First appearance of Otojiro Kawakami in Japanese Modern Theatre

Abstract

This paper focuses on works and ideas of Otojiro Kawakami. It seems to me the meanings of Kawakami's contribution have been misunderstood for a long time. Kawakami was famous for his political demonstration and after that as a singer of Oppekepe song. And needless to say he was a first founder of Shoshi Theatre or Shosei Theatre. And today Kawakami is regarded as a founder of Shinpa Theatre in general. In fact, Kawakami's status has been changing in Japanese modern theatre history.

However, analyzing newly appeared documents and materials, it is realized that Kawakami should be regarded not as a founder of old styled Shinpa theatre, but that of new modern theatre. It is needed today to describe a real figure of Kawakami along with his works and detailed documents. It was Kawakami that provided contemporary problematic of society and modern life on the stage.