Theatre Museum

In Waseda University, there is Theatre Museum which was established in celebration of the 70th birthday of Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859-1935) and his translations of the complete works of Shakespeare. He was a leader in modern Japanese leterature, especially contributing to the development of the dramatic arts in Japan. He was also a founder of the Department of Literature of Waseda University, and edited the periodical Waseda Bungaku.

Exhibits were like this:

1F
*The World of Shakespeare
(Many Faces of "Shakespeare", Shakespeare Theatre Space, Shakespeare on Stage, and Shakespeare in the history of Japanese drama)

*Special Exhibition Room in honour of Nakamura Utaemon Ⅳ

2F
In the corridor, you can get a lot of pamphlets of plays!

*The Fortune and the Theatre Museum
I was surprised to know that the stage in front of this museum has often been used for actual plays! The epigraph says "Totus Mundus Agit Historionem" (Latin). It means "All the World is a stage."

*Tsubouchi Shoyo Memorial Room
(Shoyo in Atami, Translation, Ethic Education, Theatre Research, Plays for Children, Buryo, Bungei Kyokai, Dramaturgy, and Literary Works)

*Folk Performing Arts
(Kagura, Dengaku, Huryu, Traditional Festival & Performing Art in Japan)

3F (Japanese Theatre)
*The Ancient Age
(Gigaku, Sangaku and Bugaku)

*The Middle Ages
(Dengaku, Ennen, Noh and Kyogen)
I tried to wear a Noh mask "Zou-no-onna", a mask for a role of a noble lady. It was fun! I want to know what it's like acting with a mask.

*The Early Modern Age
(Kabuki and Ningyo Joruri)

*The Modern Age
(Shimpa, Shingeki, New National Theatre, Comedy, Light Comedies, Striptease, Girls Performance, Musical, etc)

*The Present Age (Contemporary)
I got to know there was a exhibit of Tobiraza here in 2002. I came here too late... Now there features Condors. In November there will feature Ibsen. I want come here again on this time.

It opens everyday 10:00-17:00, and it's free! You must check it once!