Yōji Sakate series. In 2010, these adapted plays were collected into "The Contemporary Nō Collection" (現代能楽集 "Gendai nōgakushū"). Although Chekhov and Ibsen were not part of the "nō" style, Sakate took these works and created them to fit the general view of "nō" and also making unique adaptations to create his own style. Plays of Chekhov he translated include "The Seagull", "Uncle Vanya", "The Cherry Orchard", and "Three Sisters". Through his plays, Sakate challenges a plethora of contemporary issues such as social and political issues, censorship, and sexuality. In "Epitaph for the Whales" (くじらの墓標 "Kujira no bohyō", 1993), he presents the issues
Uncle Vanya leaves to ask the professor if Yelena may play the piano. Sonya returns with his negative answer, which quickly dampens the mood. Vanya, Sonya, and Yelena are in the living room, having been called there by Serebryakov. Vanya calls Yelena a water nymph and urges her, once again, to break free. Sonya complains to Yelena that she has loved Astrov for six years but that, because she is not beautiful, he doesn’t notice her. Yelena volunteers to question Astrov and find out if he’s in love with Sonya. Sonya is pleased, but before agreeing she wonders whether uncertainty is better