A Guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge [Paperback]

Ronald Cavaye (Author), Paul Griffith (Author), Akihiko Senda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 2005

Japanese theater is vibrant and exciting, with a wide range of unique genres to be enjoyed by both visitors to Japan and on tour at arts and drama festivals and theaters worldwide. From the stately refinement of No and the colorful spectacle of Kabuki to the avant-garde of the shogekijo and adaptations of Shakespeare or mainstream musicals, the world of the Japanese performing arts is thriving and innovative.

A Guide to the Japanese Stage covers all the main genres as performed today, from traditional to cutting edge. A brief history and introduction to the features of each genre is accompanied by recommendations of entertaining plays that are accessible to non-Japanese audiences. Brief synopses are provided for many often-performed plays, and the best known companies, actors, playwrights, and directors are highlighted. The text is illustrated with 32 color pages and over 150 black-and-white photographs, and includes information on theater listings, how to purchase tickets, and which plays are available on DVD in English.

This guide is invaluable for anyone keen to experience Japanese theater firsthand, and will provide additional insights for students of Japanese theater and literature.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Western readers think of Japanese theater, the image that most often comes to mind is that of Kabuki, in which male actors play both male and female roles. But there's much more to Japanese theater than that, and this user-friendly guide details the main genres, including Bunraku (in which skilled puppeteers work in harmony with a narrator and a shamisen player), No (a medieval form in which players use music and dance to perform solemn, dignified works), Kyogen (a type of comedy in which actors act in realistic styles and don't wear masks) and Contemporary (which is comparable to what one would see in New York or London, including popular commercial plays and musicals). The authors explain the history of each genre and outline some of the better-known plays. When appropriate, they discuss costumes, masks and props. Cavaye, a concert pianist and author of Kabuki: A Pocket Guide; Griffith, who's currently pursuing a doctorate in Japanese theater history; and Senda, drama professor at Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, have produced a very useful book with lovely color illustrations, perfect for anyone planning a visit to Japan or merely interested in its rich theater history.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

RONALD CAVAYE is a concert pianist who studied in London, Hannover, and Budapest. He was a professor of piano at the Musashino Academy of Music in Tokyo from 1979 to 1986, and a founding narrator of the English-language "Earphone Guide" commentaries at Tokyo's Kabuki-za and National Theatre. He performs regularly in Japan and the United States, has written two books on music education, and penned articles for the Edinburgh Festival, the Paris Autumn Festival, and The Times. He is the author of Kabuki: A Pocket Guide and has translated for the University of Hawaii Press's Kabuki Plays on Stage.

PAUL GRIFFITH is currently pursuing a doctorate in Japanese Theater History at Wadham College, Oxford University. He was an associate professor at Saitama University's Education Faculty for ten years, and has also worked on the Kabuki woodblock print collection in the Far East Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. He is a translator for NHK Television's bilingual series Japanese Traditional Performing Arts, and since 1985 has been a translator and narrator of the English-language "Earphone Guide" commentaries for both Kabuki and Bunraku at Tokyo's Kabuki-za and National Theatre.

AKIHIKO SENDA is a professor of drama at Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, and the president of the International Association of Theater Critics (lATC) Japan Center. He is the best-known theater critic in Japan, regularly writing reviews for newspapers and magazines. He has also published several books on theater and musicals, including The Voyage of Contemporary Japanese Theatre, which was awarded an Art Encouragement Prize from the government.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (January 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 477002987X
• ISBN-13: 978-4770029874
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to Japanese theater, June 18, 2005

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge (Paperback)

Japanese theater is at once compelling and uninviting. Compelling, due to its flamboyant and exotic nature, with the outrageous flair of Kabuki, and the obfuscation and mystery of the masks of Noh and the puppets of Bunraku. Uninviting, because of the ancient and ceremonial language, the centuries old symbolism and buried nature of the storyline. Even to Japanese people, the worlds of Japanese theater can be a complex and incomprehensible realm, requiring significant amounts of study before appreciation. Like Shakespeare, the more familiar one becomes with the meter of the language and the flow of the story, the more one can enjoy the pathos and humor.

"A Guide to the Japanese Stage" is a fine introduction to Japanese theater, both traditional and contemporary. It showcases the four main styles of traditional theater, Kabuki, Noh, Bunraku and Kyogen, then offers a whirlwind tour of all the variety of modern plays and dances. The traditional theaters are covered in-depth, complete with popular play synopsises, styles of make-up, origins, famous actors, clothing and a surprising amount of detail for such a manageable book.

Packed with photographs, the stunning visual element is richly displayed. While definitely not a photo-book, "A Guide to Japanese Stage" illustrates the text with examples of wigs, masks, puppets and all the stunning flair that is a hallmark of Japanese theater. There is a nice collection of Yakusha-e, popular woodblock prints of Kabuki actors that have been sold over the years during performances. Further illustrations detail the male, female and special masks of Noh, the significance of the make-up styles of kumadori Kabuki make-up and the various quick costume changes and special effects of Kabuki.

Unlike most books on Japanese theater, modern theater is given its due as well, covering such things as Super Kabuki, Takarazuka's all-woman musical revue, Western-influenced Shingeki, and the grotesque dance of Butoh. Japan's theatrical tradition certainly doesn't end with the four classic styles, and an amazing breadth of work is on display. This is a rarely-covered area, and very interesting.

Immediately after reading "A Guide to the Japanese Stage," I went to see a Kabuki performance and it was astounding how much more appreciation I had from previous performances I had seen. Able to recognize the "mie" poses, knowing the purpose of the onnagata dance, and able to piece together the plot from the "typical play" synopsises of the book, it was a much more rewarding experience. True appreciation of these theater forms does only come from years of study and exposure, but this book is an excellent place to begin this journey. I look forward to learning more, and to experiencing more Japanese theater armed with my new insight.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive, January 31, 2009

By 

S. RICCITTI "Frustrated shopper" (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge (Paperback)

Substantial and worthwhile compilation of information. Provides a wide variety of useful guidelines defining the various theatre arts of Japan. A great springboard for more thorough research in favored arenas.