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.

Prizes

Karen Brazell won the National Book Award for her translation of "The Confessions of Lady Nijo".

Table of Contents

Part I. An Introduction to Traditional Japanese Theater Japanese Theater: A Living TraditionHistorical PerspectivesGeneral CharacteristicsThe StagesFour Figures of the Thunder God: The Major GenresNoh: KamoKyogen: ThunderboltKabuki: "Saint Narukami Scene"Bunraku: "Mount Tenpai" and "Tumult in the Palace"Part II. The Noh and Kyogen Theaters Elements of PerformanceNoh PlaysAtsumori, by by ZeamiIzutsu, by by ZeamiMiideraShunkanDok okiYamamba, by by ZeamiKyogen PlaysTwo DaimyoDelicious PoisonMushroomsThe SnailSickly StomachKanoakaCicadaOther Traditions: Kowaka, by Kurokawa Noh, Mibu KyogenKowaka verison of AtsumoriPart III. The Puppet and Kabuki Theaters Elements of PerformancePlays from the Bunraku Puppet Theater"The Beach at Hirado" and "The Bamboo Forest of a Thousand Languages, by " by ChikamatsuAmijima, by by Chikamatsu"Travel Scene" by Izumo II, by Shoraku, and Senryu"Farmhouse Scene" from ChushinguraThe Awaji Puppet TraditionSambasoThe Miracle of the Tsubosaka KannonPlays from the Kabuki Theater"Shunkan: The Devil Island Scene" by Chikamatsu"Suma Bay" by SenryuYotsuya Ghost Stories, Act Three"The Hamamatsuya Scene"Musumu Dojoji

About the Author

Karen Brazell is a professor in the department of East Asian Studies at Cornell University and is the winner of the National Book Award for her translation of The Confessions of Lady Nijo. She is also editor of Twelve Plays of the No and Kyogen Theaters, and coauthor, with Monica Bethe, of No as Performance and the three-volume Dance in the No Theater.

Reviews

A compact introduction, rich variety of fine translations of representative plays, detailed stage directions, and extensive photographs make this an ideal teacher's tool...This is not only a fine anthology, but the only anthology of its kind. -- Jonah Salz The Journal of Asian Studies A collection of translations of traditional Japanese plays that will become the standard textbook for courses on Japanese theater. A compact introduction, rich variety of fine translations of representative plays, detailed stage directions, and extensive photographs make this an ideal teacher's tool. -- Jonah Salz The Journal of Asian Studies Promises to become a classic. The Drama Review