Arguably the most famous bunraku play in history, The Love Suicides at Sonezaki was written in 1703 by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. It started a trend of plays about love affairs between merchants and prostitutes.
Scene 1
A young man named Tokubei is a clerk at a soy sauce store and is secretly in love with Ohatsu, a prostitute. Tokubei's uncle, also the owner of the soy sauce store, tries to force him to marry another his wife's niece. Tokubei refuses, but his stepmother goes behind his back and accepts the dowry payment from his uncle. Tokubei discovers this and again tells his uncle he doesn't want to marry. His uncle is angry and wants his dowry money back. Tokubei has to go to his stepmother and plead for it. However, when he is successful, he comes across his friend, Kuheji, who says he needs the money. Tokubei is a good friend and lends it to him, but now Kuheji is late in paying back what he has been lended. Tokubei is recounting this story to Ohatsu in the shrine when a drunken Kuheji shows up with his friends. Tokubei demands the money back, but Kuheji claims that he never borrowed anything. He and his friends then attack Tokubei.
Scene 2
Tokubei meets Ohatsu outside the brothel where she works. He cannot see a way out of his predicament and says that suicide is the only option left for him. Kuheji approaches, so Tokubei has to hide underneath the porch on which Ohatsu is sitting. Kuheji tries to convince Ohatsu of her lover's guilt, but she defends him fiercely. She asks aloud if Tokubei has absolutely decided to kill himself. To answer yes, he drags her foot across his neck. She then says aloud that if he were to kill himself, she would too.
Scene 3
The two lovers journey to Sonezaki Wood. They speak of their love for each other and wonder if their story will become famous like earlier love-suicides. Upon arrival, Ohatsu cuts her sash and they bind themselves together. They both apologize for the troubles their deaths will cause their families and, chanting an invocation to Buddha, Tokubei stabs Ohatsu and then himself.
Image from
http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/the-love-suicides-at-sonezaki/w384/the-love-suicides-at-sonezaki.jpg
Scene 1
A young man named Tokubei is a clerk at a soy sauce store and is secretly in love with Ohatsu, a prostitute. Tokubei's uncle, also the owner of the soy sauce store, tries to force him to marry another his wife's niece. Tokubei refuses, but his stepmother goes behind his back and accepts the dowry payment from his uncle. Tokubei discovers this and again tells his uncle he doesn't want to marry. His uncle is angry and wants his dowry money back. Tokubei has to go to his stepmother and plead for it. However, when he is successful, he comes across his friend, Kuheji, who says he needs the money. Tokubei is a good friend and lends it to him, but now Kuheji is late in paying back what he has been lended. Tokubei is recounting this story to Ohatsu in the shrine when a drunken Kuheji shows up with his friends. Tokubei demands the money back, but Kuheji claims that he never borrowed anything. He and his friends then attack Tokubei.
Scene 2
Tokubei meets Ohatsu outside the brothel where she works. He cannot see a way out of his predicament and says that suicide is the only option left for him. Kuheji approaches, so Tokubei has to hide underneath the porch on which Ohatsu is sitting. Kuheji tries to convince Ohatsu of her lover's guilt, but she defends him fiercely. She asks aloud if Tokubei has absolutely decided to kill himself. To answer yes, he drags her foot across his neck. She then says aloud that if he were to kill himself, she would too.
Scene 3
The two lovers journey to Sonezaki Wood. They speak of their love for each other and wonder if their story will become famous like earlier love-suicides. Upon arrival, Ohatsu cuts her sash and they bind themselves together. They both apologize for the troubles their deaths will cause their families and, chanting an invocation to Buddha, Tokubei stabs Ohatsu and then himself.
Image from
http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/the-love-suicides-at-sonezaki/w384/the-love-suicides-at-sonezaki.jpg