The rise of modernity in the Meiji Period led to a new form of theater, which reflected the time. KAWAKAMI Otojirô was a pioneer of this form. He saw the possibilities entailed in literary works serialized in newspapers. Productions based on literary works are quite frequent even now, but they originated in the Kawakami troupe's first production of Kôyô/Kyôka's Taki no shiraito [White Thread Waterfalls] at Asakusa-za, Komagata (December 4, 1895). It was followed by productions of Konjiki yasha, Ono ga tsumi [My Crime], Ichijiku [Fig], Hototogisu [Cuckoo], and Onna keizu [Women's Genealogy], and they became important repertories of a new form of theater. It can safely be said that it established its solid position by the productions of adaptation of family novels serialized in newspapers in Meiji.
The first production of Konjiki yasha, one of the best sellers in Meiji, was by the Kawakami troupe from the end of March till (probably the mid) April in 1898. However, strangely enough, it is recorded in theater history in a vague manner. Based on new materials that I have obtained recently, this paper discusses the first production of Konjiki yasha and the ones that followed it, and further investigates the Kawakami troupe's tour to the United States and Europe right after the first production. aiming at elucidating the importance of KAWAKAMI Otojirô and his troupe, which pioneered a new form of theater, leading to the contemporary theater.
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