KAWATAKE MOKUAMI — (1816–1893) Kawatake Mokuami, born Yoshimura Yoshisaburo, was a Japanese kabuki playwright whose prolific and varied works included short dance pieces, period plays (jidaimono), contemporary genre pieces (sewamono), tragedies and comedies, as… … Japanese literature and theater
Botan Dōrō — (牡丹燈籠 ) is a Japanese ghost story that is both romantic and horrific; it involves sex with the dead and the consequences of loving a ghost. It is sometimes known as Kaidan Botan Dōrō , based on the kabuki version of the story. Most commonly… … Wikipedia
ADAPTATION — Adaptation (hon’an) is a term that was used throughout the Tokugawa period to refer to translated literary works, in contrast to hon’yaku, which was reserved for medical and scientific texts. Though adaptations often parallel the original… … Japanese literature and theater
THEATER REFORM — At the beginning of the Meiji period, Japanese theater consisted of the traditional dramatic forms no, kyogen, bunraku, and kabuki and popular vaudeville like variety acts and oral storytelling found in the yose theaters. Two prolific… … Japanese literature and theater
KODAN — Kodan is a style of traditional oral storytelling dating from the 17th century. Similar to the style of storytelling performed by biwa (lute) players in feudal Japan, this form of drama involves a solitary performer, called a kodanshi, who… … Japanese literature and theater
RAKUGO — Rakugo (punch line talk) is a form of comic oral storytelling. During the Tokugawa period, itinerant oral storytellers would gather crowds and recite war narratives, romances, humorous stories, and other tales for profit. By the Meiji period,… … Japanese literature and theater
SAN’YUTEI ENCHO — (1839–1900) San’yutei Encho, born Izubuchi Jirokichi to Tokugawa period storyteller Tachibanaya Entaro (?– 1872), was a renowned professional storyteller. Encho (as he is usually called) excelled as a raconteur, mastering all the genres of… … Japanese literature and theater
YOSE — The yose (storytelling theaters) of Japan originated during the Tokugawa period as small roadside shacks wherein itinerant professional storytellers would tell their tales to passersby for a small fee. By the Meiji period, they had become… … Japanese literature and theater
