He was good at expressing the background of the play by sticking to his fantastic idea and realism, which features the development of his plot by mixing quite different worlds such as: having a wedding ceremony at the scene of a crime ("Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan"); making a courtesan visit a row house ("Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma"); making the court noble become professional homosexual from hardship of life ("Shitenno Momiji no Edoguma"); and making a princess become a prostitute ("Sakurahime Azumabunsho").
奇想天外な着想とリアリズムに徹した背景描写を得意とし、殺人現場で婚礼を行ったり（『東海道四谷怪談』）、花魁が長屋に来たり（『浮世柄比翼稲妻』）、公家が生活苦のため陰間になったり（『四天王楓江戸粧』）、姫君が辻君になったりする（『櫻姬東文章』）など、全く異なる世界をないまぜにする展開が特徴的。