''Sewamono'' (世話物) is a genre of contemporary setting plays in Japanese traditional theatre. The term applies to both

bunraku (also known as ) is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in the beginning of the 17th century, which is still performed in the modern day. Three kinds of performers take part in a performance: the or (puppeteers ...

and

kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance- drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is though ...

. The genre is in contrast to "period setting plays" or jidaimono. Though the distinction between "historical" and "contemporary" is not exact, and there are also plays that do not fit either category. Sewamono plays are naturalistic and set in contemporary normal environments rather the historical and samurai plays typical of the bombastic aragoto style. In the conflicted lovers genre, such as ''

The Love Suicides at Sonezaki ''The Love Suicides at Sonezaki'' (曾根崎心中, ''Sonezaki Shinjū'') is a jōruri play by the Japanese playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon. The double suicides that occurred on May 22, 1703 inspired Chikamatsu to write this play and thus ''The ...

'', conflict between emotions (''ninjo'') and social pressure (''giri'') form the motor of the plot. The engirimono, cut-knot-thing meaning “drama of cutting the lovers' knot" such as Namiki Gohei's ''Godairiki Koi no Fujime'' is a subcategory of sewamono.Keiko I. McDonald Japanese Classical Theater in Films -1994 Page 104 "Actually, this subclass sewamono is called an engirimono play, which may be rendered “drama of cutting the lovers' knot." The definitive work is usually taken to be Gohei Namiki's Godairiki Koi no Fujime (Lovers' pledge: Gengobei and ..."

References

{{Authority control Kabuki Bunraku ja:時代物