically, all speaking at once, and intrduce him to Ko-Ko as the man who used to play so beautifully on the Marine Parade.

When Nanki-Poo confesses that he loves Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko does not object. After all, he loves her himself. Nevertheless, he orders Pish-Tush to take the minstrel away. Pitti-Sing examines the immobile Pooh-Bah and is told he is a 'Tremendous Swell', then starts when she realizes he is alive. Introduced to Ko-Ko-'s wards, the haughtily Pooh-Bah is relieved to learn he does not have to kiss them, but he greets them reluctantly, claiming he is not in the habit of saying "How-de-do little girls". In a quartet, the girls apologize to Pooh-Bah for not showing proper respect, and he condescendingly responds (So please you, Sir).

All leave except Yum-Yum. Nanki-Poo returns, and they discuss their dilemma: 1) They can't wait until she is of age because in Japan the age of discretion is fifty — (seventeen to forty-nine are the years of indiscretion); 2) a wandering minstrel is not a fit husband for the ward of the Lord High Executioner. When he tells her he is really the son of the Mikado, not a musician, she replies she suspected it when she heard him play. He explains that Katisha, an elderly member of the Court, had wanted to marry him, and the Mikado had agreed. To escape, he disguised himself as a Second Trombone and fled.

The young people love each other but, since flirting is capital, do not dare show their affection. However, they demonstrate what they would do if they could (Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted). They leave.

Ko-Ko enters and objects when Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah interrupt his soliloquy at an apostrophe. Pish-Tush has brought a letter from the Mikado. There have been no executions in Titipu for a year. If no one is beheaded within a month, the office of Lord High Executioner will be abolished, and Titipu will be reduced to a village! But who shall the victim be? Not only would it be very difficult for Ko-Ko to cut off his own head, but, if Ko-Ko tries and only succeeds in cutting his head half off, it would damage his professional reputation. When Pish-Tush suggests a substitute, Ko-Ko nominates Pooh-Bah, but he declines; even his ambition has its limits. In a trio, each sings of his feeling on the matter. They end in unison in a patter song.

After Pish-Tush and Pooh-Bah leave, Nanki-Poo returns with a rope, planning to hang himself. If Ko-Ko tries to stop him, he will perform the Happy Dispatch with a dagger; Ko-Ko tries to convince him to be beheaded instead in a grand ceremony complete with a weeping Yum-Yum and fireworks. Nanki-Poo finally agrees on condition he can be married Yum-Yum for a month before he is executed. Reluctantly Ko-Ko agrees to wait the month until she is a widow. Then he can marry her himself.

ACT I FINALE
The following events take place with no interruption of the music. The chorus comes to learn of Ko-Ko's decision (With aspect stern). Ko-Ko tells them his plan. The ensemble of Nanki-Poo, Pooh-Bah, Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo rejoice (The threatened cloud has passed away). Pooh-Bah toasts Nanki-Poo (As in a month you've got to die). There is a dance, interrupted by the dramatic entrance of Katisha looking for Nanki-Poo (Oh fool that fleest). When the chorus agrees Nanki-Poo belongs with her, she dismisses Yum-Yum with Pink cheek, that rules. The others, led by Pitti-Sing, object and insist he will marry Yum-Yum (For he's going to marry Yum-Yum). When an angry Katisha tries to reveal that Nanki-Poo is the son of the Mikado, everyone drowns her out, and she angrily leaves.

ACT II: Ko-Ko's Garden
Yum-Yum's maidens are fixing her hair and make-up (Braid the raven hair). In the aria, The sun, whose rays, Yum-Yum sings of her beauty, comparing herself to the sun and the moon. She begs the others to let her forget that Nanki-Poo will be executed in a month. He tries to comfort her and, joined by Pitti-Sing and Pish-Tush, they sing a madrigal (Brightly dawns our wedding day).

Ko-Ko arrives with terrible news: Pooh-Bah has told him that when a married man is beheaded, his wife must be buried alive. (This law has never had to be enforced because the only crime calling for beheading is flirting, and married men never flirt!) (Here's a how-de-do). Nanki-Poo announces he will perform the Happy Dispatch that afternoon, but Ko-Ko objects. If Nanki-Poo kills himself, Ko-Ko will have to be executed. When the arrival of the Mikado is announced, Nanki-Poo is willing to be beheaded at once, but Ko-Ko is not ready. He has never even killed a fly and had planned to practice for the next month, starting with a guinea pig and working his way up. They decide on a solution. Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum will marry at once and go away; the Mikado will be informed that Nanki-Poo has been executed; and Pooh-Bah agrees to perjure himself in all his capacities if the usual 'insult' is high enough.

The Mikado and Katisha, his 'daughter-in-law-elect' enter to the one authentic Japanese tune in the opera (Miya sama), and the Mikado proceeds to announce his policy with respect to crime (A more humane Mikado). In great detail he is told about the 'execution' (The criminal cried), and although he is interested, the real reason he has come is to find his son, Nanki-Poo, who is masquerading as a Second Trombone! Ko-Ko reports says he was there but has gone abroad. However, Katisha has found the certificate of execution with Nanki-Poo's name on it. The Mikado is understanding; after all, they had no way of knowing he was the son of the Emperor. However, the punishment for killing the heir apparent is something nasty and lingering like boiling in oil. It's an unjust world, but their exection is set for after lunch. (Quintet: See how the Fates their gifts allot).

After the Mikado and Katisha leave, the others decide Nanki-Poo must be 'resurrected'. Just then, the newly married couple arrives, ready to leave on a honeymoon. When Ko-Ko says he has just learned that Nanki-Poo is the son of the Mikado and the prince replies that happened some time ago, Ko-Ko asks, "Is this a time for airy persiflage?".

It is too late for Nanki-Poo to solve everything by marrying Katisha; she will have him executed and Yum-Yum must also die. The only solution is for Ko-Ko to marry Katisha. If he does, Nanki-Poo's life will again be as welcome as "The flowers that bloom in the spring".

Katisha enters bemoaning her fate (Alone, yet alive! — Hearts do not break). In On a tree by a river Ko-Ko tries to convince her otherwise with a tale about a bird who commits suicide because of a broken heart. If Katisha rejects him, he will follow the bird's example. She is moved by the story, and he is willing to accept her, even though she is a little blood-thirsty. They agree there is some beauty in everything (There is beauty in the bellow of the blast) and leave to be married.

The Mikado enters ready for the execution, but the appearance of Nanki-Poo, the return of the now married Ko-Ko and Katisha, and the Mikado's acceptance of Ko-Ko's excuse that when the Emperor orders something done, it is as good as done, resolves all of the dilemmas. Thus, everything ends satisfatorily (For he's gone and married Yum-Yum).

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