Theatre production systems in Japan

This seminar deals with the theater production systems in Japan. During the Edo period (1603–1868), theatrical entertainment was a high-risk business and was strictly controlled by the shogunate. After the Meiji era (1868–1912), as the politics and society surrounding the theater changed, the entertainment industry itself was modernized. So-called kōgyōshi or theater producers appeared, and in the 20th century, rational theatrical entertainment companies gradually came to dominate the theatrical world. In this course, we will examine the organization of theater production in the modern and early modern periods, its key players, and the commercial nature of theater. The purpose of the class is to understand and question the current state of theatrical entertainment in Japan, based on the historical development of entertainment. While the focus will be on Kabuki, other genres will also be covered.