Four major plays of Chikamatsu

About “Four major plays of Chikamatsu”

Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653–1725) wrote around 130 plays, mostly for the puppet theater, many of which are still performed today by puppet operators and Kabuki actors. He is considered the first to write major tragedies focusing on common people. This collection includes four of his most important plays: three domestic dramas and one history play. His domestic dramas portray Japanese society of the time, featuring characters such as samurai, farmers, merchants, and prostitutes who speak in a realistic manner, reflecting their daily lives in places like shops, streets, teahouses, and brothels. The tragedies arise from the characters' conflicts with society. Two of the plays, "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" and "The Love Suicides at Amijima," became so popular that they influenced a trend of love suicides in both real life and on stage. This edition includes Donald Keene's translation, along with an introduction and a new preface to help readers understand and enjoy the plays.