A series of such kabuki plays, written from the late Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period, are called Shin Kabuki, starting from "Akugenta" (Wicked Genta) by Shoyo MATSUI (1899) and "Kiri Hitoha" (a single paulownia leaf) by Shoyo TSUBOUCHI (1904).
松井松葉『悪源太』（1899年）、坪内逍遥『桐一葉』（1904年）を皮切りに、明治後期から昭和始めに書かれたこれら一連の作品を新歌舞伎と呼ぶ。