Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/51

Rh way of giving vent to his discontent, he took to writing humorous essays and epical dramas. His best drama is the Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi. The present author names his story adapted from it, "The Miracle at the Perry of Yaguchi." It was performed at the Hizen Za in 1770, and was enthusiastically received. Its fourth act, which relates the adventure of Nitta Yoshiminé at the ferry of Yaguchi, is nowadays often performed. In 1779, Gennai went mad and killed a man, and was thrown into prison where he soon died of illness.

The following are the most noteworthy dramas by other great writers of Yedo: The Koimusumé Mukashi Hachijō (1778), by Chimakatsu Kwanshi and Yoshida Sumimaru; the Shigano Kataki-uchi (1776), by Kinokami Tarō; the Itozakura Honchō Sodachi (1777), by Kinokami Tarō and Tatsuda Benji; the Kagamiyama Kyū no Nishikiyé (1782), by Yo Yotai; the Meiboku Sendai Hagi (1785), by Chikamatsu Kwanshi, Takashi Mohei, and Yoshida Sumimaru; the Gotaiheiki Shiraiski Banashi (1787), by Utei Yemma and Kinokami Tarō.

The Shō-utsushi Asagao Banashi which, as has been stated appeared in 1850, and the Hanano