Passion for Kabuki Overflowing in Post-War Publications

2023/07/19

Among the archives managed by the Keio University Art Center (KUAC), the "Tanabe Collection" has a slightly different character than the others. Unlike other archives, the Tanabe Collection is primarily formed from a very limited range of materials: the editorial records of the Kabuki magazine "Yakusha."

"Yakusha" was a Kabuki information magazine published basically monthly for a short period from 1947 to 1949. In an era when making a magazine was no easy feat, it featured photographs and critiques of the previous month's Kabuki performances. The sheer volume of text reveals the immense passion for Kabuki in post-war Japan. The cover of the first issue features the kumadori makeup of Kamakura Gongoro, played by Matsumoto Koshiro VII in "Shibaraku." This was created using a technique called "oshiguma," where paper or cloth is pressed directly onto the actor's face to capture the makeup. Considering that subsequent covers used paintings, one can sense the extraordinary effort poured into this first issue. Another characteristic of "Yakusha" is the frequent publication of off-shot photos of actors taken backstage. Some of these photos include the actors' signatures, and they are preserved as valuable materials, including photos that were never published in the magazine.

The ability to use oshiguma and publish off-shot photos was not just because "Yakusha" was a rare magazine delivering Kabuki information after the war. Mitsuo Tanabe, who spent his private fortune to publish the magazine, had interacted with actors since the time of his father, Takeo. He even performed on stage himself and was reportedly asked by Ichikawa Sadanji to be adopted into his family. It is precisely because of this background that he was able to publish the magazine using the aforementioned valuable materials.

The exhibition currently being held at the Keio University Art Center (KUAC), "Passion for Kabuki: The Tanabe Collection / 'Yakusha' Related Materials Exhibition" (until July 28), features original magazines, photographs, and original illustrations. Furthermore, in its later stages, "Yakusha" deepened its scholarly aspects under the leadership of Kotaro Kawaguchi. Among the exhibits, the attempt at a "theater on paper" performance and critique titled "Kuso Gekijo" (Fantasy Theater), for which the original manuscript is displayed, is particularly interesting. Additionally, critiques of actors by university students offer a glimpse into how young people viewed Kabuki at the time. At the exhibition venue, visitors will be able to feel the passionate gaze directed toward art in the society immediately following the defeat in the war.

(Shinsuke Niikura, Curator, Keio University Art Center (KUAC))