Changes

The play is frequently known by a number of other names. The name "''Benten Kozô''" (弁天小僧) actually refers to the main character of the play, a ''[[gizoku]]'' (honorable thief), one of a band of five such men. Another common name for this play is "''Shiranami Gonin Otoko''" (Five Men of the White Waves), "''shiranami''" (white waves) being a term used to refer to thieves. Like most traditional Japanese dramas, the play originally had five acts, following particular conventions as to the dramatic pattern and themes of each act. However, today, it is very common to perform only one or two acts, each combination of acts represented by a different play title. For example the title "''Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami''" refers to the performance of Acts III and/or IV without the other three.

The play is frequently known by a number of other names. The name "''Benten Kozô''" (弁天小僧) actually refers to the main character of the play, a ''[[gizoku]]'' (honorable thief), one of a band of five such men. Another common name for this play is "''Shiranami Gonin Otoko''" (Five Men of the White Waves), "''shiranami''" (white waves) being a term used to refer to thieves. Like most traditional Japanese dramas, the play originally had five acts, following particular conventions as to the dramatic pattern and themes of each act. However, today, it is very common to perform only one or two acts, each combination of acts represented by a different play title. For example the title "''Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami''" refers to the performance of Acts III and/or IV without the other three.

The play centers around a band of five thieves, based on real thieves and criminals of [[Edo period]] [[Osaka]]: [[Karigane Bunshichi]], [[An no Heibei]], [[Gokuin Sen'emon]], [[Kaminari Shokuro|Kaminari Shôkurô]] and [[Hotei Ichiemon]]. The name of Nippon Daemon, the leader of the band, is taken from that of [[Nippon Saemon]], who was captured and executed in 1747.

The play centers around a band of five thieves, based on real thieves and criminals of [[Edo period]] [[Osaka]]: [[Karigane Bunshichi]], [[An no Heibei]], [[Gokuin Sen'emon]], [[Kaminari Shokuro|Kaminari Shôkurô]] and [[Hotei Ichiemon]]. The name of Nippon Daemon, the leader of the band, is taken from that of [[Nihonzaemon]], who was captured and executed in 1747.

The play is perhaps most famous for the speeches made by Kozô and his compatriots when they dramatically remove their disguises and reveal their true identities.

The play is perhaps most famous for the speeches made by Kozô and his compatriots when they dramatically remove their disguises and reveal their true identities.