ninjōbon

("books about human feelings"). Genre of late-Edo-period (1600-1868) fiction that derives historically from the sharebon ("witty books") of the late 18th century. In form, both rely heavily on dialogue and deal with contemporary life in the pleasure quarters of Edo (now Tokyo). Ninjōbon's greatest practitioner was Tamenaga Shunsui. (adapted from Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1993)