17-B. THEATER
A Preliminary Guide to Japanese Theater Reference Materials
Loren Edelson,
Fall 2002
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 geinô, which includes both traditional forms such as noh, kyôgen, bunraku (ningyô jôruri), and kabuki, and modern forms like shinpa and shingeki . I have not included a specific section on minzoku geinô , 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 Geinô
jinbutsu jiten . Also
see Nihon gein
ô 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 yôran .
To verify a
kabuki and/or jôruri title, see Kabuki jôruri 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 Gekijô , 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
ô
Q: How can I check how to read a kabuki and/or jôruri title?
A: Kabuki_jôruri_gedai_yomikata_jiten
Q: Which journals devoted to kabuki does Starr own?
For post-WWII coverage, see Engeki-kai and Kabuki kenkyû to hihyô ; for pre-WWII research, see
Q: Where can I find an explanation of terms used in noh and kyôgen?
Q: Are there any print bibliographies that list recent journal articles on topics related to traditional Japanese theatre?
A :Nihon kôten engeki , kinsei bunken mokuroku 1997 nenpan
and Kinsei engeki kenkyû 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 Kyôgen 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 sômokuroku
Q: I want to verify the date of a twentieth-century Japanese theater production. Where should I go?
A: First, check in Engeki nenpyô 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 sômokuroku . To verify a
date, see Engeki
nenpyô .
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 geinô).
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 kyôgen jiten [Dictionary of noh and kyôgen]
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 ô
gen
. Numerous plot summaries of famous plays are provided, but the
outstanding feature of this volume—which distinguishes it from the Noh
Kyôgen 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 ô
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 Kyôgen zuten 能狂言図典 [Illustrated
dictionary of noh and
kyôgen ]
Kobayashi Yasuharu, Morita Toshiro
Tokyo: Shogakkan, 1999
[REF PN2924.5.N6
N664 1999]
This is the
user-friendly guide to noh
and kyô
gen on the reference shelf. Beautiful illustrations, furigana , and concise sentences make
this the first noh and ky ô 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 ôgen 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
ô 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
ô
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, Taishô, and Shôwa periods. Arranged in gojûon
(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.
Geinô 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 Danjûrô VII back in
the nineteenth century. An actor’s performance,
Danjûrô 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, kyôgen,
nihon buyô, ningyo jôruri,
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 jôruri 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 jôruri play
titles largely replaces the need to consult the
Engeki gedai yôran noted below (that is for kabuki and jôruri 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 yôran 演劇外題要覧 [Handbook of
Theatrical Play Titles]
Nihon Hôsô K yôkai
Tokyo, 1971
[REF Z3308.L5N5
1971]
If you need to
decipher a kabuki or jôruri title, use Nojima’s Kabuki jôruri
gedai yomikata
jiten . If it’s not in
listed or you want to know how to read the title of a kyôgen play or other twentieth-century works,
consult this dictionary. Listed in gojûon
(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 kyôgen ,
kabuki, shingeki, buyô
and buyô-geki, ningyô-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 gojûon
(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 kôten 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 kenkyû 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 jôruri . The second part, covering 1964-1982,
focuses on different topics and includes a monthly listing of the work
featured at the Kokuritsu Gekijô (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 sômokuroku
, 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 nenpyô
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: shôgyo 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
nenpyô 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 ô. 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 nenpyô 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 kenkyûbunken mokuroku.
Kabuki kenkyû to hihyô 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
gahô 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 gahô sôsakuin.
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
Gekijô 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 geinô 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 geinô 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: [email protected]
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).