Japanese Theatre

Japanese Theatre is an illustrated study of the major theatrical forms of Japan: Noh, Kabuki, Bunraku, and Bugaku. Written by Thomas Immoos with photographs by Fred Mayer, this digital PDF edition offers immediate access to a classic work on Japanese performance.

This digital download contains the complete text and illustrations from the 1977 Rizzoli edition. After purchase, readers can access the file instantly on compatible devices.

Book Overview: Japanese Theatre

Japanese Theatre is a collaborative study in words and pictures. Thomas Immoos, professor of German language and literature at Sophia University in Tokyo, examines the roots of Japanese drama in traditions and popular religion. He traces the development of Bugaku, Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki, and contrasts the emotional power of Bunraku with the stylization of Noh.

Fred Mayer’s photographs document actors on stage and behind the scenes, along with musicians, stagehands, masks, and puppets. The book treats the theatre as a living archive of Japanese myth, religion, and history.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• The principles of Japanese theatre: Japan, Magic, Myth, and Mask.
• A historical survey of Bugaku, Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki.
• Thomas Immoos’s analysis of the contrasting forces within Japanese drama.
• Fred Mayer’s photographs of performances, backstage life, masks, and puppets.
• A summary that connects the theatre’s archetypal forms with its historical evolution.

Why Japanese Theatre Matters

When the original German edition appeared, The Stage called it a handsomely produced book likely to remain the standard work on the subject. The English translation, published in 1977, made the study available to a wider audience.

With 112 illustrations, 30 in color, this edition preserves both the scholarly text and the visual record of Japan’s major theatre traditions.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download in PDF format. No physical item will be shipped.

After purchase, you can access the file on compatible reading devices, including Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile phones.

FAQ

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This is a digital PDF download only.

When can I access the book?
Access is available immediately after purchase.

What devices can I use?
The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and most PDF reading programs.

Download Japanese Theatre and explore this illustrated study of Japan’s major theatrical traditions.

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