Tour Opening Leture Event
”Preserving and Reviving 1930s Japanese Paper Films“
Eric Faden (Bucknell University)
In 1930s Japan, when most films shown in theaters were printed on celluloid, a limited number of motion pictures were produced for a brief period as home entertainment toys using images printed on paper film. Many of these were animated works.
The Yanai Initiative for Global Japanese Humanities, a collaborative project between Waseda University and UCLA, will present a screening event titled “The Hidden Origins of Japanese Animation”, showcasing digital restorations of these paper-based films. The screenings will take place over the course of about one month starting Saturday, June 14, at 6 venues across Japan.
This screening event will not only introduce paper films but will also feature various related visual materials to provide historical context for their creation.
Prior to the above upcoming screening event, we are excited to welcome Professor Eric Faden from Bucknell University (USA), who has been working to preserve and share the charm of very delicate Paper film through digital archiving.
The program also includes a live performance by Duo YUMENO (Koto and Cello) and a demonstration screening accompanied by narration from benshi (silent film narrator) Ichirō Kataoka, offering audiences an immersive experience into the world of paper film.
Please join us for this rare opportunity to explore the origins of modern Japanese animation -an essential yet still little -known part of Japan’s creative legacy.
Detail
- Date & Time：June 13 (Fri）Doors open 5:30 pm
Part 1
6:00~6:55 pm Lecture by Eric Faden & Demonstration Screening by Duo YUMENO with narrator Ichiro Kataoka
6:55~7:10 pm Break
Part 2
7:10~7:45 pm Discussion - Eric Faden, Duo YUMENO & Ichiro Kataoka
7:45 pm Event close
- Venue: Ono Auditorium, Waseda University
- Language: English (with Japanese translation)
- Admission: Free and open to the public ※No reservation required
- Organized by: The Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities
Guest Speaker
Eric Faden
Eric Faden is a Professor of Film/Media Studies at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA USA). His research has appeared in a wide range of journals and anthologies. He also pioneered the video essay format with works appearing in journals and international screenings in museums and film festivals in the US, France, Australia, and the UK. In 2017, he began researching Japanese cinema while teaching at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan.
Performers
Duo YUMENO
A unique koto and cello duo that bridges traditional Japanese music and classical chamber music, acclaimed by The New York Times and others. In 2019, they held their 10th anniversary recital at Carnegie Hall. They are the first Japanese -Western duo to receive a commissioning grant from Chamber Music America. Duo Yumeno has performed internationally, including at the University of Cambridge, events commemorating the Japan–Caribbean Exchange Year, and major venues such as the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian National Gallery of Art, and the United Nations Headquarters. In 2024, they released Heike Quinto under classical label NAXOS.
Yoko Reikano Kimura (koto)
A Yamada-school koto performer based in New York and Japan, Kimura has performed in over 20 countries and received praise from The New York Times for her playing and singing as “superb”. She has appeared as a soloist at international festivals and venues including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kimura has performed Daron Hagen’s Koto Concerto: Genji with numerous ensembles and orchestras. A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, she received the Kenjun Prize (1st place) at the 10th Kenjun National Koto Competition.
Hikaru Tamaki (cello)
Trained under Noboru Kamimura and Peter Seidenberg, Tamaki studied at the Eastman School of Music, Rice University under Paul Katz, and earned his graduate degree at Northwestern University by Hans Jensen. A laureate of the Viva Hall International Cello Competition, he served as principal cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and was the member of the Freimann String Quartet until 2013. As a soloist, he has performed Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and symphonic poem Don Quixote. He is currently principal cellist of Berkshire Opera and the member of the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Ichirō Kataoka
A direct disiple of Midori Sawato since 2002, Kataoka has performed in 23 countries in productions like The Art of the Benshi, bringing the culture of benshi narration to international stages. He has narrated approximately 350 silent films and is also active in kamishibai (paper theater), voice acting, singing, and writing. His appearances include films by Isao Yukisada (Spring Snow), Kichitarō Negishi (Yukite Kaeranu), and Sora Hokimoto (BAUS), as well as the NHK historical drama Idaten and the morning drama Boogie Woogie as a benshi. For Masayuki Suo’s 2019 film Talking the Pictures (Katsuben!), he provided acting coaching, historical consulting, and on-screen performance. He has also contributed to the rediscovery and preservation of lost silent films, including the oldest Chūshingura adaptation and My dad loves my mom starring Hideko Takamine.
Moderator
Kōtarō Shibata
Adjunct Researcher, The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University
Flyer ＊Japanese only
Inquiries
The Yanai Initiative Office (Waseda University)
Email: yanai.initiative★list.waseda.jp (Please replace ★ with @)
