Osaragi Jiro Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 18 (1991) award
Yoshio Oozasa
オオザサ ヨシオ
Oozasa Yoshio
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1941-05-08 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Osaka Prefecture, Japan → Tokyo, Japan
Career
- Occupations
- theatre critic, author, university professor, editor
- Active Years
- 1964-
- Affiliations
- Staff at Engeki Shuppansha (publisher of 'Engekikai') (1964–1975), Professor, Osaka University of Arts (1998–March 2008), Selection committee member, Suntory Art Award, Selection committee member, Asahi Performing Arts Award (until 2008), Chairman, International Association of Theatre Critics (Japan Centre) (1999–2003), Director (former), Japan Theatre Association, Chairman, Japan–Korea Theatre Exchange Centre
- Influenced By
- Masakatsu Gunji
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University, Faculty of Letters I | Faculty of Letters I | Department of Theatre | 学士 | 1960-1964 | Japan |
Waseda University, Faculty of Letters I
Faculty of Letters I
/ Department of Theatre
Degree:
学士
Period:
1960-1964
Year of Graduation:
1964
Country:
Japan
Studied under Masakatsu Gunji
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Suntory Art Award | History of Modern Japanese Theatre (Vol.1: Meiji–Taisho) | — | Suntory Prize Selection Committee | Winner |
| 1991 | Ōfusa Jirō Prize | Hanaga no Hito: Biography of Hanayagi Shōtarō | — | Ōfusa Jirō Prize Committee | Winner |
| 2008 | Yomiuri Literary Prize | Two Generations of Actresses | — | Yomiuri Shimbun | Winner |
| 2010 | Kawatake Prize | New History of Modern Japanese Theatre | — | Kawatake Prize Committee | Winner |
| 2014 | Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) | On the Last Kishida Kunio | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs | Winner |
Suntory Art Award
1985
Work:
History of Modern Japanese Theatre (Vol.1: Meiji–Taisho)
Organization:
Suntory Prize Selection Committee
Result:
Winner
Ōfusa Jirō Prize
1991
Work:
Hanaga no Hito: Biography of Hanayagi Shōtarō
Organization:
Ōfusa Jirō Prize Committee
Result:
Winner
Yomiuri Literary Prize
2008
Work:
Two Generations of Actresses
Organization:
Yomiuri Shimbun
Result:
Winner
Kawatake Prize
2010
Work:
New History of Modern Japanese Theatre
Organization:
Kawatake Prize Committee
Result:
Winner
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2014
Work:
On the Last Kishida Kunio
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Yomiuri Literary Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 59 (2007) award
Works
Major Works
Orthodox Decadence
1978 theatre criticismAn early collection of Oozasa's criticism addressing post-Underground contemporary theatre. His first book, published when he was 37.
underground theatrecritical theory
Contemporary Theatre and Playwrights
1980 criticismA collection of essays on contemporary theatre and playwrights, linking stage practice with literary analysis.
playwright studiescontemporary theatre
A Spiritual History of Drama
1983 theatre studiesA study attempting a spiritual-historical reading of drama, focusing on the relationship between theatrical expression and the zeitgeist.
historical contexttheory of expression
History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Meiji–Taisho
1985 theatre historyVol. 1 of the 'History of Modern Japanese Theatre' series, systematically discussing the formation and development of theatre in the Meiji–Taisho periods. Won the Suntory Art Award in its year of publication.
historical narrationmodern theatre
Hanaga no Hito: Biography of Hanayagi Shōtarō
1991 biography / theatre historyA biographical study tracing the life and artistry of Hanayagi Shōtarō. The work earned the Ōfusa Jirō Prize.
biographyintersection of kabuki and modern theatre
Two Generations of Actresses (Mitsue Suzuki and Ai Sasaki)
2007 biographical criticism / theatre researchBy juxtaposing two actresses, the book highlights changes in acting styles and ideals of actresses across generations.
studies of actressesgenerational comparison
New History of Modern Japanese Theatre (4 vols.)
2010 theatre historyA revised and updated multi-volume history reexamining the established narrative of modern Japanese theatre, covering postwar to contemporary periods.
redefinition of theatre historypostwar theatre
On the Last Kishida Kunio
2013 essay / criticismAn essay reexamining Kishida Kunio's theatrical views and significance. It received the Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education) in 2014.
Kishida Kunio studiestheatre thought
A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan, Vol.1: Meiji–End of WWII
2017 theatre historyVol.1 of a series detailing the history of New Theatre in Japan, covering developments from the Meiji era through WWII.
shinpa/new theatre historyhistorical narration
A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan, Vol.2: 1945–1965
2020 theatre historyVol.2 covering the development of New Theatre from the immediate postwar period through the mid-1960s.
postwar theatreinstitution and production
A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan, Vol.3: 1966–1989
2022 theatre historyVol.3 surveying New Theatre in the late Showa era (1966–1989), broadening critical perspectives on the period.
late Showa eraredefinition of theatre
Bibliography
- Orthodox Decadence (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 1978)
- Contemporary Theatre and Playwrights (Gekishobo, 1980)
- A Spiritual History of Drama (Shinsui-sha, 1983)
- History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Meiji–Taisho (Hakusuisha, 1985)
- History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Taisho–Early Showa (Hakusuisha, 1986)
- History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Prewar Showa (Hakusuisha, 1990)
- Hanaga no Hito: Biography of Hanayagi Shōtarō (Kodansha, 1991)
- The Forest of Contemporary Theatre (Kodansha, 1993)
- History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Wartime Showa Vols.1–3 (Hakusuisha, 1993–1995)
- Actress: Haruko Sugimura (Shueisha, 1995)
- History of Modern Japanese Theatre: Postwar Showa Vols.1–2 (Hakusuisha, 1998–2001)
- Plays Performed by Theatres (Kyoiku Shuppan, 1999)
- On Postwar Theatre (Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2001)
- Theatre Nights in Hatsudai, Tokyo (Shinsui-sha, 2006)
- Two Generations of Actresses (Shueisha, 2007)
- New History of Modern Japanese Theatre (Chuo Koron Shinsha, 4 vols., 2009–2010)
- On the Last Kishida Kunio (Chuko Sosho, 2013)
- Encyclopedia of Japanese Plays (co-ed., Hakusuisha, 2016)
- A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan Vol.1 (Hakusuisha, 2017)
- A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan Vol.2 (Hakusuisha, 2020)
- A Complete History of New Theatre in Japan Vol.3 (Hakusuisha, 2022)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- meticulous, document-based theatre-historical writingan evidential style that moves between criticism and biography
- Recurring Motifs
- intersection of shinpa/new theatre and traditional performancestudies of actresses and actorssystematization of postwar theatre
Legacy
One of the leading scholars and critics of modern Japanese theatre. His long-term, systematic archival and critical work has influenced both theatre scholarship and the practicing stage community.
Academic Societies
- Japan Theatre Association
- International Association of Theatre Critics (Japan Centre)
Trivia
- Studied under Masakatsu Gunji at Waseda University.
- Worked at a theatre publisher after graduating in 1964 and left in 1975 to focus on criticism.
- Published his first book, 'Orthodox Decadence', at age 37.
- Served as a professor at Osaka University of Arts and retired in March 2008.