A Japanese Tragedy

film by Kinoshita

Also known as: “Nihon no higeki”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

A Japanese Tragedy (1953) is a film directed by Kinoshita Keisuke, a prominent Japanese filmmaker known for his satirical social comedies. This film specifically examines the weakened Japanese family structure. It is noted for its skillful construction, utilizing crosscutting between stories and effective incorporation of flashbacks to tell its narrative. While Japanese drama, in general, may not align with the Western concept of tragedy due to different cultural views on the individual and destiny, Kinoshita's work is considered a masterpiece of technical craftsmanship.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Kinoshita Keisuke
Nihon no higeki (1953; A Japanese Tragedy), a film examining the weakened Japanese family structure, is skillfully constructed by crosscutting between stories and by the effective incorporation of flashbacks. Narayama-bushi kō (1958; Ballad of Narayama) is praised for the technical excellence with which Kinoshita used colour and the wide…
Read More
Nihon no higeki (1953; A Japanese Tragedy), a film examining the weakened Japanese family structure, is skillfully constructed by crosscutting between stories and by the effective incorporation of flashbacks. Narayama-bushi kō (1958; Ballad of Narayama) is praised for the technical excellence with which Kinoshita used colour and the wide…
Read More