Japanese Literary Awards

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Toshio Kawatake

かわたけ としお

Kawatake Toshio

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1924-12-07 （Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2013-05-06 （Tokyo, Japan） age 88
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Theatre scholar, University professor, Author, Critic
Active Years
1950-2013
Affiliations
Waseda University, Kyoritsu Women's University, Japan Comparative Literature Association, Japanese Association for Theatre Studies, Broadcasting Culture Foundation
Memberships
Japan Comparative Literature Association, Japanese Association for Theatre Studies, Japan Theatre Association, Broadcasting Culture Foundation

Education

Seijo High School (old system)
Pre-war high school
Country: Japan
Graduated from the pre-war Seijo high school system
Tokyo Imperial University (University of Tokyo)
Faculty of Science / Department of Physics
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Faculty of Science, Department of Physics
Waseda University, First Faculty of Letters (graduate school)
First Faculty of Letters / Department of Theatre Studies
Country: Japan
Completed graduate studies at Waseda University; later became professor emeritus
University of Tokyo (Doctor of Letters)
Graduate School of Letters / Theatre Studies
Degree: 文学博士 (Doctor of Letters)
Year of Graduation: 1974
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: 'Modern Japanese Theatre and Hamlet: A Study of the History of Hamlet's Introduction'
Harvard-Yenching Institute (Visiting Researcher)
Period: 客員研究員として招聘
Country: United States
Invited as a visiting researcher at the Harvard-Yenching Institute

Awards

Art Encouragement Prize (Newcomer)
1968
Work: Comparative Theatre Studies
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Order of St. Olav
1972
Organization: Kingdom of Norway
Result: 受章
Yomiuri Literature Prize
1981
Work: The Author's House
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1981
Work: The Author's House
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Tokio Marine Kakami Memorial Foundation Excellent Book Award
1983
Organization: Tokio Marine Kakami Memorial Foundation
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1987
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Kanagawa Culture Award
1988
Organization: Kanagawa Prefecture
Result: 受賞
Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) Award
1990
Organization: Lafcadio Hearn Memorial
Result: 受賞
Dublin Mayor's Award
1990
Organization: Dublin City
Result: 受賞
Commendation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
1991
Organization: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Result: 表彰
Japan Foundation Award
1994
Organization: Japan Foundation
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (3rd class)
1995
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Hasegawa Shin Award
1996
Organization: Hasegawa Shin Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Art Academy Award & Imperial Prize
2000
Organization: Japan Art Academy
Result: 受賞
Person of Cultural Merit
2001
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 選出
Waseda University Arts Merit Award
2002
Organization: Waseda University
Result: 表彰
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
2003
Organization: NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Result: 受賞
Senior Fourth Rank (posthumous)
2013
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 追贈
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (posthumous)
2013
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 追贈

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Comparative Theatre Studies

1967 Scholarly work

A foundational study aiming to systematize comparative theatre studies, presenting theories through comparisons of kabuki and Western theatre.

comparative theatrekabuki studies

The Author's House: People after Mokuami

1980 Non-fiction / Research

A family-history style study tracing the Kawatake family's history and the legacy of kabuki playwright Kawatake Mokuami.

kabuki historyfamily history

Kabuki

2001 Scholarly book

A comprehensive account of kabuki history and aesthetics, organizing key features and theories of kabuki.

kabukiaestheticshistory

Introduction to Theatre Studies

1978 Textbook / Introduction

An introductory textbook explaining fundamentals of theatre studies; used in education and republished in later editions.

theatre theoryeducation

On the Aesthetics of Kabuki

1989 Scholarly book

A collection of essays on kabuki aesthetics, including discussions of 'ba' (space) theory and the kabuki baroque thesis.

kabukiaestheticsspace ('ba') theory

Bibliography

  • Japanese Performing Arts (1953)
  • Stories of Theatre (1956)
  • Coordinates of Theatre (1959)
  • Comparative Theatre Studies (1967)
  • The Life of Kabuki (1969)
  • Japan's Hamlet (1972)
  • Introduction to Theatre Studies (1978)
  • Introduction to Kabuki Appreciation (1980)
  • The Author's House: People after Mokuami (1980)
  • On the Aesthetics of Kabuki (1989)
  • Mokuami (1993)
  • Collected Essays on Kabuki by Toshio Kawatake (1999)
  • Kabuki (2001)
  • Continued Comparative Theatre Studies (2005)

Translations by Author

  • John Van Druten 'The Craft of Modern Playwriting' (translated, 1954)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
academic, logical style grounded in comparative researchcritical and expository prose
Recurring Motifs
kabuki 'ba' (space) theorycomparative cultural perspectiveshistory of Hamlet's introduction to Japan

Health

  • heart failure
    2013年（終末期）
    Died of heart failure on 2013-05-06

Legacy

Known as a pioneer of comparative theatre studies and kabuki scholarship; he contributed influential theories such as kabuki 'ba' theory and the 'kabuki baroque' thesis. Through teaching and international exchange he helped shape the foundation of theatre studies in Japan.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Comparative Literature Association
  • Japanese Association for Theatre Studies

Archives

  • Waseda University Library
  • National Diet Library (Japan)

In Popular Culture

  • Serialized essays in 'Watashi no Rirekisho' (My Career) in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (2010)
  • Read the kyogen name title at the formal ceremony of the new Kabuki-za opening (2013)

Quotes

  • I have fulfilled the responsibility of inheriting the family.
    Source: Reported interview in kabuki-related media (2013)
  • When doing important work, I sharpen a kitchen knife beforehand to focus my mind.
    Source: Interview / anecdotal sources

Trivia

  • He said he sharpens a kitchen knife before important tasks to concentrate.
  • He created the calligraphic title for Fukumitsuya's sake 'Kagatobi'.
  • Reportedly had a hobby of collecting frogs (citation needed).