Waseda theater research and education

Waseda University has a long, multifaceted tradition of theater research that traces its roots to author, critic, playwright, translator, editor, and professor Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859-1935).

In this article, Professor Shintaro Fuji of the Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences shares his thoughts on theater research and education.

Communicating the power of modern theater

Professor Shintaro Fuji
Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences

I research modern performing arts such as theater and dance from French speaking parts of Europe and North America. France, with its comprehensive political measures to support culture and the arts, has an affluent theater culture that is the envy of all of Europe. Paris, my dream city, is constantly showcasing interesting performances from around the world. The experience of witnessing an extravagant performance that impacts you to the point where “the person you were yesterday goes away” is the starting point for my research. I want students to cherish these jolting experiences where they encounter something odd that is greater than themselves. I am researching these powerful performances and the cultural and economic backgrounds that produce them, and hope to be able to contribute to the development of Japan’s performing arts.

In the Traditional Engeki Eizo Course (Theater Film Course), I lecture on theater from ancient Greece to modern Europe, and address various points regarding modern performing arts. I do my best to deepen the understanding of students, answering questions and experimenting with different approaches for explaining certain topics.

Professor Fuji received the Odashima Yushi Award for Drama Translation for his translation of Wajdi Mouawad’s “Scorched”

I would like to communicate the importance of a comprehensive understanding of theater. When studying traditional theater, great emphasis is placed on reading the scripts, but for modern theater, a text is not absolutely necessary. Studying political, societal, and economic backgrounds and the entire process of a production from rehearsal to live performance leads to a deeper understanding beyond just that of the stage performance. Individuals with this kind of perspective are in demand in modern theater.

The rebirth of Waseda’s Dramakan Theater enables students and faculty to put theory into practice. I hope this sparks new and interesting performances from Waseda!