InamythicalJapan,Ko-Ko,acheaptailor,hasbeenappointedLordHighExecutionerandmustfindsomeonetoexecutebeforethearrivaloftherulingMikado.HelightsuponNanki-Poo,astrollingminstrelwholovesthebeautifulYum-Yum.ButYum-YumisalsolovedbyKo-Ko,andNanki-Poo,seeingnohopeforhislove,considerssuicide.Ko-KoofferstosolveboththeirproblemsbyexecutingNanki-Poo,andanagreementisreachedwherebyKo-KowillallowNanki-PootomarryYum-Yumforonemonth,attheendofwhichNanki-Poowillbeexecuted,intimeforthearrivaloftheMikado.ButwhatKo-Kodoesn’tknowisthatNanki-PooisthesonoftheMikadoandhasrunawaytoavoidabetrothaltoanoldharridannamedKatisha.ThearrivaloftheMikadobringsallthethreadsofthetaletogether.
