A dramatisation of two volumes from a classic work of Japanese literature attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. The work recounts the life of a son of the Japanese emperor, known to readers as Hikaru Genji, or "Shining Genji". For political reasons, Genji is relegated to commoner status (by being given the surname Minamoto) and begins a career as an imperial officer. The tale concentrates on Genji's romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic society of the time.
Oxford Playhouse, 26th January 1959