Historical Dictionary of Japanese Traditional Theatre

Historical Dictionary of Japanese Traditional Theatre serves as a comprehensive reference work covering multiple forms of classical Japanese theater, including noh, kyōgen, kabuki, and bunraku. The volume contains over 1,500 entries detailing important performers, plays, technical terms, and theatrical concepts. The book opens with a chronology spanning from 593 CE to the present day, followed by an introduction providing context on Japanese theater history and development. The main dictionary section features cross-referenced entries with Japanese terms provided in both romanized and kanji forms. The work includes appendices listing major theaters, schools, guilds and organizations related to traditional Japanese performing arts. Extensive bibliographic resources in both English and Japanese round out this scholarly reference text. This dictionary illuminates the deep cultural and spiritual significance of Japanese theater traditions while demonstrating their continued relevance and evolution over centuries of performance history.

This scholarly reference work appears to have very limited reader reviews online. Only a single review was found on either Goodreads or Amazon. Readers noted: - Comprehensive coverage of Japanese theater terminology and concepts - Clear explanations of complex traditional art forms - Useful cross-references between related entries Criticisms: - High price point ($195) makes it inaccessible for casual readers - Some readers wanted more historical context for the evolution of different theater styles Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No ratings WorldCat: No ratings The book seems to be used primarily in academic settings and research libraries rather than by general readers, which explains the scarcity of public reviews. Academic library catalogs indicate it is frequently referenced in Japanese theater studies but rarely reviewed by non-specialists.

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🎭 Japanese traditional theatre consists of four major forms: noh, kyōgen, bunraku, and kabuki - with kabuki being the youngest, originating in 1603 📚 Author Samuel L. Leiter is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Brooklyn College and has written over 20 books on Japanese theatre 🎪 The dictionary includes detailed entries about stage architecture, including the hanamichi - a raised platform that extends from the stage through the audience, unique to kabuki theatre 🗾 The book covers nearly 1000 years of Japanese theatrical history, from the earliest religious performances in the 8th century to modern interpretations 👘 Many traditional theatre costumes are so valuable and intricate that some pieces are designated as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government, with some kimono costing more than $100,000