Monzaemon Chikamatsu

In 18th Century in Japan, the paper merchant Jihei (Kichiemon Nakamura) falls in love for the courtesan Koharu (Shima Iwashita), but he can not afford to redeem her from her master and owner of the brothel, since he spent all his money in the place with Koharu. Jihei's wife Osan tries to keep her husband with his two children and asks Koharu to leave him. The two lovers make a pact of double suicide to escape from the rigid rules of the Japanese society of 1720 and stay together after death. (imdb)

In 17th century Kyoto, Osan is married to Ishun, a wealthy miserly scroll-maker. When Osan is falsely accused of having an affair with the best worker... (imdb)

The tragic story of Gonza, a handsome ladies man, set in the Tokagawa Period, a time in which appearences are very important... (imdb)

Set during the 1700s, the film centers on the life and murder of Okichi, the bored wife of a wealthy Osaka oil merchant. Yohei is a hunky young man who is the son of Okichi's husband's former partner. As a child, Okichi cared for and even nursed the boy, but when Yohei's father died, he went to live elsewhere. On his return as a man, Okichi is immediately infatuated with the lad and schemes to get rid of competition for his heart When her husband hears of her behavior, trouble ensues. (imdb)

This classic tale is the Japanese Romeo & Juliet. When the starcrossed lovers get to the climactic suicide scene, it is stretched out in lurid detail and their white garments are totally encrimsoned by the time they have finished the horrific chore. (imdb)

Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka (1959) places Chikamatsu, the author of the original play, as a character in the drama. Relatively classical at first, the film grows increasingly self-conscious as it proceeds. Chikamatsu, initially an observer taking inspiration for his writing from the events he views, begins eventually to intervene in events, saving the heroine from suicide, substituting a gentler ending for the tragedy which seems likely. (Sense of Cinema)