Heroes of the Kabuki Stage: An Introduction to Kabuki, with Retellings of Famous Plays Illustrated by Woodblock Prints"Heroes of the kabuki stage" is written for kabuki lovers and collectors of kabuki woodblock prints, eager to know more about the interesting images on their prints. This lavishly illustrated book has no precedent in a Western language outside Japan. The introduction to this form of theatrical art is placed in the historical and social context of Tokugawa and Meiji Japan between 1603 and 1912. Many of the conventions in the theatre are explained and practically all aspects of kabuki are investigated. The evolution of the playhouse itself, the fascinating interaction between actors and audiences, as well as the development of plays are discussed. There is no other theatre tradition with such elaborate costumes, make-up and variety of acting styles, and these aspects are explained in detail. A brief historical outline of actor prints and their designers, from both Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Osaka, is also included. A large section of the book is dedicated to retelling the 36 popular kabuki plays that are still performed today. Many theatre pieces have their origin in the Nô and puppet theatre traditions: all sources are mentioned in the short introduction to each retelling, which also include{s} detailed notes and references as well as gossip and anecdotes from the world of the theatre. The main scenes of each play and the actors in their leading roles are illustrated by woodblock prints, produced over a period of more than a century. The bibliography provides an up-to-date list of books and articles in Western languages about kabuki. Heroes of the kabuki stage is unique for its extensive index on roles, actors, playwrights, subjects and attributes, which will enable the reader and print collector to find his way in the spectacular world of kabuki. |
Contents
Contents Preface and acknowledgements | 7 |
Illustrating the world of kabuki | 59 |
Retellings of plays and dance dramas | 78 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abe Yasuna actor prints Agemaki aragoto Artist asked audience Bando beautiful Benkei Benten century cherry clan costume courtesan Courtesy daimyō dance Danjuro daughter diptych dressed Emperor Enya Enya Hangan father Gengobei Genji Genta girl Gorō Hachiemon Halford hanamichi head Hisamatsu Ichikawa Danjūrō Ichikawa Danjūrō VII Ichikawa Ebizo Ichimura-za Iruka Iwafuji Iwai Japan Japanese titles relating Kabuki Plays kabuki theatre Kanpei kaomise Kawarazaki-za killed kimono Kiri-za Kumagai Kurōbei Kuzunoha Kyoto lady Leiter lovers Main characters Michizane Minamoto Mitsuhide Miyuki Moronao mother Nakamura Nakamura-za Narukami Nikki Nishiki-e Nishiki-e triptych Ohatsu Oiwa onnagata Onoe Osaka Osome performed pleasure quarters poem published puppet theatre retainer role Saemon samurai Sangobei Sanza Sawamura Scene staged seppuku shibai shogun Soga brothers Sōshichi staged at Edo's Sukeroku Suketsune sword Tadanobu Taira Takeda teahouse temple Tokugawa Tokyo told Usuyuki-hime Utagawa Kunisada Utagawa Kuniyoshi Utagawa Toyokuni wagoto Watōnai wife Yorikane Yoshitsune Yoshiwara young Yuranosuke