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After Tartars overthrow the Ming emperor, loyalist Go Sankei saves the infant heir. In Japan, Watōnai learns of the crisis and sets out for China with his family; after gathering allies and overcoming betrayal, he becomes Coxinga and leads a campaign to restore the dynasty.
Courier Chubei uses customers’ money to try to buy the freedom of Umegawa, a prostitute he loves. After he breaks the seal on a samurai’s delivery money, he and Umegawa flee Osaka; in the mountains they succumb to the cold and die together.
A Japanese domestic tragedy originally written for bunraku puppet theatre and adapted into kabuki shortly after its premiere.
Honest oil merchant Tokubei refuses an arranged marriage because he loves courtesan Ohatsu. After his uncle dismisses him and his friend Kuheiji falsely denies a loan, Tokubei is beaten and the lovers flee. Facing disgrace and separation, they journey to Sonezaki Shrine and die together.
Courtesan Azuma loves the merchant Yojibei, but his wife and family prevent him from buying out her contract. Poor laborer Yohei, who also loves Azuma, vows to make a fortune and free her; after a fight puts Yojibei under threat of execution, Yohei returns from Edo to ransom Azuma and reunite her with Yojibei.
Oil merchant Yohei's debts, violence toward his family and failed reform culminate in his murder of Okichi, a neighbor, to steal the money she keeps. The play follows his family's attempts to help him and ends with his arrest and confession.
After Tartars overthrow the Ming emperor, loyalist Go Sankei saves the infant heir. In Japan, Watōnai learns of the crisis and sets out for China with his family; after gathering allies and overcoming betrayal, he becomes Coxinga and leads a campaign to restore the dynasty.
Courier Chubei uses customers’ money to try to buy the freedom of Umegawa, a prostitute he loves. After he breaks the seal on a samurai’s delivery money, he and Umegawa flee Osaka; in the mountains they succumb to the cold and die together.
A Japanese domestic tragedy originally written for bunraku puppet theatre and adapted into kabuki shortly after its premiere.
Honest oil merchant Tokubei refuses an arranged marriage because he loves courtesan Ohatsu. After his uncle dismisses him and his friend Kuheiji falsely denies a loan, Tokubei is beaten and the lovers flee. Facing disgrace and separation, they journey to Sonezaki Shrine and die together.
Courtesan Azuma loves the merchant Yojibei, but his wife and family prevent him from buying out her contract. Poor laborer Yohei, who also loves Azuma, vows to make a fortune and free her; after a fight puts Yojibei under threat of execution, Yohei returns from Edo to ransom Azuma and reunite her with Yojibei.
Oil merchant Yohei's debts, violence toward his family and failed reform culminate in his murder of Okichi, a neighbor, to steal the money she keeps. The play follows his family's attempts to help him and ends with his arrest and confession.