Description
Book SynopsisAn anthology of three exciting Japanese adaptations of Shakespeare that engage with issues such as changing family values, racial diversity, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and terrorism, together with a contextualizing introduction.
The anthology makes contemporary Japanese adaptations of Shakespeare by three independent theatre companies available to a wider English language audience. The three texts are concerned with the social issues Japan faces today and Japan's perception of its cultural history. This unique collection is thus both a valuable resource for the fields of Shakespeare and adaptation studies as well as for a better understanding of contemporary Japanese theatre.
Trade ReviewThe vibrancy of contemporary Japanese theatre is nowhere more evident than in this collection of three plays, all related to Shakespeare, whose texts now serve as a ubiquitous “data base” for Japanese dramatists seeking new creative possibilities, from homage to burlesque.
King Lear, Hamlet, and
Romeo and Juliet, here brilliantly expanded and transposed, appear in eloquent translations, accompanied by superlative background essays and interviews. A delight for readers or potential performers. * J. Thomas Rimer, University of Pittsburgh, USA *
The history of Shakespeare in Japan is one of the most unique, idiosyncratic and interesting branches of ‘global Shakespeare’. Hitherto scholars have focused mainly on Japanese translation, cultural reception and performance. This book takes the discipline to the next level, providing translated examples of free adaptations, together with substantial critical explication and contextualisation. An invaluable resource for the expanding study of a fascinating cultural field. * Graham Holderness, writer and critic *
Table of ContentsList of Images Preface General Introduction Shakespeare and Adaptation Shakespeare's Reception in Japan Early Shakespearean Translations and Adaptations Post-Meiji Performance and Translation The Tokyo Shakespeare Company Kakushinhan Theatre Company The Shakespeare Company Japan The Three Daughters of Lear Introduction to
The Three Daughters of Lear Interview: Edo Kaoru
The Three Daughters of Lear Hamlet x Shibuya ~ Light, Was Our Revenge Tarnished? Introduction to
Hamlet x Shibuya ~ Light, Was Our Revenge Tarnished? Interview: Kimura Ryunosuke
Hamlet x Shibuya ~ Light, Was Our Revenge Tarnished? The New Romeo and Juliet Introduction to
The New Romeo and Juliet Interview: Shimodate Kazumi
The New Romeo and Juliet Appendix 1: A List of Stage Productions by the Three Theatre Companies Appendix 2: A List of Shakespeare Productions in the Tokyo Area in 2019 Bibliography
