Background
Furukawa Mokuami was born in Edo in 1816. Originally named Yoshisaburo Yoshimura and commonly called Mokuami Furukawa. He changed his name first to Genzo Katsu and later to Shinsuke Shiba.
古河默 阿彌
Furukawa Mokuami was born in Edo in 1816. Originally named Yoshisaburo Yoshimura and commonly called Mokuami Furukawa. He changed his name first to Genzo Katsu and later to Shinsuke Shiba.
He succeeded Shinshichi Kawatake II (1843) and became head playwright for Ichimuiaza Theater. Credited with over 300 plays, he also wrote for Kodanji Ichikawa IV, Kikugoro Onoe V and Sadanji Ichikawa. He retired under the name by which he is known in 1881. Some of his successful plays are Sannin Kichiza Kuruwa-no-hatsukait Kanzenchoaku Nozoki-Karakuri, Bentenkozo and Kochiyama Soshun. His plays are still staged today. They are popular draws and indispensable in the Kaonki repertoire depicting life in the Edo Period.