6. KABUKI BOOK COVERS: KABUKI; DENTŌ NO BI (Kabuki: The Beauty of Tradition), edited by Kawatake Toshio

6. KABUKI BOOK COVERS: KABUKI; DENTŌ NO BI (Kabuki: The Beauty of Tradition), edited by Kawatake Toshio

The sixth entry in Kabuki Woogie’s coverage of Japanese books on kabuki from my private collection is this very well-illustrated overview (n.d.; ca. 1985) edited by the late, prolific scholar, Kawatake Toshio. I’ve provided the Japanese table of contents but the contents are standard for such books, which are legion. The chapters, each by someone else, include “The Beauty of Form,” “Actors and Role Types,” “Playwrights and Plays,” “Production and Techniques,” “The Hanamichi and Other Stage Devices,” descriptions of a couple of plays, and so on. The cover is of the late Ichikawa Danjūrō XII.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions about the book you may have.

Ichikawa Danjūrō XII as Kumedera Danjō in Kenuki.

Rear cover. Bandō Tamasaburō V as the Wisteria Maiden in Fuji Musume.

Table of contents (1)

Table of Contents (2).

Ichikawa Ennosuke III (now En'o II) as Tomomori in Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura.

Top: Gandogaeshi scene change technique in Benten Kozō. Lower left: tech rehearsal to check that all scenic devices are working. Lower right. actors' run through without costumes.

Kumadori (painted face makeup).