The Dead Sword and the Living Rope and Other Writing

A gifted young swordsman sets out to complete the pilgrimage required by his master, only to become the captive of a formidable outlaw woman. When he finally escapes toward Edo, a traveling acrobat joins him. Their urgent journey encounters a malicious monk, dangerous water, and a pursuit neither traveler fully understands.

A second piece changes the scene to Meiji-era amateur theater. Emi Suiin recalls the writers of Ken’yūsha preparing historical dramas with ambitious speeches, makeshift wigs, scenery, and special effects. Rehearsals and performances produce mishaps that turn earnest literary innovation into irresistible comedy.

This collection joins a tale first published in 1925 with a memoir recorded in 1926. Suiin’s energetic storytelling ranges from swordsmanship and rescue to the practical absurdities of the stage. The complete new English translation retains both works in their supplied order, including the tale’s nine sections, the memoir’s casts and dialogue, and all closing passages. Thirty-two notes clarify historical terms, cultural references, traditional measurements, and textual uncertainties.