A Preliminary Guide to Japanese Theater Reference Materials
Loren Edelson
Introduction
This report is a preliminary attempt to bring together some of the important reference materials available in the C.V. Starr Library for students of Japanese theater. Due to time constraints, I have focused on what the Japanese broadly refer to as engeki or geinō, which includes both traditional forms such as noh, kyōgen, bunraku (ningyō jōruri), and kabuki, and modern forms like shinpa and shingeki . I have not included a specific section on minzoku geinō , the folk forms, which encompass rituals, parades, festivals, and religious ceremonies, that have played such a crucial role in the development of Japanese theater. I have included information about two video sets, however, that focus on some of these folk forms and rituals. In compiling this guide, I have tried not to duplicate other sections of Bib95, but there will be some overlap (see the literature pages, for example). There are still many reference items that I have not covered, but I hope that students will find this a useful departure point for research in Japanese theater.
Using this guide
If you have a particular research query, you might find it most helpful to read through the FAQ , which is divided into three categories: general queries , traditional theater , and modern theater , to see if you can find an appropriate match. I have attempted to anticipate many research queries, but I realize that there will be many more questions that are left unasked (and unanswered). If you cannot find an appropriate match, consider reading through the entire guide , found at the end of the FAQ to get an idea of Starr’s resources. Based on the individual descriptions of the material, you might find an answer to your question. It is assumed that the reader is aware of Starr’s general reference resources.
General queries
Q: I am just beginning my theater research project, and want to get an overview of what has been written on my topic. Where should I begin?
A: See
Engeki hyakka daijiten
for topics before 1960; for more recent topics, see the on-line
encyclopedia Netto de
hyakka [insert link].
Q:
Does Starr own any print bibliographies that specifically
list English-language books on theater?
Q: Are there any print
bibliographies that specifically list Japanese-language theater books?
A:
Japanese Performing Arts
: An Annotated Bibliography
and
Nihon engeki shomoku
kaidai
Q: What are some recent
theater topics on which Japanese students have written their dissertations?
A: See
Engekigaku
.
Q: Where can I find basic
biographical information about a Japanese performer?
A: A great place to begin is the
Geinō
jinbutsu
jiten
.
Also see
Nihon gein
ō jinmei
jiten
.
Q: Where can I find famous quotes
or maxims attributed to Japanese actors?
Q: How can I verify the proper reading of a Japanese play title?
A: Check in
Engeki gedai
yōran .
To verify a
kabuki and/or jōruri title, see
Kabuki jōruri gedai
yomikata jiten
.
Q: Are there any English-language academic journals that are exclusively
devoted to Japanese theater?
A: No, but
Asian Theater Journal
regularly
provides coverage of Japanese theater.
Q: Does the Starr Library collect theater programs?
A: Starr collects programs from the
Kokuritsu Gekijō
, Japan’s National
Theater.
Q: Are there any organizations devoted to Japanese theater?
A:
Consider joining the
Association for Asian Performance
and New York’s
Japan Society
.
Traditional theater queries
Q: What are the best kabuki resources to help me learn more about actors, acting conventions, and plays?
A: For help in English, see
New Kabuki Encyclopedia
; for explanations in Japanese, see
Kabuki jiten
Q: Where can I find a good synopsis of a kabuki play?
A: For help in English, see
New Kabuki Encyclopedia
; for Japanese synopses, see both
Kabuki meisaku jiten
and
Q: What is one of the first resources that I should consult to find basic biographical information about a kabuki actor?
Q: I need to verify a specific date about a kabuki production. Where should I look?
A:
Kabuki_nenpy
ō
Q: How can I check how to read a kabuki and/or jōruri title?
A:
Kabuki_jōruri_gedai_yomikata_jiten
Q: Which journals devoted to kabuki does Starr own?
For post-WWII coverage,
see Engeki-kai
and
Kabuki kenkyū to hihyō
; for pre-WWII research, see
Q: Where can I find an explanation of terms used in noh and kyōgen?
Q: Are there any print bibliographies that list recent journal articles on topics related to traditional Japanese theatre?
A
:Nihon kōten engeki
, kinsei bunken
mokuroku 1997 nenpan
and
Kinsei
engeki kenkyū
bunken mokuroku
.
Q: Where can I find a synopsis of a rakugo story?
A:
Rakugo
jiten
Q: Which guides offer a good introduction to traditional Japanese theater?
A: See Kabuki
Handobukku
and
Noh Kyōgen zuten
.
For reference in English, see the following guidebooks:
Kodama Shoko’s bilingual The Complete Guide to Traditional
Japanese Performing Arts (
Modern theater queries
Q: Where might I find a synopsis of and production information on twentieth-century
plays?
A:
20-seiki no gikyoku: Nihon
kindai gikyoku no
sekai
and
20-seiki no gikyoku II:
gendai gikyoku no
tenkai
and
Nihon gikyoku sōmokuroku
Q: I want to verify the date of a twentieth-century Japanese theater production. Where should I go?
A: First, check in Engeki nenpyō If the information you need is not there, see Engeki nenkan
Q: I need information on a Japanese adaptation of a Western play? I’ve
already looked in Engeki
hyakka dai-jitten and the on-line
version Netto de
hyakka. Can you suggest another useful resource?
A:
Nihon gikyoku sōmokuroku
. To verify a date, see
Engeki
nenpyō
.
Q: Does Starr own any journals devoted to modern Japanese theater?
A: Yes, see
Higeki
Kigeki
.
Q: Are there any recent anthologies of contemporary full-length Japanese
plays?
A: See, for example, Robert T. Rolf and John K. Gillespie’s Alternative Japanese Drama (Honolulu: University of Hawa’i Press, 1992) PL782.E5 A44 1992 as well as the Japan Playwrights Association’s series Half a Century of Japanese Theater (Tokyo: Kinokuniya, 1999) PL782.E5 A44 1992 .
General Guide
to reference materials in the C.V. Starr Library
Engeki
hyakka dai-jiten
演劇百科大辞典
[Encyclopedia of Theater Arts]
Waseda
Daigaku Engeki
Hakubutsukan
Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1960-1961
[REF PN 2035.E53 v.1-6]
Pancake # 2287
The bible in Japanese theater resources for plays, performers, theaters,
and companies pre-1960. Before you consult any other theater resource,
check out what the Engeki
hyakka dai-jiten has to say.
In many cases, it will provide more information (and the references) than
the more specialized dictionary/encyclopedias listed below. This enormous
undertaking contains approximately 14,000 entries, with the emphasis on
Japan, though it also includes foreign countries. Ancient and modern theater
forms are represented as well as movies, radio, and TV. This is also a
good place to start if you are working on a project involving Japanese folk
forms (
minzoku geinō).
Famous characters, such as Shizuka
Gozen , also get their own entries. Entries are written and signed
by well-known scholars, and, in most cases, references for further reading
are provided—a compelling reason to make this your first research stop.
Volume 6 includes a chronology of Western and Japanese theater, famous
actor genealogies, and a list of specialized theater terminology in English,
French, German, and Japanese, a concise annotated bibliography, as well
as indexes in Japanese and foreign languages. Even if
Waseda were to update this work, this set will remain an invaluable
resource in the field.
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
Kabuki Jiten
歌舞伎辞典
[Kabuki Encyclopedia]
Hattori Yukio, Tomita Tetsunosuke,
Hirosue Tamotsu
Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1983 (1984 printing)
[REF PN2924.5 K3 K111 1984]
Pancake #2291
A good kabuki resource. Articles are signed and occasionally cross-referenced,
but sources for further reading are not provided.
New Kabuki Encyclopedia: an English-language adaptation of kabuki
jiten
Leiter , Samuel L.
Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1997
[REF: PN2924.5.K3.L44]
Pancake #0404
Leiter’s kabuki encyclopedia, a must for English-speaking kabuki theater scholars, is a major revision of his 1979 work. In this expanded version, Leiter provides plot summaries, actors’ biographies, genealogies, and important facts about kabuki’s history. Look for Leiter and James Brandon’s recent 4-volume set of English-language kabuki translations as well—another important work that has helped to expand and enrich the field of kabuki studies in English.
Kabuki meisaku jiten
歌舞伎名作辞典
[Dictionary of famous kabuki plays]
Tokyo: Engeki Shupansha
, 1984
[REF
PN 2924.5 .K4 K118]
Pancake #2299
Offers plot synopses of 306 kabuki plays. Caution: Though there is
a table of contents, play titles are not cross-referenced in a helpful
way; it’s expected that the user will know the popular title. With that
said, each play generally gets a page or half a page, and is illustrated
with black-and-white photos. For home reference, I’d suggest purchasing
a more recent equivalent, such as Kabuki 101 Monogatari
, ed. Watanabe Tamotsu, Shinsokan, 1993.
Kabuki meisaku jiten
歌舞伎名作辞典
[Dictionary of famous kabuki plays]
Kanazawa Yasutaka
Tokyo: Seiabo, 1959
[REF 2924.5.K3 K362 1959]
Offers synopses of some 400 plays from the kabuki repertory. Synopses
are much more concise than the ones noted above, but there are more of
them. Also, since Kanazawa has written the entire book, entries tend to
be more consistent than the ones in the 1984 edition.
Kabuki Handobukku
歌舞伎ハンドプック
[Kabuki
Handbook]
Fujita Hiroshi
Tokyo: Sanseido, 2000
[REF 2924.5.K3 K352 2000]
Pancake #2300 [notes 1994 edition]
With a generous amount of furigana
, pictures, and plot summaries, this is an excellent introduction to
kabuki. It serves not only as a good reference, it’s fun to read, since
the author has included famous phrases from well-known kabuki plays, author
and actor bios, theatrical conventions, and a brief history of kabuki.
At the back, Fujita provides info on where to see kabuki today, with phone
numbers and websites [p. 270-271] and a listing of books for additional
reading.
Noh kyōgen jiten
[Dictionary of noh and
kyōgen]
Nishino Haruo, Haneda
Akira
Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1999
[REF PN2924.5.N6 N534 1999]
Pancake #2295 [notes 1987 edition]
A revised edition of the 1987 edition, this work contains more illustrations
and entries about the worlds of
noh
and ky
ō gen
. Numerous plot summaries of famous plays are provided, but the outstanding
feature of this volume—which distinguishes it from the Noh
Kyōgen zuten noted below—is
that it contains concise actor bios of past and present performers, reminding
us that this is still a living art form! The index also contains a bibliography
of recent scholarship in
noh
and ky
ō gen
studies. [Note to librarians: I don’t think there is a compelling reason
for keeping both the 1987 and 1999 editions on the reference shelf; the
’99 version includes most of what is in the ’87 edition].
Noh Kyōgen zuten
能狂言図典
[Illustrated
dictionary of noh and
kyōgen ]
Kobayashi Yasuharu, Morita Toshiro
Tokyo: Shogakkan, 1999
[REF PN2924.5.N6 N664 1999]
This is the user-friendly guide to noh
and kyō
gen on the reference shelf. Beautiful illustrations,
furigana , and concise sentences make this the first
noh and ky
ō gen dictionary for which to reach. Includes plot synopses
of famous plays, explanation of conventions, props and specialized terms.
While performer genealogies and an explanation of the different schools
of noh and ky
ōgen are included, this is not the best place to look
for information on actor’s themselves. A guide to
noh stages is included on page 290-291.
Nihon gein
ō jinmei
jiten
日本芸能人名辞典
[
Biographical dictionary of Japanese entertainers]
Kurata
Yoshihiro, Fujinami Takayuki, editors
Tokyo: Sanseido, 1995
[REF: PN2927 .N54 1995]
Approximately 7,500 entries on Japanese performers. No citations for
further reading are provided, but this is still a good place to find performers’
names, especially women entertainers, who may have been overlooked in the
other biographical dictionaries noted below.
Gein
ō
jinbutsu jiten
芸能人物辞典、明治大正
昭和
[Biographical dictionary of Entertainers]
Nichigai
Asoshietsu
Tokyo : Hatsubaimoto
Kinokuniya Shoten
[REF PN2927 .G45 1998]
A wonderful resource to know about if you’re researching someone who
lived during the Meiji, Taishō, and
Shōwa periods. Arranged in gojūon
(Japanese syllabic) order, entries are clear and concise. The
outstanding feature is that it includes citations for further research,
often with different and more recent work than that cited in
Engeki hyakka
dai-jiten.
Kabuki jinmei jiten
歌舞伎人名辞典
[Biographical dictionary of kabuki performers]
Nojima
Jusaburo
Tokyo: Hatsubaimoto
Kinokuniya Shoten, 1988
[REF: PN2927.K253 1988]
Pancake #2312
Contains entries regarding some 3,800 people in the field of kabuki
from its beginnings to the present. Follows Japanese syllabic order with
index, chronological table, and biographical information. Most helpful
is that the source of the information is actually noted at the end of each
entry (of course, whether or not that source is in fact reliable is another
question)! Still, this is an excellent place to get a short bio of well-known
kabuki performers.
Geinō
meigen jiten
芸能名言辞典
[Maxims from Japanese artists]
Suwa
Haruo, editor
Tokyo: Shoseki, 1995
[REF PN 2921.S892 1995]
相手の俳優の呼吸を飲み
,
自分ばかり芝居をせず、向こうにも、芝居をさせる事。
Don’t perform if you are alone on stage, drinking up your fellow performer’s
breath; let your fellow actor perform
Famous words from the renowned Ichikawa Danjūrō
VII back in the nineteenth century. An actor’s performance,
Danjūrō VII seems to be saying, is only good as the next person’s,
and the next person’s is only as good as your own. This and many, many
more famous quotations from performers in the traditional arts, kabuki,
noh, kyōgen,
nihon buyō, ningyo
jōruri, etc, can be found in
Suwa’s hefty guide. Most quotes, however, do seem to be taken
from kabuki actors, not surprising considering that
Suwa has published extensively in this field. Arranged by theme
[art and performance, training and rehearsal, etc] and genre, each entry
provides the famous quote, explanations of difficult words, source(s),
and commentary. It’s easy to overplay the role of these quotations, but
it’s another approach to tracking down some theater memorabilia that would
otherwise be difficult to find.
Kabuki jōruri gedai
yomikata jiten
歌舞伎浄瑠璃外題読み方辞典
[Guide to reading of each kabuki titles (sic)]
Nojima
Jusaburo
Tokyo: Nichigai Asoshietsu
, Hatsubaimoto Kinokuniya
shoten, 1990
[REF PL767.N64 1990]
This authoritative work of 15,400 kabuki and jōruri
play titles largely replaces the need to consult the
Engeki gedai
yōran noted below (that is for kabuki and
jōruri titles). Look titles up by stroke number. Author, date
of first production, and theater venue at which the play debuted are generally
provided.
Engeki
gedai yōran
演劇外題要覧
[Handbook of Theatrical Play Titles]
Nihon Hōsō
Ｋ
yōkai
Tokyo, 1971
[REF Z3308.L5N5 1971]
If you need to decipher a kabuki or jōruri
title, use Nojima’s
Kabuki jōruri gedai
yomikata jiten
.
If it’s not in listed or you want to know how to read the title of a
kyōgen play or other twentieth-century works,
consult this dictionary. Listed in gojūon
(Japanese syllabic) order, each page is divided into three horizontal
columns: the top section gives the title in kanji characters with the
furigana ; the center section gives the katakana reading
and notes where to place the accent; and the bottom section offers further
information about the original title, abbreviated titles, alternative titles,
playwrights, etc. An index at the back is helpful, especially if you already
know the name of the play for which you are looking.
Rakugo
jiten
落語辞典
[Dictionary of Rakugo (traditional comical
stories)]
Tokyo: Seiabo, 1973
PL 776.R26 1973
Pancake #2296
Contains about 260 plot summaries of the popular
rakugo (Japanese traditional comical stories). Commentary included.
This dictionary has since been updated, but the 1973 edition is the one
the Starr library owns.
20-seiki no gikyoku: Nihon
kindaigikyoku no
sekai
２０世紀の戯曲
:
日本近代戯曲の世界
[Twentieth century drama: The World of Japanese Modern Drama]
Nihon kindai engekishi
kenkyukai
Tokyo: Shakai hyoronsha
, 1998
PL 739.65.A15 1998
The first of a two-volume series, this work contains approximately
twenty short chapters on individual works by different playwrights from
the 1880s to 1945. Each entry includes suggestions for further reading
and research.
Nihon kindai engekishi
kenkyukai
Tokyo: Shakai hyronsha
, 2002-11-26
Starr should consider ordering this book. ISBN: 4-7845-0165-7
The second volume of the series noted above. The 480-page volume is
a collection of more than fifty essays treating major playwrights and plays
produced from 1945 to 1970.
Bibliography
English-language works
Guide to Japanese Drama
Pronko , Leonard C.,
Boston: G.K. Hall & Co, 1984 second edition.
[REF Z3308.L5P76 1984]
A revision version of Pronko’s 1973 Guide to Japanese Drama. Covering the major traditional forms and shingeki, it presents the major English-language works on Japanese theater published before 1984. This is a useful work for students of Japanese theater to consult since many of the works listed have been totally eclipsed by new scholarship, which has failed to cite these early and sometimes pioneering efforts. All entries are annotated.
Japanese Performing Arts: An annotated Bibliography
Masato Matsui, Minako I. Song, Tomoyoshi Kurokawa, Albert Ikoma , eds.
Manoa : University of Hawaii, 1981
[REF Z3308.L5J36 1981]
To date, this is the most extensive bibliography of Japanese-language works on Japan’s performing arts in English. The work lists and describes the holdings in the Japanese performing arts collection in University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Thomas Hale Hamilton Library. Though this list is rather dated today, it is still an important resource, since many of the works themselves have yet to be brought up to date. Given the explosion in Japanese theater books published since 1984, University of Hawaii should consider issuing an updated volume.
Nihon engeki shomoku
kaidai
日本演劇書目解題
, [Annotated bibliography of source materials on Japanese Theater]
Fujino
Yoshio
Tokyo: Engeki Shuppansha
, 1983
[REF Z3308.L5 F93]
Pancake #2280
An annotated bibliography of approximately 2,300 Japanese-language
works, including monographs, collections, biographies, and books, on Japanese
theater, most of which were published between 1868
and 1983.
This appears to be more up to date than Heibonsha’s Nihon
engeki kenkyu
shomoku kaidai. Call number #
770.3
K17.
Categories include: general works, criticism, miscellaneous criticism,
actors, noh and kyōgen
, kabuki, shingeki, buyō
and buyō-geki, ningyō-geki
, and scripts. Each entry lists the title, author, brief summary of
the work in question, followed by the publisher and date of publication.
Entries generally give just basic information about the book, but it is
generally enough to know whether or not one should actually find the book
and read it. All entries are listed in gojūon
(Japanese syllabic) order, and there is an index at the back of the volume.
Also includes all of the publishers’ contact information, though this list
is probably very dated by now.
I would suggest doing a general bibliographic search in CLIO or
Worldcat , etc, before turning to this resource. Though limited
since it only lists publications through 1983, it’s still a useful resource
for the specialist with limited time (i.e. time to browse the entries but
not necessarily read all the books) to quickly grasp what had been published
(before 1983). Similar to the works listed in Pronko’s Guide, many
of works noted here are now frequently overlooked due to the sheer number
of new publications.
Nihon kōten engeki
, kinsei bunken
mokuroku 1997 nenpan
日本古典演劇、近世文献目録
[Bibliography of recent publications on traditional Japanese performing
arts, 1997 edition]
Chikamatsu
kenkyujo kiyo
bessatsu
Osaka: Izumi Shoin, 1997
[REF Z3308.L5 n544 1998]
Pancake #2285
A non-annotated listing of many recent journal articles (in this case,
1989-1997) published on traditional Japanese theater.
Articles are grouped together by topic and authors’ names
are listed by Japanese syllabic order. Each page is divided into several
vertical columns: number: author’s name, date of publication, headline,
subject, title, publication name, volume number, issue number, publisher’s
name, and price, if applicable. Indexed by keywords which appear in the
title. List of periodicals is appended.
Kinsei
engeki kenkyū
bunken mokuroku
近世演劇研究文献目録
[Bibliography
of recent research on Japanese traditional theater]
Chikamatsu
no kai
Tokyo: Yagi Shoten
, 1984.
[REF Z3308.L5 K56 1984]
Pancake #2282
Includes a list
of works on traditional Japanese drama published from 1951 to 1982. The
book is divided into two sections: the first lists books and journal articles
monthly from 1951 to 1964, with a strong focus on
Chikamatsu’s work in both kabuki and jōruri
. The second part, covering 1964-1982, focuses on different topics and
includes a monthly listing of the work featured at the
Kokuritsu Gekijō (National Theater)
during its first fourteen years, and a list of special topics covered in
the journals Engeki-kai and
Kabuki. Includes an author index.
Nihon gikyoku sōmokuroku
, 1880-1980
日本戯曲総目録
[General
bibliography to plays, 1880-1980]
Yokohama-shi: Yokohama Engeki
Kenkyujo, 1985
[REF Z3308.L5 n463 1985]
Pancake #2283
This work includes a bibliography of performed and unperformed Japanese
dramas published in books and journals between 1880 and 1980. It is divided
into two sections: plays written by Japanese and plays written by foreigners.
In most cases, the original script, used during production, has been lost.
Plays are listed by title, following Japanese syllabic order, in the following
manner: play title, playwright’s name, publication title, publication date,
number of male parts, number of female parts, and number of other parts.
In the case of foreign plays (which means here plays from England, the
United States, Germany, France, Russia, Soviet Union, Italy, Spain, and
India), the playwright’s nationality, the definitive title of the play in
Japanese translation, and, if known, the name of translator or translators
(in the event a play has been translated several times) are provided. One,
however, must know what the Japanese translation of the play’s title is
in order to look up the title in this section, a potential obstacle to non-Japanese
users.
Chronologies
Engeki
nenpyō
演劇年表
[Theater Chronology]
Fujita Hiroshi
Tokyo: Ofusha, 1992 (1993 printing)
[REF PN2924.F85 1992]
Pancake #2311
A revision of the 1969 work, this is a detailed chronology of traditional
and modern theater performances staged in the Tokyo and Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka
areas between November 1964 and January 1989.
Each chapter covers one month, and is divided into two sections:
shōgyo geki
(commercial) and shingeki (new
or, in the sense here, modern). This is an excellent approach to tracing
the performance history of major twentieth-century plays, both Japanese
and Western adaptations. Performer’s names, ticket prices, and venue are
provided, together with excerpts from critical reviews. Volume 3 contains
a handy index to the play titles noted in volume 1 and 2; while the text
is interesting to browse, the index is essential to any orderly approach
(beside, it’s sometimes difficult to figure out which play the author is
talking about within each entry). The only drawback to the index is that
it is arranged by title only; one cannot look up performer’s names in this
index.
Engeki
nenkan
演劇年刊
[Theater annual]
Tokyo: Nihon engeki
kyokai , annual publication [Starr has most issues since publication
began in 1966 in stacks or prentis]
[PN 56.R3 E5]
Pancake #2309
This is a comprehensive annual guide to theater in Japan. Each issue
includes a listing of actors, director, and staff, as well as the theater
venue and dates of run. Contact information for theater artists is provided
at the back of each issue.
Nihon engekishi
nenpyō
日本演劇史年表
[Chronology of the history of Japanese theater]
Waseda
Daigaku Engeki
Hakubutsukan
Tokyo:
Yagi
Shoten, 1998
[REF PN2921 .N49 1998]
A one-volume chronology of Japanese performing arts, from the seventh
century to the late twentieth century, it is based largely on
Waseda’s monumental
Engeki
hyakka dai-jiten
(see entry above) and the Sekai
Engekishi Nenpy
ō. Here, however, only the bare facts are given,
but it’s still a valuable departure point, especially if you need to just
get a quick overview of the major theater events in any given year. An
index is provided for quick reference (the numbers listed next to the
titles or names are the dates; hence 198002 means February 1980). My hunch
is that Waseda has decided to publish this
one-volume history in order to pacify those people who want to revise
Engeki hyakka
dai-jiten .
Kabuki nenpyō
歌舞伎年表
[Kabuki Chronology]
Ihara, Seiseien, Kawatake
, Shigetoshi, Yoshida,
Eiji
Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1956
[REF PN 2924.5.K314 v.1-8]
This eight-volume detailed chronology of kabuki history from 1559 to
1907 cites extensive primary sources, including texts that are not available
in publication. Part of vol. 8 is dedicated to a comprehensive index, which
makes navigating this work ever so much easier—you can look up play titles
and performer’s names in separate indexes.
Journals
http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/atj
[full text]
ATJ is the only English-language journal completely devoted to traditional
and contemporary Asian performance. Monumenta
Nipponica, The Drama Review
(TDR), Theatre Research International, Comparative Drama
, Women & Performance, and Theater Journal all, from
time to time, provide some coverage on Japanese theater and performance,
but ATJ does so on a regular basis. Under the editorship of Samuel L.
Leiter, the journal has been committed to publishing at least
one new translation of a contemporary Asian play every year. The fall
2002 edition provides a comprehensive index of all articles published
since the journal’s inception in 1984.
Higeki
Kigeki
悲劇喜劇
[Tragedy Comedy]
Tokyo:Hayakawa
Shobo
PN 2920.H3
Published monthly
Contains concise
and provocative articles on Japanese modern theater. Most issues are dedicated
to a specific theme and most issues contain the full text of a new play.
An on-line index can be found at:
http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/uljsn/browse/title/H/5/7.html
Engeki-kai
演劇会
[Theater World]
Tokyo: Engeki Shuppansha
[REF PN1601 .E4]
Published monthly
Don’t be fooled into thinking that Engeki-kai
covers the entire Japanese performance world!
Engeki means kabuki, almost exclusively, in
Engeki-kai , the journal for kabuki aficionados. Exceptions
are made when kabuki actors star in performances of non-kabuki genres.
Each issue is devoted to a special topic, and includes interviews with
top actors, glossy color and black-and-white photos, as well as a section
in the back devoted to new publications on kabuki. For an index on special
issues, see
Kinsei
engeki kenkyūbunken
mokuroku.
Kabuki kenkyū to hihyō
歌舞伎研究と批評
[Kabuki research and commentary]
[REF PN 2924.5.K3K33]
Devoted to scholarly criticism and debate, this is the place to find
cutting-edge kabuki research—which might not necessarily make it to book
form. Published by Waseda University since
1988, this has been an important forum for leading kabuki scholars to
publish their research and opinions.
Engei
gahō
演芸画報
[Theater Illustrated]
Prentis
: PN2920.E476
Defunct journal that appeared monthly from 1907 to 1943, when all theater magazines were merged. Engeki-kai is its successor. This is an essential resource for anyone doing theater, particularly kabuki, research on the first half of the twentieth century.
I have asked Miki-san to order to the three-volume index,
Engei gahō
sōsakuin.
Engekigaku
演劇学
[Studies on Theater Arts]
Tokyo: Waseda University, generally annual
PN 2009.E52
The official scholarly publication of Waseda
University’s theater department. Subjects include both Japanese and
non-Japanese theater throughout history. A list of dissertation topics
can found at the back of each issue, along with a listing of contents in
English.
Kokuritsu
Gekijō Programs
国立劇場
[REF PN1978.J3K82]
Recent programs of performances at Japan’s National Theater can be
found in the Starr reading room.
Starr’s Asian performance video collection
Note: The majority of the collection is comprised of Asian films, several
of which are adaptations of plays that are not included here.
Nihon Koten geinō
taikei
日本古典芸能体系
[Japanese traditional theater series]
Video PN 1582.J3076 1992 videos 1-20.
This set of twenty video tapes devoted to Japanese traditional theater
is a good place to begin for Japanese-language speakers. The first tapes
in the collection focus on religion and performance; other tapes focus
on more conventional genres: noh, kabuki,
bunraku, and the different musical accompaniments.
Each tape is 40-60 minutes.
Oto
to eizo to moji
ni yoru
taikei Nihon rekishi to
geinō
音と映像と文字による体系日本歴史と芸能
[Japanese history and performance through sounds, sights, and characters]
Special collection BL 2211.R5 T35 1990, videos 1-15
Fifteen tapes devoted to describing Japanese folk performing arts,
such as the obon dances and town festivals.
Nagauta
: Heart of Kabuki Music
Video ML 340.N343 1993g
Gagaku
Video ML 340.G27 1989g
Music of Noh Drama
Video PN 2924.5.N6 M87 1997g
Aspects of the Kabuki Theater of Japan
Video PN 2924.K3 A72 1980g
The New York Public Library of Performing Arts
http://www.nypl.org/reserach/lpa/lpa.html
The New York Public Library of Performing Arts located at Lincoln Center
has a large collection of Japanese theater and dance on film and tape.
The collection and viewing monitors are located on the third floor.
U.S. organizations that sponsor Japanese theater and research
Association for Asian Performance
http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/nd/aap/links.html
The Association for Asian Performance (AAP) is a Focus Group of the Association for Theater in Higher Education . AAP provides a forum for scholars and artists interested in Asian theater. Many members specialize in Japanese performing arts. The Association for Asian Performance’s home page contains information on the organization, syllabi for Asian performance classes, a list of officers, conference info. and more. The site, which needs to be updated, also contains a useful list of links. Sign up for AAP’s listserv at: majordomo@lovelace.usfca.edu
in the MESSAGE line type ONLY:
subscribe asiantheater
Put NOTHING ELSE in the message. Don’t sign it and if you have a signature
line, turn it off.
Japan Society,
New York, New York
http://www.japansociety.org/events/
New York’s Japan Society brings top performers and companies to New York every year. Recent artists include Suzuki Tadashi, Shiraishi Kazuko, Nakamura Ganjiro III, Ono Kazuo, and Kazuko Hohki. Rush tickets are sometimes available on the day of performance (though many events sell out).