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Glossary of MOTION PICTURES AND THEATRE

A-8-3-2 : Shingeki

The shingeki theatrical movement originated late in the 19th century with Japanese literati such as Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859-1935), the first translator of the complete works of Shakespeare into the Japanese language. As the name shingeki (new theatre) implies, it was an attempt to establish a new approach to theatrical performance in Japan with a liberal repertoire drawn from both Japanese and Western sources. Supported by a group of kabuki actors, shingeki performances were given from about 1910 onwards. The first Western play (performed in translation) was Ibsen's "John Gabriel Borkman." A theatre devoted to shingeki was opened in Tokyo in 1924. Since that time, and particularly since the 1950's, shingeki has become firmly established and a number of theatrical troupes have been formed, devoting themselves to a broad spectrum of foreign drama as well as to original works by Japanese dramatists. The only permanent shingeki theatre, however, is the Haiyuza (The Actors' Theatre) in Roppongi, Tokyo.

MOTION PICTURES AND THEATRE


A-8-4-1 : "Expressions of the Year 1970"

This black-and-white motion picture was produced with the intention of handing down a record of contemporary life in movement; its scenario centres on the everyday experiences of human beings and their reactions to the joys and sorrows of life. The film was directed by Hani Susumu, a member of the Time Capsule Expo '70 Selection Committee.

Shichi-go-san
Literally meaning "seven, five, three", this charming festival is held on November 15th annually. It is said to be over 400 years old. Children aged seven, five and three years are taken by their parents to a local shrine where they may receive the blessing of the tutelary deity. By tradition, the festival marks the day when a girl of three puts up her hair for the first time, when a boy of five wears his first hakama (hakamaki), and when a girl of seven is given her first stiff obi (obitoki). Various kinds of sweets and toys are bought for the children on this day

MOTION PICTURES AND THEATRE


A-8-5-1 : The best ten Japanese films

During the past twenty years, Japan has been recognised as having a motion picture industry of great sophistication and creative energy. The first film to achieve public accolade outside Japan was "Rashomon", in 1950, but films made prior to that period were, in many cases, of equal stature and they have been shown worldwide in recent years. Japan's first film studio was established in Tokyo in 1904, and, after 1920, the Japanese motion picture industry went from strength to strength. There are some 2,600 cinemas in Japan showing films of domestic and foreign origin.

MOTION PICTURES AND THEATRE


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The contents of this site are excerpted from THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF TIME CAPSULE EXPO'70(March 1975). Please note that company and organization names may differ from those of the current ones.


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