This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.
Accession No. TRI.2020.0001: Purchase, 2020 January; Accession No. TRI.2023.0004: Purchase, 2020 April; some acquisitions unknown; Accesssion No. TRI.2024.0006: Purchase, 2022 December; Accession No. TRI.2024.0007: Purchase, 2022 December.
[identification of item], Japanese Theatre Collection, SPEC.TRI.0071, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
This collection is unprocessed. Finding Aid written by: Courtney Bishop, 2021 June; Lindsay Resnick, 2023 May; Casey Blackmore, 2024 March.
Japanese theater includes Nō, Kyōgen, and Kabuki, along with other styles of theater. Nō and Kyōgen date back to the 14th century and when performed together is Nōgaku theater. Nō is a spiritual drama whereas Kyōgen links the spiritual themes of Nō to the real world using comedy. Nō and Kyōgen are usually performed together in a series of nine, alternating between the two. Nō is performed on a square stage and all performers are male, with the leading character wearing masks. The costumes of Kyōgen are generally a kamishimo and the actors typically do not wear masks. Kabuki dates to the 17th century and combines music, drama, and dance. Kabuki actors wear kimono that are bright in color and have multiple layers. Kabuki makeup consists of a white base on the face with exaggerated lines. The color of the lines expresses different traits: red for positive; blue or black for negative; green for supernatural; and purple for nobility. Kabuki actors also wear wigs and typically have a different one for every role. Kabuki's popularity reached its height in the mid-18th century, shortly before the end of the Edo Period in 1867.
The Japanese Theatre Collection contains programs for theatrical performances and black-and-white postcards, cabinet cards, a woodblock of kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro, an illustrated scroll featuring forty three dances and costumes and photographs of Japanese actors in stage costumes. Also included are posters advertising Kabuki performances and theaters in the Edo period. Materials are dated 1600-circa 2015. The majority of the collection is in Japanese with some English and one item in German.
Accession No. TRI.2020.0001 contains black and white postcards, cabinet cards, and photographs of Japanese actors in stage costumes for Kabuki. Materials are dated circa 1910-1950s and have captions or handwriting in Japanese.
Accession No. TRI.2023.0004, dated circa 1800-before 1868, contains seventeen posters and one fragment of a poster advertising kabuki theaters, performances, and actors. These posters are entirely printed in Japanese and include illustrations of theatergoers, actors, performances, and other scenes.
Accession No. TRI.2024.0006 contains a 165 x 340 x 20 mm woodblock portrait of the kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro. The woodblock is carved on both sides of the block. The item is dated 1600-1868.
Accession No. TRI.2024.0007 contains a court dancing scroll that is illustrated and entitled "Bugaku emaki." The scroll features forty three illustrations of different dances with cosutmes unique to that dance. The scroll is dated 17th century or 18th century.