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Kawakami Otojiro. Popular Culture emerging out of the People’s Rights Movement. Kawakami Otojirô (1864-1911). Oppekepe *Oppekepe, oppekepe Oppekepeppouppeppoppou Kenri koufuku kirai na hito ni Jiyuutou o banomashitai * Katai kamishimo kadotorete Manteru zubon ni jinrikisha
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Kawakami Otojiro Popular Culture emerging out of the People’s Rights Movement
Oppekepe *Oppekepe, oppekepe Oppekepeppouppeppoppou Kenri koufuku kirai na hito ni Jiyuutou o banomashitai * Katai kamishimo kadotorete Manteru zubon ni jinrikisha Iki na sokuhatsu bonnetto Kinji ni shinshi no idetachi de Uwabe no kazari wa yokeredomo Seiji no shisou ga ketsubou da Tenchi no shinri ga wakaranai Kokoro ni jiyuu no tane o make. *No goodygood, no goodygood No goodygood good no damn good. For those [rascals] who hate full rights I’d like them to gulp down the drink of freedom * They’ve taken off the stiff samurai kimono Put on capes and pants, use jinrikisha Fancy hair, fancy bonnets Done up like ladies and gentlemen They look good on the surface But don’t know nothin’ of political theory Don’t get the truth of things Plant the seeds of freedom in their hearts. Theater and Enka (connections Popular Rights)
Buddhist monk College student Servant Policeman Vagabond “Barker” at political meetings ;agitator in Tokyo, Keihan Rakugo novice Balladeer in yose vaudeville 1891: formed his own troupe; “new theater” in Tokyo 1893 European tour Apolitical melodrama 1898 failed run for Diet 1899-1903: 3 “kabuki” tours to American and Europe 1900’s: introduces Shakespeare performance to Japan: shinpa/shimpa Otojirô’s accomplishments
Kawakami Otojiro’s 1903 productions. Shinpa domestication of Shakespeare-Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet. Images from James Brandon, “Kabuki and Shakespeare: Balancing Yin and Yang,” TDR 43.2 (Summer 1999): 15-53.