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''A Woman's Life'' (''Onna no isshō'', 1945), is the most famous play by Kaoru Morimoto and was the most frequently staged play during postwar
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Consisting of seven scenes and five acts, ''A Woman's Life'' tells the story of Kei as she grows from a young girl into a successful businesswoman. The play was commissioned as propaganda by the Japanese military in 1945 and was first staged later that year by the Literary Theatre (
Bungakuza is a Japanese theatre company. Along with the Mingei Theatre Company and the Haiyuza Theatre Company it is considered one of the "Big Three" among Shingeki theatre troupes. History The company was founded by Kunio Kishida, Mantarō Kubota ...
). Before passing away, Morimoto rewrote the first and last scenes in order for the play to remain relevant after the war.Zheng, Guohe. "Reflections of and on the Times: Morimoto Kaoru's A Woman's Life." Modern Japanese Theatre and Performance. By David Jortner, Keiko I. McDonald, and Kevin J. Wetmore. Illustrated, Reprint ed. N.p.: Lexington, 2007. 189-201. Print.Rimer, Thomas J., Mitsuya Mori, and Cody M. Poulton. "A Woman's Life." The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Drama. Trans. Ghuohe Zheng. N.p.: Columbia UP, 2014. 182+. Reader.eblib.com. University of Washington Library. Web. 5 May 2015.


Synopsis

The play begins in 1905 on
New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...
with Kei as a young orphan living with her abusive aunt.
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
is elated by their recent victory over
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
in the fall of Port Arthur. On her sixteenth birthday, Kei runs away from her aunt's house and wanders into the yard of the Tsutsumis, a wealthy family involved in the trade business with
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
. The family is celebrating Shizu's birthday, the mother of the family whose late husband began the family trade business. However, at the time of Kei's arrival, the business is being run by Shizu and her brother, Shōsuke. Upon hearing Kei's story, Shizu sympathizes with the young girl and allows Kei to stay in their house as a maid. As the years go by, Kei displays a genuine passion for the trade business and wins the trust of Shizu, who asks her to marry her oldest son, Shintarō, in hopes of saving the family trade business Shizu fears her son will be unable to maintain. Unlike the passion Kei displayed for trade, Shintarō was interested in
Chinese literature The history of Chinese literature extends thousands of years, and begins with the earliest recorded inscriptions, court archives, building to the major works of philosophy and history written during the Axial Age. The Han dynasty, Han (202  ...
and dreamed of one day becoming a teacher of
Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
. Despite Kei secretly being in love with Shintarō's younger brother Eiji, she decides to abide by Shizu's wishes and abandons her side romance. Kei marries Shintarō and after Shizu's death, Kei is left operating Tsutsumi family affairs, as well as the family trade business. Later, differing views on Japan's policy with
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
drives a wedge between Kei and Shintarō, and the gap between them grows even deeper once Shintarō discovers Kei's short-lived romance with Eiji. However, when Eiji returns to the house and tells Kei of his activism and radical left-wing views, he is turned into the police by Kei herself. The act of betraying her uncle causes Kei's daughter Chie to leave her mother's house to live with Shintarō, her father. The play ends when that winter, Shintarō visits Kei at her house unexpectedly. While the two are reacquainting, Shintarō falls dead into Kei's arms.


Historical Context

''A Woman's Life'' was one of two literary works commission by the Japanese military during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the other being Osamu Dazai's novel Regretful Parting (''Sekibetsu'', 1945). The play was initially meant to be a work of
propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...
glorifying Japan's strong presence in
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
during the war. The play was commissioned in the hopes of promoting the five principles of cooperation decided upon at the
Greater East Asia Conference was an international summit held in Tokyo from 5 to 6 November 1943, in which the Empire of Japan hosted leading politicians of various component parts of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The event was also referred to as the Tokyo C ...
held in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
earlier.Powell, Brian. Japan's Modern Theatre: A Century of Change and Continuity. N.p.: Japan Library, 2002. Print.


Adaptation

''A Woman's Life'' was initially meant to be a work of
propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...
glorifying Japan's strong presence in
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
during the war, and the people of
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
received the play well. The play was commissioned by Japanese military authorities in the hopes of promoting the five principles of cooperation decided upon at the
Greater East Asia Conference was an international summit held in Tokyo from 5 to 6 November 1943, in which the Empire of Japan hosted leading politicians of various component parts of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The event was also referred to as the Tokyo C ...
held in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
. The part of Kei was written for
Haruko Sugimura was a Japanese Theatre, stage and film actor, actress, best known for her appearances in the films of Yasujirō Ozu and Mikio Naruse from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Biography Sugimura was born in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. ...
, a close colleague of Morimoto during the war and the most famous Bungakuza actress at the time. The Great East Asian War ended only months after the play was first staged and in early 1946, Morimoto rewrote the first and last scenes to, "make the play compatible with the post-war political atmosphere." Because
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
was no longer the focus it was during the war, the play was changed by Morimoto to become more about Japan's strength and resilience after the war. At the time these alterations to ''A Woman's Life'' were being made, Morimoto was suffering from
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
died later that year, just a few months after his new version of the play was published into book form.


Public Reception


Japan

''A Woman's Life'' was received well by the people of
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and would later be described as, "'one of apan's mostrepresentative post-war plays.'" Unlike ''Regretful Parting'', the only other literary work commissioned alongside ''A Woman's Life'', Morimoto's play remained popular even after the end of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and is still read and performed in
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
today. The success of the play in
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
may be due, in part, to the play's roots in nationalist
propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...


International

After
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, ''A Woman's Life'' gained recognition in
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
and was received well there, despite the play's original political assertions. The play was even translated into
Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
and performed overseas. Later, the play would receive recognition in
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
as well. In 1959, ''A Woman's Life'' was performed at the
Mayakovsky Theatre Mayakovsky Theater () is a theater in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1920, first as ''Terevsat'' (Theater of Revolutionary Satire, 1920-1922), then ''Revolution Theater'' (1922-1943) and ''Drama Theater'' (1944-1953). In 1954 it was renamed after Vlad ...
in
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
. The
Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...
translation of the play was titled, ''Stolen Life.'' The role of Ninobiki was played by Maria Babanova, a famous actress of the time, and the director was a young Japanese man by the name of Yoshiki Okada."Morimoto Kaoru's Play in Russian Theatre." Japanese Performing Arts Resource Center (JPARC) , Information and Media on Japanese Theatrical Traditions. GloPAC, n.d. Web. 13 May 2015. .


Production history

Morimoto finished the manuscript for ''A Woman's Life'' in February 1945 and the play was first directed by
Mantarō Kubota was a Japanese author, playwright, and poet. Early life Kubota was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, to a clothing merchant family. He became interested in stage plays at an early age, largely due to the influence of his grandmother, who ...
and performed in
Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
by the
Bungakuza is a Japanese theatre company. Along with the Mingei Theatre Company and the Haiyuza Theatre Company it is considered one of the "Big Three" among Shingeki theatre troupes. History The company was founded by Kunio Kishida, Mantarō Kubota ...
in April of that same year.
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
had not ended by the time it was staged and the sound of an air-raid alarm could be heard for the duration of the performance. Originally, the play was to be performed at the Tsukiji Little Theatre, but the location changed after the building was destroyed in a bombing. The role of Kei was written for
Haruko Sugimura was a Japanese Theatre, stage and film actor, actress, best known for her appearances in the films of Yasujirō Ozu and Mikio Naruse from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Biography Sugimura was born in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. ...
, a close colleague of Morimoto during the war, as well as the most famous
Bungakuza is a Japanese theatre company. Along with the Mingei Theatre Company and the Haiyuza Theatre Company it is considered one of the "Big Three" among Shingeki theatre troupes. History The company was founded by Kunio Kishida, Mantarō Kubota ...
actress of the time. Before her death in 1997, Sugimura had performed the play around 950 times. Later, the role of Kei was taken over by Yoshie Taira and Yuki Shoda.


References


External links



Historical Dictionary of Modern Japanese Literature and Theater, Google Books

Japan's Modern Theatre: A Century of Change and Continuity, Google Books {{DEFAULTSORT:Woman's Life Japanese plays 1945 plays World War II propaganda Fiction set in 1905