Perhaps it was because it did not feature "entanglements of love", which were characteristic of CHIKAMATSU plays, and because the main character, Yohei, is a complete villian, which makes it difficult for the audience to feel sympathetic towards him.
だが、近松作品の特徴である「恋のもつれ」が無く、更に主人公・与兵衛が救いのない不良で観客の同感を寄せにくいキャラクターであったからと思われる。