This programme aims to establish groundbreaking academic disciplines in the study of traditional Japanese theatre arts, namely, Noh and Kyogen, Ningyo-Jyoruri, Kabuki and Japanese dancing (Nihon-buyo), combining studies on form, style and technique practiced for (actual) performance with those on the literary analysis of texts.

In this programme, we aim to undertake such research activities as the revival of historically famous masterpieces, the restoration of performance techniques that are no longer practiced, and the stage production of rarely performed works, in collaboration with artists possessing their own traditional expertise. To achieve this, analytical studies of texts and their variants will be conducted to create a coherent foundation for future research activities; performance media and techniques will also be analysed based on available film and sound source materials.

This research programme consists of the following nine projects: