Japanese Literary Awards

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Tetsuya Imao

いまお てつや

Imao Tetsuya

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1931-02-17 (Dalian (formerly Kantōshū))
Died
2013-02-06 age 81
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Theatre researcher, Kabuki researcher, University professor
Active Years
1947-2013
Affiliations
Sugino Fashion College (Sugino University of Fashion), Tamagawa University, Musashino University

Education

Doshisha University
Faculty of Letters, Department of English / Department of English
Degree: 学士
Period: 〜1953
Year of Graduation: 1953
Country: Japan
Waseda University
Graduate School, Department of Theatre Studies / Department of Theatre Studies
Period: 〜1960(博士課程単位取得満期退学)
Year of Graduation: 1960
Country: Japan
Completed doctoral coursework but withdrew after fulfilling credits
Waseda University
Graduate School of Letters / Theatre Studies
Degree: 博士(文学)
Period: 1999
Year of Graduation: 1999
Country: Japan
Awarded Doctor of Letters for thesis on Genroku Kabuki (focus on 'yatsushi' phenomena)

Awards

Kawatake Prize
1971
Work: The Idea of Metamorphosis
Organization: Kawatake Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education)
1993
Work: Yakusha Rongo: Annotations
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Idea of Metamorphosis: The Logic of Acting in Japanese Theatre

1970 Theatre studies

A study of acting and the concept of metamorphosis in Japanese theatre, analyzed using folkloric approaches.

acting theorymetamorphosisfolkloric methodology

History of Kabuki

2000 History / Theatre studies

An overview of the formation and development of Kabuki, tracing changes in plays, actors, and acting.

kabuki historyhistory of acting

Roots of Kabuki

2001 Theatre studies

Explores the cultural and social origins of Kabuki, discussing the relationship between tradition and change.

cultural originstradition and transformation

Kawatake Mokuyūmi

2009 Biography / Critical study

A critical biography examining the life and works of late-Edo to Meiji playwright Kawatake Mokuyūmi.

critical biographyplaywright studies

Bibliography

  • The Idea of Metamorphosis: The Logic of Acting in Japanese Theatre (1970)
  • Descendants of Other People (1974)
  • For Those Who Watch Kabuki (1979)
  • Kira's Head: Chushingura and Imagination (1987)
  • History of Kabuki (2000)
  • Roots of Kabuki (2001)
  • Kawatake Mokuyūmi (2009)
  • Reexamining Kabuki 'Conventional Wisdom' (2010)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Theatre research employing folkloric methodologyScholarly yet accessible prose
Recurring Motifs
kabukiacting theorytradition and transformation

Health

  • Lung cancer
    Died of lung cancer on 2013-02-06

Legacy

A scholar who made long-standing contributions to kabuki studies and acting theory. He incorporated folkloric methods into theatre research and influenced subsequent scholars through teaching and editorial work.

Archives

  • Holdings / authority data at the National Diet Library

Trivia

  • Studied kabuki under the 6th Bando Minosuke beginning in 1947.
  • Won the Kawatake Prize in 1971 for 'The Idea of Metamorphosis'.
  • Received the Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education) in 1993 for 'Yakusha Rongo: Annotations'.
  • Died of lung cancer in 2013.