Centuries after their inception, the Japanese theater arts of Kabuki, Noh and Bunraku are still being performed; sets, makeup, roles and costumes are renewed by succeeding generations. Rarely, if ever, are they performed outside of Japan. Here we offer items that capture the living traditions of these arts in woodcuts, drawings, photo illustrations and text, preserving what we can of these cultural treasures. Japanese theatre has also grown beyond its traditional forms to include works by contemporary masters. Highlights include a large archive of material by Oda Otoya, a scenic master of contemporary theater, over 500 issues of a Kabuki fanzine and a peek behind the scenes of Actors Without Makeup.
1919. Kamigata Shumi 上方趣味 [2 hand fans on front wrapper]. 夏の巻 Natsu no Maki [Summer edition]. 大正 Taishō 8 [1919].15.5 x 10.7cm bound Japanese style, fukuro-toji with decorated front wrapper of 2 hand fans. 28 cho with index, ads, and information and articles on things to do and see in..... More
19. [COSTUME DESIGNS - NOH THEATER] NOH-KA GABI. Tokyo & Kyoto: Unsodo, n.d. [Showa 9, 1934]. Large brocade covered wooden box of 102 (of 100 - there are 2 extra plates not called for in the contents pages) plates of Noh costumes, patterns, masks, etc. An impressive mixture of printing..... More
1900. [CREPE PAPER BOOK] FLORENZ, K. Japanische Dramen TERAKOYA u. ASAGAO. Leipzig: C.F. Amelangs Verlag (Hasegawa, Yotsuya Hommura, Tokyo, Meiji 33 [1900]) Large format (19.6 X 15.4 cm) creped paper book, illustrated with color woodcuts. This is the "Dritte Auflage". Near fine in a clasped wraparound that shows but the..... More
[JAPANESE POSTER] Victor Records. Kabukigeki SHINSARAYASHIKI. 79 X 36 cm. Prewar poster advertising a recording of a modern Kabuki play, the "(new) Plate Mansion" the cast of which included Okami Kikugoro. The image is of the missing and broken) plate alluded to in the title. Very good condition with a...... More
[JAPANESE THEATRE]. ODA OTOYA: A COLLECTION OF STAGE DESIGNS. Oda Otoya (1920-2006) began his career in the arts as an illustrator of fiction, moving to stage design in the post-war period. He created designs for many plays at the National Theatre in Tokyo, as well as the famous Little Theatre..... More
1930. [PREWAR ARCHITECTURE] Obayashi Gumi. TOKYO GEKIJO. Osaka, Showa 5 [1930]. Large 8vo., wrappers, illustrated with photos throughout, along with many plans. A visual and textual discussion of Shochiku's TOKYO THEATRE, a large Western-style building designed for the performance of Kabuki, one of several Kabuki theatres in Tokyo which provided..... More
1960. (SHARAKU). SHARAKU: A COMPLETE COLLECTION; SHARAKU I, SHARAKU II. Reproduction by The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints. Text by Teruji Yoshida. Special article by Ichitaro Kondo. English translation by Jiro Harada. Edited by Toyohisa Adachi. Tokyo: Meiji-Shobo, 1960. One folio, (of two published) blue cloth-covered chitsu cases, with clasps;..... More
189. Shikitei Sanba (Samba) 式亭三馬, illustrator. 東都. Shibai Kinmō Zui 戯場訓蒙図彙. Tōto [Tokyo]. Aoki Suzando, publisher. c. 1890s. 8 volumes bound as 5, 22 x 15cm bound Japanese style fukuro-toji. Original, black and white woodblock prints with Japanese text. Each volume centers on a different aspect of Kabuki theater, with..... More
![Item #89791 YAKUSHA EHON [YAKUSHA KONOTEGASHIWA] 2 vols. in 1. artist Utagawa TOYOKUNI I](https://rarebook.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/89791.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1613853395)
1803. Utagawa TOYOKUNI I, artist. YAKUSHA EHON [YAKUSHA KONOTEGASHIWA] 2 vols. in 1. 20.7 x 14.6 cm, string-bound, Japanese-style, fukuro-toji. Brushed paper title label. One of Toyokuni's early and important books. It is a sought-after "highspot" of the ukiyo-e genre. Here found incomplete. There were two volumes, of which this..... More