Various; Charles J. Dunn; Bunzo Torigoe [trans.] — The Actor&Apos;S Analects (Yakusha Rongo)

Tokyo, The University of Tokyo Press, 1969. First edition. Cloth. An impressive copy of this selection of seventeenth and eighteenth century writings on the popular theatre of Japan, the kabuki. The first UK edition. The first UK edition, translated from the Japanese by Charles J. Dunn and Bunzo Torigoe. The Actor's Analects (Yakusha Rongo) is a miscellany of writings from the seventeenth and early eighteenth century left by the great actors of the live popular theatre of Japan, the kabuki. Providing an insight into the lives, principles, mentality, and aesthetics of the kabuki actors at the time. In addition, this volume includes information on the theatre of the period in Kyoto and Osaka. A charming volume with much illustrative material throughout. With the original Japanese to the rear. With the unclipped dust wrapper. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally lovely with minor shelf wear only. With a minor previous owner inscription to the front free endpaper, dated 1975. The dust wrapper is unclipped and excellent with only minor shelf wear. Internally, firmly bound. The pages are bright and clean. With a pictorial title page and illustrations in text throughout. Near Fine . Ill.: Unnamed. Near Fine/Fine.