{"id":62710,"date":"2018-12-19T09:54:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T00:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=62710"},"modified":"2018-12-19T11:01:38","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T02:01:38","slug":"japanese-kyogen-actor-mansai-nomura-joins-universities-shakespeare-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/62710","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Kyogen actor Mansai Nomura joins universities\u2019 Shakespeare symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

University of Birmingham Day at Waseda University<\/h1>\n
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Aston Webb Building at the University of Birmingham<\/p><\/div>\n

Since signing academic agreements in 2000, Waseda University and the University of Birmingham have built mutual trust through the active exchange of researchers and students. In 2016, a strategic research partnership was established<\/a>, producing collaboration across areas including robotics, linguistics, urban studies, and Shakespearean studies. In order to celebrate joint research results and set the stage for future collaboration between the two universities, the \u2018University of Birmingham Day at Waseda University\u2019 was held on November 26 and 27.<\/p>\n

President Aiji Tanaka, University of Birmingham Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason, and British Ambassador to Japan H.E. Paul Madden each delivered a welcome speech in the opening ceremony, which was held in the Ono Auditorium on November 26.<\/p>\n

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From left: Professor Minako Okamuro (Director of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum); Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka; Kyogen actor Mansai Nomura; and University of Birmingham Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Robin Mason<\/p><\/div>\n

Professor Tanaka said, \u201cWe believe that this is an extraordinary partnership made possible through trust and a relationship developed over 18 years. There are things that we cannot achieve ourselves and our friends at the University of Birmingham can help Waseda University grow and achieve our research goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ambassador Madden also noted that the Waseda-Birmingham partnership was a testament to the strong ties between the UK and Japan.<\/p>\n

Professor Mason delivered a keynote speech placing the UK\u2019s higher education research over the next decade in an international context, and pointing out that international collaboration leads researchers and students alike to \u2018see a different view\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cInternational higher education is a force not just to solve specific research problems, but also to create greater mutual understanding and tolerance”<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing things in a new way contributes to our leading researchers\u2019 ability to work together and come up with answers to some of the grand research challenges we face,\u201d said Professor Mason. \u201cInternational higher education is a force not just to solve specific research problems, but also to create greater mutual understanding and tolerance.”<\/p>\n

Professor Mason concluded his address by expressing his hope and vision, that Waseda University and the University of Birmingham will be an exemplar of what international scientific collaboration can achieve.<\/p>\n

Mansai Nomura addressed how the traditional Noh theater techniques, such as dead characters in Richard III wearing masks, had been used to breathe new life into performances of Shakespeare\u2019s plays.<\/p>\n

Further, Professor Tiffany Stern, from the University of Birmingham\u2019s world-renowned Shakespeare Institute, presented how staging plays in Shakespeare\u2019s time could help today\u2019s theater makers. Angus Jackson, associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, discussed how he had staged a season of Shakespeare\u2019s \u2018Rome\u2019 plays, such as Julius Caesar, while Flute Theatre director Kelly Hunter talked about using Shakespeare\u2019s A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream to engage with young people with autism.<\/p>\n

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Angus Jackson, associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, discusses how he had staged a season of Shakespeare\u2019s Rome plays, such as “Julius Caesar.”<\/p><\/div>\n

Lastly, Mansai Nomura joined Kelly Hunter to deliver a unique performance from Macbeth, with Ms. Hunter speaking the part of Lady Macbeth in English while Mr. Nomura delivered Macbeth\u2019s part in Japanese.<\/p>\n

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A unique performance from Macbeth, in which Hunter is speaking the part of Lady Macbeth in English while Nomura delivered Macbeth\u2019s part in Japanese.<\/p><\/div>\n

The event also marked a further day of workshops and discussions between researchers, setting the stage for more collaboration between the two universities in the future.<\/p>\n

Organic collaboration brings new research perspectives and new values for universities<\/h2>\n

On the same day as the opening ceremony of the University of Birmingham Day at Waseda, Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka held a roundtable talk with Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) of the University of Birmingham, and Angus Jackson, Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Click this link to continue reading.<\/a><\/p>\n

Notes<\/h4>\n