He is well-known as the playwright (co-writer) of the three greatest joruri: "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" (Sugawara's secrets of calligraphy), "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura" (Yoshitsune and One Thousand Cherry Trees) and "Kanadehon Chushingura" (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers).
浄瑠璃の三大傑作『菅原伝授手習鑑』『義経千本桜』『仮名手本忠臣蔵』の作者(共同)として名高い。