Dogs Must Not Be Chained

A dog steals a shoe, chases chickens, and brings his owners more trouble than they expected. For English teacher Imasato Nenkichi and his wife Futami, finding the missing footwear is only the beginning. Their neighbors have opinions about the dog, the child, the marriage, and almost everything else.

When an unemployed newspaper reporter proposes a neighborhood peace conference, courtesy gives way to complaints. Dogs, chickens, piano practice, foul-smelling fertilizer, wastewater, and overheard gossip all become matters for debate. The chairman’s brisk management does little to conceal how much everyone wants someone else to change.

Kishida Kunio, a central figure in modern Japanese theater, turns an ordinary suburban quarrel into a sharp three-scene comedy about community and self-interest. First published in 1930, Dogs Must Not Be Chained combines domestic tenderness with the absurdities of public procedure. This complete English translation preserves the dialogue, stage directions, silences, and quoted Milton lines, with concise notes on historical terms and textual details.