Heroes of the Kabuki Stage
Henk & Arendie Herwig
Hotei leiden 2004
360 pp., 280 color illus.
(English), 280 colour ills
Heroes of the Kabuki Stage is written for Kabuki
lovers and collectors of Kabuki woodblock prints
alike, eager to know more about the interesting
images on their prints. The book is a concise
introduction to the world of Kabuki, placed in the
historical and social context of Tokugawa and Meiji
Japan between 1603 and 1912. Several aspects of
Kabuki tradition, such as the playhouse itself, the
interaction between actors and audiences, as well as
the development of plays are explained. The
elaborate costumes, make-up and different acting
styles are discussed and illustrated. A brief historical
outline is given of actor prints and their designers in
both Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Osaka. A large
section of the book is dedicated to retelling the 37
popular Kabuki plays, set against the background of
their origins and supplemented by theatrical
anecdotes. Main scenes of the plays and leading
actor roles are amply illustrated by woodblock prints
produced over a period of more than a century. An
extensive index on roles, actors, playwrights, subjects
and attributes will enable the reader and print collector
to find his way in the spectacular world of Kabuki.
Cloth $ 150.00
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