Japanese Literary Awards

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Kazuo Sekiyama

せきやま かずお

Sekiyama Kazuo

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1929-10-08 （Aichi Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2013-05-09 age 83
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Jōdo-shū (Nishiyama branch)
Residence History
Aichi Prefecture, Japan → Nagoya, Japan → Kyoto, Japan

Career

Occupations
Folklorist, University professor, Researcher, Editor
Active Years
1952-2013
Affiliations
Tokai Gakuen Women's Junior College, Bukkyo University, Kyoto Seizan Junior College
Influenced
Utaiji Tachibana, Gifu Rakugo Listening Society, Gamagori Rakugo Listening Society

Education

Otani University
Department of Japanese Literature
Year of Graduation: 1952
Country: Japan
Undergraduate graduation (Department of Japanese Literature)
Otani University
Degree: 文学博士
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: Japan
Awarded Doctor of Literature for dissertation 'A Historical Study of Sermons'

Awards

Japan Essayists' Club Award
1964
Work: Sermons and the Spoken Arts
Organization: Japan Essayists' Club
Result: Recipient
Arts Encouragement Prize (Newcomer)
1987
Work: Rakugo Fuzokucho (and other works)
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs / related arts organizations
Result: Recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sermons and the Spoken Arts

1964 Folklore / Essay

Examines the relationship between sermons and spoken entertainment, arguing that setudan sermons are a source of spoken performing arts.

sermonsspoken artsnarrative performance

A Historical Study of Sermons

1973 Scholarly research

Based on his doctoral thesis, this work investigates the history of sermons and explores intersections between Buddhist preaching and popular performing arts.

Buddhist sermonshistory of performancefolk culture

Rakugo Fuzokucho

1985 Folklore / Rakugo studies

A study and account of rakugo, covering its customs, performers, and the history of rakugo performances.

rakugoperformance historypopular culture

Bibliography

  • Anrakuan Sakuden: Genealogy of Tales
  • Sermons and the Spoken Arts
  • Yose and Sideshow Notes: History of Nagoya Yose Performances
  • Chukyo Performing Arts Local Chronicles
  • A Historical Study of Sermons
  • Genealogy of the Spoken Arts: Tracing the History of Popular Spoken Arts
  • Ten Years of Gan-sho Nagaya Rakugo
  • History of Sermons: Buddhism and the Spoken Arts
  • Buddhism and Folk Performing Arts
  • Rakugo Fuzokucho
  • Rakugo Food Discussions
  • Biographies of Rakugo Masters
  • Popular Culture and Buddhism (reissued as Popular Performing Arts and Buddhism)
  • Popular Buddhist Culture: Aspects of Popular Religious Instruction
  • The Life of the Monk Anrakuan Sakuden

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scholarly yet accessible proseCombines folkloristic description with cultural-historical analysis
Recurring Motifs
spoken artsintersection of Buddhism and popular culturenarrative forms such as rakugo and kodan

Legacy

He developed a distinctive perspective placing sermons as a source of spoken performing arts, comprehensively studying rakugo, sermons, and narrative traditions. Through decades of organizing rakugo events and compiling texts, he helped establish foundations for spoken-arts research and influenced regional rakugo societies and scholars.

Trivia

  • He used the term "spoken arts" (話芸) to discuss narrative performing traditions broadly.
  • Organized the Nagoya rakugo series "Gansho Nagaya" (含笑長屋) from 1967 to 2013.
  • His grave is at Mandaraji Temple in Konan, Aichi Prefecture.