Japanese Literature in 15th-19th Century

Japan's most remarkable writer is considered by many to have been Saikaku. His most extraordinary novel is considered Women Who Loved Love. This told the story of Merchant class women seeking love, thus breaking with the ethics of a women's fidelity to her husband. During this period, the Kabuki Theater came into being. It emphasized violence, music, and dramas. The government banned women from participating in the plays, and soon, male actors started playing women.