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Kōdan
is a style of traditional oral Japanese storytelling. The form evolved out of lectures on historical or literary topics given to high-ranking nobles of the Heian period, changing over the centuries to be adopted by the general samurai class and eventually by commoners, and eventually, by the end of the Edo period, declining in favor of new types of entertainment and storytelling such as '' naniwa-bushi''. It was at this time that the term ''kōshaku'' was abandoned and ''kōdan'' adopted. Today, after a failed attempt to revive the art in 1974, there are four schools of ''kōdan'' and only a very few performers between them. The three traditional classifications of kōdan are ''Gundan'', ''Gokirokumono'', and ''Sewamono''; meaning ''war stories'', ''true stories'', and ''contemporary stories'' respectively. Kōdan is usually performed sitting behind a desk or lectern, and using wooden clappers or a fan to mark the rhythm of the recitation. The original kōdan performances were re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kodansha
is a Japanese privately held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha publishes manga magazines which include ''Nakayoshi'', ''Morning (magazine), Morning'', ''Afternoon (magazine), Afternoon'', ''Evening (magazine), Evening'', ''Weekly Young Magazine'', ''Weekly Shōnen Magazine'', and ''Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine'', as well as the more literary magazines ''Gunzō'', ''Weekly Gendai, Shūkan Gendai'', and the Japanese dictionary, ''Nihongo Daijiten''. Kodansha was founded by Seiji Noma in 1909, and members of his family continue as its owners either directly or through the Noma Cultural Foundation. History Seiji Noma founded Kodansha in 1909 as a spin-off of the ''Dai-Nippon Yūbenkai'' (, "Greater Japan Oratorical Society") and produced the literary magazine, ''Yūben,'' () as its first publication. The name ''Kodansha'' (taken from ''Kōdan Club'' (), a now-defunct magazine published by the company) originated in 1911 when the publisher formally merged wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theatre Of Japan
Traditional Japanese theatre is among the oldest theatre traditions in the world. Traditional theatre includes Noh, a spiritual drama, and its comic accompaniment ; kabuki, a dance and music theatrical tradition; , puppetry; and , a spoken drama. Modern Japanese theatre includes (experimental Western-style theatre), ''shinpa'' (new school theatre) and (little theatre). In addition, there are many classical western plays and musical adaptations of popular television shows and movies that are produced in Japan. Traditional forms of theatre Noh and Noh and theatre traditions are among the oldest continuous theatre traditions in the world. The earliest existing scripts date from the 15th century. Noh was a spiritual drama, combining symbolism from Buddhism and Shinto and focusing on tales with mythic significance. , its comic partner, served as a link between the theological themes of the Noh play with the pedestrian world by use of theatrical farce and slapstick. Noh theatre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yose
''Yose'' (Japanese: 寄席) is a form of spoken vaudeville theatre of Japan cultivated since the 18th century. The term also refers to the exclusive theater where ''yose'' is held. History The ''yose'' was a popular form of spoken theatre in the Edo period. The term is the shortened form of ''Hito yose seki'' (人寄せ席), roughly "Where people sit together". Towards the end of the Edo period, there were several hundred theatres, about one per district (町, '' chō''). The entrance fee, the "wooden door penny" (木戸銭, ''Kido-zeni''), was small. A number of variants existed: * "Narrative stories" (講談, '' Kōdan'') * "Emotional stories" (人情噺, '' Ninjō-banashi'') * "Comic stories" (落語, ''Rakugo'') * "Magic Arts" (手品, ''Tejina'') * "Shadow theatre" (写し絵, '' Utsushi-e'') * "Imitation of several people" (八人芸, ''Hachinin-gei'') * "Ghost Stories" (怪談, '' Kaidan'') * "Artful Tales" (芸屋噺) and others. The main direction was the ''kōdan' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akasaka, Tokyo
is a residential and commercial district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, located west of the government center in Nagatachō and north of the Roppongi district. Akasaka (including the neighboring area of Aoyama) was a ward of Tokyo City from 1878 to 1947, and maintains a branch office of the Minato City government. Notable sites *Akasaka Sacas * Embassy of the United States, Mexico, Cambodia, Canada, Iraq, Spain and Syria as well as San Marino * Ark Hills and Suntory Hall * Hikawa Shrine * Nogi Shrine * Tokyo Midtown * Takahashi Korekiyo's residence and memorial park * Riki Mansion home of Rikidōzan In neighbouring Moto-Akasaka (literally "original Akasaka") to the North: * Akasaka Palace (State Guest House) * Togu Palace Residence of the Crown Prince of Japan Companies based in Akasaka * Anycolor 9-7-2, Akasaka * DefSTAR Records 4-5 Akasaka * EMI Music Japan 5-3-1 Akasaka * Epic Records Japan 9-6-35 Akasaka * Fujifilm * Fuji Xerox [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kodansha Encyclopedia Of Japan
The ''Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan'' is a comprehensive English-language encyclopedia first published in 1983 that covers a broad range of topics on Japan. History First published by Kodansha in 1983 followed by a supplemental volume in 1986. A two-volume updated edition, and a one-volume abridged (and updated) edition were published in 1993. The latter was the basis of the online version, which as of June 2010, is no longer available as a free-standing site. It can still be accessed through the JapanKnowledge database. Content The encyclopedia was created by both Japanese (680) and non-Japanese scholars (524) from 27 nations. Some of the advisors to the ''Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan'' included Edwin O. Reischauer, Gerald L. Curtis, Ronald P. Dore, John W. Hall, Ezra Vogel, Akira Iriye, and Tsuru Shigeto. Japanese scholars produced 40 percent of the text, while foreign scholars wrote the remaining 60 percent. Japanese and American scholars wrote the majority of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilising all resources in pursuit of total war. Tanks in World War II, Tanks and Air warfare of World War II, aircraft played major roles, enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, first and only nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II is the List of wars by death toll, deadliest conflict in history, causing World War II casualties, the death of 70 to 85 million people, more than half of whom were civilians. Millions died in genocides, including the Holocaust, and by massacres, starvation, and disease. After the Allied victory, Allied-occupied Germany, Germany, Allied-occupied Austria, Austria, Occupation of Japan, Japan, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ruling emperors before the Meiji Restoration, the events restored practical power to, and consolidated the political system under, the Emperor of Japan. The Restoration led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure and spanned both the late Edo period (often called the Bakumatsu) and the beginning of the Meiji era, during which time Japan rapidly Industrialization, industrialised and adopted Western culture, Western ideas and production methods. The origins of the Restoration lay in economic and political difficulties faced by the Tokugawa shogunate. These problems were compounded by the encroachment of foreign powers in the region which challenged the Tokugawa policy of , specifically the arrival of the Pe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring Prefectures of Japan, prefectures, is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 41 million residents . Lying at the head of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo is part of the Kantō region, on the central coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island. It is Japan's economic center and the seat of the Government of Japan, Japanese government and the Emperor of Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government administers Tokyo's central Special wards of Tokyo, 23 special wards, which formerly made up Tokyo City; various commuter towns and suburbs in Western Tokyo, its western area; and two outlying island chains, the Tokyo Islands. Although most of the w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—and List of islands of Japan, thousands of smaller islands, covering . Japan has a population of over 123 million as of 2025, making it the List of countries and dependencies by population, eleventh-most populous country. The capital of Japan and List of cities in Japan, its largest city is Tokyo; the Greater Tokyo Area is the List of largest cities, largest metropolitan area in the world, with more than 37 million inhabitants as of 2024. Japan is divided into 47 Prefectures of Japan, administrative prefectures and List of regions of Japan, eight traditional regions. About three-quarters of Geography of Japan, the countr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Storytelling
Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing narrative, stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatre, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation or instilling moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include Plot (narrative), plot, Character (arts), characters and point of view (literature), narrative point of view. The term "storytelling" can refer specifically to oral storytelling but also broadly to techniques used in other media to unfold or disclose the narrative of a story. Historical perspective Storytelling, intertwined with the development of mythology, mythologies, predates writing. The earliest forms of storytelling were usually oral literature, oral, combined with gestures and expressions. Storytelling often has a prominent educational and performative role in religious rituals (for example, the Passover Seder), and some archaeo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muromachi Period
The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ''shōgun'', Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kenmu Restoration (1333–1336) of imperial rule was brought to a close. The period ended in 1573 when the 15th and last shogun of this line, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, was driven out of the capital in Kyoto by Oda Nobunaga. From a cultural perspective, the period can be divided into the Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures (later 15th – early 16th centuries). The early years from 1336 to 1392 of the Muromachi period are known as the or Northern and Southern Court period. This period is marked by the continued resistance of the supporters of Emperor Go-Daigo, the emperor behind the Kenmu Restoration. The Sengoku period or Warring States period, which begins in 1465, largely overlaps ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shinto Texts
are the holy books of Shinto. The main two books are the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, collectively called the . Content * Tennōki record of the genealogy of the Imperial Family. Burned in a fire in 645 with no other copies existing. Only record is in the Nihon Shoki. * One of the Kiki. * One of the Kiki, first of the Rikkokushi. * * * a book that used to be part of the Kiki, generally seen as a forgery based on the ''Nihon Shoki'', the ''Kojiki'' and the .Encyclopedia of Shinto' entry by Masafumi Motosawa, 2007. Kokugakuin University. Accessed 2013-6-19. No longer seen as scripture These books are sometimes considered scripture * Engishiki * * Manyoshu * * Rikkokushi * Shoku Nihongi * '' Konjaku Monogatarishū'' * ''Nihon Ryōiki'' History The Kojiki was written first in 711. It is the oldest surviving Japanese book. It is believed that the compilation of various genealogical and anecdotal histories of the imperial (Yamato) court and prominent clans began durin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
