Japanese Plays
by Al. Sadler

Japanese Plays Book Cover
Japanese Plays Cover

Highlights

Japanese

Synopsis

Classic Noh, Kyogen and Kabuki Works

Nothing reflects the beauty of life as much as Japanese theater.

It is here that reality is held suspended and emptiness can fill the mind with words, music, dance, and mysticism.

A.L.

Sadler translates the mysteries of Noh, Kyogen, and Kabuki in his groundbreaking book, Japanese Plays.

A seminal classic in its time, it provides a cross-section of Japanese theater that gives the reader a sampler of its beauty and power

The power of Noh is in its ability to create an iconic world that represents the attributes that the Japanese hold in highest esteem: family, patriotism, and honor

Kyogen plays provide comic relief often times performed between the serious and stoic Noh plays.

Similarly, Sadler's translated Kyogen pieces are layered between the Noh and the Kabuki plays

The Kabuki plays were the theater of the common people of Japan.

The course of time has given them the patina of folk art making them precious cultural relics of Japan.

Sadler selected these pieces for translation because of their lighter subject matter and relatively upbeat endings—ideal for a western readership.

More linear in their telling and pedestrian in the lessons learned these plays show the difficulties of being in love when a society is bent on conformity and paternal rule

The end result found in Japanese Plays is a wonderful selection of classic Japanese dramatic literature sure to enlighten and delight.

Publication

Year Published
2010
ISBN 10
4805310731
ISBN 13
9784805310731
Binding
Paperback
Print Length
320 pages
Place Published
Tokyo
Language
English
LCCN
2009030878
LCC
PL887 .S3 2010
DCC
895.620822
eISBN 13
9781462900527
Print
Japanese Plays is a Japanese play written by and published by Tuttle Publishing in Tokyo, 2010. The print edition has an ISBN-13 of 9784805310731 and an ISBN-10 of 4805310731.
Digital
ePlay digital editions are available on Amazon Kindle Apple Books Google Play with an ISBN-13 of 9781462900527.