Collaborative Research
共同研究As part of its collaborative research undertakings and unique project offerings, the facility holds symposiums and lectures; collaborates with related academic societies and other research communities, as well as practical fields on theatre and film; and strives to broadly publicize the results. The facility has drawn interest from various quarters through showings of newly discovered musical scores for silent film accompaniment by selected research teams, symposiums for reporting research results, and so on.
Principal ResearchThe principal research involves a joint research project on the theme proposed by the Institute, which researchers were encouraged to participate in. The titles and affiliations of the project members listed below were accurate at the time this newsletter was edited, but may have changed subsequently.
Selected ResearchThe selected research consists of joint research projects derived from the reviewed proposals, which aim to promote the effective use of the Theatre Museum’s collections. The Institute provides a venue and materials for these joint research projects. The titles and affiliations of the project members listed below were accurate at the time this newsletter was edited, but may have changed subsequently.
Urgent Theme ResearchIn 2021, two research projects and surveys were conducted to learn more about live performances during the coronavirus pandemic both in Japan and overseas.
Encouragement Research ProjectIn 2020, we embarked on“encouragement research,”wherein we conduct collaborative research with an emphasis on young Theatre Museum researchers at the center. In 2021, six research projects were adopted, and a variety of research was conducted.
2024
Principal Research
1. Survey of Kubo Sakae Materials
2. Research on Postwar Shingeki with a Focus on the Kurabayashi Seiichiro Collection
3. Research on Prewar Film Screenings Using Film-Related Materials
Selected Research
1. Basic Research on the Okamoto Kido Collection
2. Literary Circles of the Mid-Edo Period, Through Diaries of Kabuki Actors
3. Empirical Research on Regional Theater Under the GHQ (SCAP) Occupation: Focusing on the Kyushu Area
4. Research on Kodan Materials in the Tanabe Koji Collection
5. Overview Survey of Print Inventory Left Behind by Sakagawaya, the Original Publisher of Tokiwazu-bushi
6. Research on the Concept of “History of Japanese Performing Arts” in the Ozawa Shoichi Collection: Focusing on Changes in Sexual Expression
1. Research on Materials Related to Osanai Kaoru
2. Representations and Narratives of World War II in Postwar Japanese Theater: Toward a Special Exhibition at the Waseda University Theatre Museum in AY2025
3. Cataloging Rare Materials on Chinese Performing Arts in the Theatre Museum Collection
4. Research on Japanese Romantic Comedy Films before and during World War II
2023
Principal Research
1. A Study on the Collection of the Autographed Manuscripts of Minoru Betsuyaku
2. Research on the Kurabayashi Seiichiro materials
3. Research and Study Toward the Utilization of Filmrelated Materials Centered on Theater Flyers
Selected Research
1. Dance during the Wartime and the Postwar Period, Seen Through the Eguchi Hiroshi Materials
2. The Literary Circles of the Middle Edo Period, Focusing on Approaching Kabuki Performers Through Diaries
3. Empirical Research on Regional Theatre Under the GHQ (SCAP) Occupation: Focusing on the Kyushu Area
4. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands through Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early Showa Era
5. Publishing Activities of the Sakagawaya, Publisher of the Original Tokiwazu-bushi
1. The History and Evolution of ‘Guide’in Kabuki – Media Offered to the Audience
2. A Survey and Research of Rakugo and Kōdan-Related Materials in the Theatre Museum’s Collection: Focusing on the Tanabe Koji Collection
3. Female Playwrights and Critics in Japan and England from the Mid-16th Century to the 21st Century
4. Research on Materials Related to Ōta Shōgo—Towards the 2023 Special Exhibition at Theatre Museum, Waseda University
5. Research on the Atsushi Yamatoya Collection
6. A Study on the Reality of Program Pictures during the Decline of the Studio System






2022
Principal Research
1. A Study on the Collection of the Autographed Manuscripts of Minoru Betsuyaku
2. Research on the Kurabayashi Seiichiro materials
3. Research and Study Toward the Utilization of Filmrelated
Materials Centered on Theater Flyers
Selected Research
1. Dance during the Wartime and the Postwar Period, Seen Through the Eguchi Hiroshi Materials
2. The Literary Circles of the Middle Edo Period, Focusing on Approaching Kabuki Performers Through Diaries
3.
Empirical Research on Regional Theatre Under the
GHQ (SCAP) Occupation: Focusing on the Kyushu Area
4. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands through Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early Showa Era
5. Publishing Activities of the Sakagawaya, Publisher of the Original Tokiwazu-bushi
Encouragement Research Project
1. Survey Research on the Images, Audio, and Video Materials of Jōruri Theater
2. Survey
Research on Materials Related to Rakugo and Kodan Story-Telling Owned by the Theatre Museum: Focusing on
Tanabe Koji’s Collection
3. Survey research on the Materials Relating to Plays in Japan’s Small-sized Theaters and the Study of the Ways to Use Them: Focusing on Ohta Shogo and Sato Makoto
5. Survey and Research on Foreign Film
Brochures
6. Basic Study on Sexual
Representations in Japanese Cinema in the Twilight of the Studio System
2021
Principal Research
1. A Study on the Collection of the Autographed Manuscripts of Minoru Betsuyaku
Selected Research
1. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands through Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early Showa Era
2. A Basic Research on Silent Film Screenings Using Promotional Movie Materials
3. A Comprehensive Study of Actor Picture Books
4. A Basic Research on Tokiwazu-bushi Woodblock Printings Formerly Owned by Sakagawaya
Urgent Theme Research
1. Survey Study on the Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on Japanese Theater
2. Performing Arts in the Age of COVID-19: in Europe and the US
Encouragement Research Project
1. Survey Research on the New Main Group of jōruri
2. Foundational Investigation into Shimpa Dramas Materials Collection at the Theatre Museum
3. Study on Japanese and British Female Playwrights from the 16th Century to the Middle of the 20th Century
4. Study on the Current State of Shogo Ota-Related Materials and Research on How They are Being Utilized, with a Focus on Materials Held by the Waseda University Theatre Museum
5. Survey and Research of Foreign Film-Related Materials in the Theatre Museum
6. Foundational Investigation into Movie Distribution Networks in Tokyo during the Taisho Era
2020
Principal Research
1. A Study of the Collection of the Autographed Manuscripts of Minoru Betsuyaku
Selected Research
1. Foundational Research on the Ernie Pyle Theater Based on the Senda Collection: A Record of Michio Ito’s Dance Practice and Genre-crossing Performances from 1946 to 1948
2. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands through Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early Showa Era
3. The Basic Research of Silent Film Screenings Using Promotional Movie Materials
4. A Comprehensive Study of Actor Picture Books
5. The Basic Research of Tokiwazu-bushi Woodblock Printings Formerly Owned by Sakagawaya
Urgent Theme Research
1. Survey Study on the Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on Japanese Theater
2. Performing Arts in the Age of COVID-19: in Europe and the US
3. Survey of COVID-19 Preventative Measures at Museums, Art Museums, and Libraries
Encouragement Research Project
1. Survey and Study of Basic Materials of the Taikoki Drama in Early Modern Theatre: Focusing on ningyo joruri
2. Yoshi Hijikata’s Life in Moscow
3. Study of the Shinpa Theater during WWII Using a Survey of Materials Related to Yaeko Mizutani I
4. Basic Research on the Representation of Sexual Minorities in the Japanese Film Industry: Production, Exhibition, and Interpretation
5. The Acceptance of The Peach Blossom Fan in Modern Japan: Focus on Tokyo Vocational School
6. The Exhibition of Films and Staging of Attractions at Shochikuza Theater Chain
2019
Principal Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
Selected Research
1. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands Regarding Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early-Showa Era
2. Understanding the Studio System in Postwar Japanese Cinema: Empirical Research on Nikkatsu Roman Porno
3. The Restoration of the Rissho Katsuei Films Based on Multiple Materials
4. Visual Depictions of Chinese Theater and the Taisho Period in Japan: Focusing on Nobuyo Fukuchi’s Shina no Shibai Sukecchi-cho
2018
Principal Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
Selected Research
1. Research on Musicians and Musical Bands Regarding Kurihara’s Musical Score Collection: Music for Stage and Cinema during the Early-Showa Era
2. Understanding the Studio System in Postwar Japanese Cinema: Empirical Research on Nikkatsu Roman Porno
3. The Restoration of the Rissho Katsuei Films Based on Multiple Materials
4. Visual Depictions of Chinese Theater and the Taisho Period in Japan: Focusing on Nobuyo Fukuchi’s Shina no Shibai Sukecchi-cho
2017
Principal Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
Selected Research
1. Research on Movie Theater and Music during the Silent Era Based on Musical Score Materials
2. A Linked Data Catalog of Movie Theater and Exhibition Materials Owned by the Theatre Museum
4. Reconsidering the Magic Lantern in the History of Visual Culture: A Study on the Intermedial Relationship between the Magic Lantern and Visual Cultures during the Meiji and Taisho Periods
5. A Study of Traditional Chinese Opera Theaters and Genres of Plays: An Overview of Programs in the Republic of China
2016
Principal Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
Selected Research
1. Research on Movie Theater and Music during the Silent Era Based on Musical Score Materials
2. Linking Data Catalog of Movie Theater and Exhibition Materials Owned by the Theatre Museum
3. A Multifaceted Research on Chikage Awashima Materials
4. Reconsidering the Magic Lantern in the History of Visual Culture: A Study on the Intermedial Relationship between the Magic Lantern and Visual Cultures during the Meiji and Taisho Periods
2015
Principal Research
1. The Creative Works of Shuji Terayama-the Actual Circumstances of his Activities, as Clarified by Primary Materials
Selected Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
2. Research on Materials Related to the Presentation of Silent Films, and Particularly their Musical Accompaniment
3. Towards an Archeology of Projection Media-the Arrangement and Publication of “Magic Lantern” Slides and the Organization of Exhibitions and Art Works Based on Digital Data
4. The Investigation and Research into the Senda Materials-Koreya Senda and Contemporary Plays
2014
Principal Research
1. The Creative Works of Shuji Terayama-the Actual Circumstances of his Activities, as Clarified by Primary Materials
Selected Research
1. Basic Research Survey of Materials Relating to Shoyo Tsubouchi and Shiko Tsubouchi
2. Research on Materials Related to the Presentation of Silent Films, and Particularly their Musical Accompaniment
3. Towards an Archeology of Projection Media-the Arrangement and Publication of “Magic Lantern” Slides and the Organization of Exhibitions and Art Works Based on Digital Data
4. The Investigation and Research into the Senda Materials-Koreya Senda and Contemporary Plays