Kawatake Mokuami (河竹黙阿弥) (birth name Yoshimura Yoshisaburō; 吉村芳三郎) (1 March 1816 – 22 January 1893) was a Japanese dramatist of Kabuki.

[5] In 1835, he entered into an apprenticeship with Tsuruya Nanboku IV, and in 1843 became the lead playwright (tate-sakusha) for the Kawarazaki-za theatre, succeeding to the name Kawatake Shinshichi II.

[4] Most of Mokuami's works are in this form, and were written specifically for the star actors of the time, such as Onoe Kikugorō V and Ichikawa Kodanji IV.

[1] Many of his plays, such as the famous Benten Kozō, featured thieves and robbers,[2] also known as shiranami (white waves), whom he represented somewhat sympathetically, as low-class heroes, or as tragic figures.

[7] Mokuami formally retired in 1881, but continued to present new works, and was spoken highly of by novelist and literary critic Tsubouchi Shōyō.