The Love Suicides At Amijima ~ Shinju Ten no Amijima

by Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Drama / Anthology

Paperback

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Born in Japan in 1653 with the name of "Sugimore Nobumori", Chikamatsu Monzaemon was to become perhaps the greatest dramatist in the history of the Japanese theatre.
Chikamatsu is said to have written over one hundred plays, most of which were written for the bunraku or puppet theatre. His works combine comedy and tragedy, poetry and prose, and present scenes of combat, torture, and suicide on stage. Most of Chikamatsu's domestic tragedies are based an actual events. His Sonezaki shinju (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki), for example, was based on reports of an actual double suicide of the apprentice clerk and his lover.
But he wrote some famous historical plays, too.

In 1705, Chikamatsu moved to Osaka where he became a writer for Takemoto Gidayu's puppet theatre and remained here until his death in 1725.

Reviews

[Bronwen L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful and honest story, not easy to read or digest, be sure, but very interesting. It really shows the plight of women, ie role and power dynamics that were extra prominent 400 years ago. It's really a gut busting story. And when it was performed in its day, people flocked. And it stimulated some, men I think, in a kind of reverent identification with the protagonist, to follow his path to suicide. This is brave literature by a brave writer.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayo what