Kawatake Mokuami
Life and career. Mokuami was born in the Nihonbashi district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo). He was disinherited by his father at age fourteen, and obtained work at a lending library, introducing him to the world of theatre. In 1835, he entered into an apprenticeship with Tsuruya Nanboku IV, and in 1843 became the lead playwright ("tate-sakusha") for the Kawarazaki-za theatre, succeeding to the name Kawatake Shinshichi II. He began working with kabuki star Ichikawa Kodanji IV in 1854, producing "kizewamono" pieces. Most of Mokuami's works are in this form, and were written specifically for  the star actors of the time, such as Onoe Kikugorō V and Ichikawa Kodanji IV. Many of his plays, such as the famous "Benten Kozō", featured thieves and robbers, also known as "shiranami" (white waves), whom he represented somewhat sympathetically, as low-class heroes, or as tragic figures. As Japan modernized and Westernized rapidly in the Meiji period, Mokuami moved along with new trends in theatre, becoming a pioneer of "Shin-kabuki" ("New Kabuki"), writing plays in new genres such as "katsurekimono" (realistic, historically accurate "jidaimono" period plays) and "zangirimono" ("sewamono" genre plays featuring Meiji era contemporary characters and setting ). During his 58-year career, he became the most prolific kabuki author in history, producing over 360 works: 130 sewamono, 90 jidaimono, and 140 dances. Mokuami formally retired in 1881, but continued to present new works, and was spoken highly of by novelist and literary critic Tsubouchi Shōyō. Mokuami died in 1893 and is buried at Gentsū-ji in Nakano, Tokyo.