As the 18th century commenced, Kabuki lost its popularity to ningyo joruri, but many scripts of ningyo joruri such as "Kanadehon Chushingura" (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers), "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" (Sugawara's secrets of calligraphy), "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura" (Yoshitsune and One Thousand Cherry Trees) and "Meido no Hikyaku" (Courier to the Hell) were arranged for Kabuki.
18世紀に入ると歌舞伎は人形浄瑠璃に人気を奪われるが、その間に「仮名手本忠臣蔵」「菅原伝授手習鑑」「義経千本桜」「冥途の飛脚」などの人形浄瑠璃の台本が歌舞伎化された。