The Tale of Shuzenji and Other Writings

A carved mask seems to foretell a shogun’s death. A warrior rejects a world of broken promises. An old tea bowl carries a Tokyo writer into the past.

Okamoto Kidō’s From Upstairs offers eleven essays on domestic life, remembered performers, wartime sounds, and uncanny storytelling. Sasaki Takatsuna and The Tale of Shuzenji stage the conflicts of gratitude, revenge, ambition, and artistic pride.

This complete collection includes both plays’ casts and stage directions, with brief notes on customs, dates, and literary allusions. AI-assisted translation, prepared and edited by Valentin Sarić.