A Guide To The Japanese Stage

Japan has a wide range of unique, highly refined performing arts that haveeveloped over centuries. This guide provides a brief history andntroduction to the features of each genre, together with recommendations oflays that are accessible to non-Japanese audiences. Brief synopses arerovided to approximately fifty selected plays, and well-known popularompanies, actors, writers, and directors are introduced. The text is widelyllustrated, and includes information about theatre listings, how to getickets, and which plays are available on DVD. It will be invaluable fornyone planning a visit to Japan and keen to experience its theatre firsthand,s well as providing additional insights for students of Japanese theatrend literature.

The first book of its kind: a collection of the most important genres of Japanese performance--noh, kyogen, kabuki, and puppet theater--in one comprehensive, authoritative volume.

The Noh plays of Japan have been compared to the greatest of Greek tragedies for their evocative, powerful poetry and splendor of emotional intensity.

Leading Japanese and Western Shakespeare scholars study the interaction of Japanese and Western conceptions of Shakespeare.

The Japanese Stage-Step Course is a fully integrated language course from beginner through to intermediate level combining cohesive grammar instruction with functional examples and practices to build a solid foundation in the four key skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. The course includes the core text, The Grammar Textbook, Workbooks 1 and 2, Writing Practice Book, audio material on CDs or in MP3 format, and a Companion Website. An understanding of grammar is essential for students aiming to achieve a high level of proficiency in Japanese. Written by an experienced teacher, The Stage-Step Course: Grammar Textbook provides a step-by-step guide to Japanese grammar. With clear, accessible explanations and relevant examples to put each grammatical point into context, the Grammar provides a meaningful framework to develop the key skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The book is divided into the following four stages: Stage One: Building a foundation. Stage Two: Towards more complex structures. Stage Three: Adding sophistication. Stage Four: Referencing. Each lesson is accompanied by detailed vocabulary, conversation practice and reading exercises in the separate two workbooks to enable students to put into practice what they have learnt and consolidate their knowledge. The course also includes the Writing Practice Book, audio material on CDs or in MP3 format and a Companion Website.

This book explores Japanese culture and its artistic traditions through the lens of theater, music, and social customs. From the religious and popular plays of traditional Japanese theater to the world of "Geishas" and "Cherry Blossoms," the author provides a vivid and detailed account of the country's rich cultural heritage. The book also includes discussions on "Vulgar Songs," "Taking the Waters," "Playing with Fire," and the world of "The Scarlet Lady."

Workbook 2 of the Japanese Stage-Step Course is designed to be used alongside Stages Two and Three of the Grammar Textbook. It contains conversation, listening, reading and writing exercises along with new vocabulary for each lesson in the textbook to enable students to thoroughly practice the grammatical structures they have learnt. Additional features include: detailed explanation of vocabulary items abundant exercises including sentence as well as discourse practices extensive cross-referencing with the Grammar Textbook Japanese–English and English–Japanese glossary. All the audio material for Workbook 2 is available on CD2.

Kabuki A Pocket Guide introduces readers to the foundations of Kabuki--its history and its actors, its acting styles and its performance, its color and music--to the sheer beauty and joy of Kabuki. Kabuki, the popular theatre of Japan, began in about 1603 and is still flourishing today. It was the entertainment of the common people as opposed to Noh, the refined theatre of the aristocracy, and is a close relative of the Bunraku puppet theater. All the actors in Kabuki, even those who play female roles, are men and plays and dances deal with the love of the heroes and villains form Japans real or legendary past. Concise enough to take to performance, this pocket guide to Kabuki provides a wealth of fascinating information about plays, the actors, and their history. As only an insider can do, the author takes us behind the scene to meet the actors, attend rehearsal, and get a first-hand look at the makeup, costumes, sets and props that go into a Kabuki performance.