{"id":221082,"date":"2025-08-28T15:41:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T01:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=221082"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:41:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T01:41:56","slug":"kabuki-theatre-model-at-hamilton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/28\/kabuki-theatre-model-at-hamilton\/","title":{"rendered":"1939 Kabuki theatre model on permanent display at Hamilton Library"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Kabuki
Kabuki theatre model at Hamilton Library.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A wooden model of a Kabuki theatre scene, gifted to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in 1939 by Japan\u2019s Shochiku Company, is now on permanent display at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Hamilton Library<\/a>. The intricate model, depicting a scene from Kanadehon Chushingura<\/em>, was celebrated at a reception on August 18, following its restoration.<\/p>\n

The gift was originally secured by Gregg Sinclair, founding director of UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Oriental Institute, to promote cultural awareness. Built by Kabuki-za Theatre master carpenter Genjiro Hasegawa under the direction of Shochiku founder Takejiro Otani, the model represents a long-standing bond between UH<\/abbr> and Japan.<\/p>\n

\"Iezzi
Julie Iezzi and Ichikawa Monnosuke VIII<\/abbr> present the Kabuki model in Hamilton Library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“This beautiful model was made and gifted to us, along with a Kabuki actor doll, with the promise of perpetual display on campus in summer 1939,” said Mitsutaka Nakamura, Japan studies librarian at Hamilton Library. “This combination of the Kabuki theater model, case and stand symbolizes our enduring bond between Shochiku and UH<\/abbr>, and Japan and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> as well.”<\/p>\n

The model has been displayed and stored in various places over the years, but time took its toll. With support from UH<\/abbr>\u2019s Department of Theatre and Dance, artist Meg Hanna-Tominaga restored the piece, which now sits on a handcrafted monkey pod stand and is protected by an acrylic case.<\/p>\n

Related UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> story: Rare kabuki master class hits Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

Shochiku honorary chair Nobuyoshi Otani praised UH<\/abbr> for keeping its promise of preservation: “We hope that you will continue to protect the display as a testament to the cultural exchange fostered by our predecessors.”<\/p>\n

Kabuki master Ichikawa Monnosuke VIII<\/abbr> also joined the celebration, praising UH<\/abbr> students\u2019 dedication during a Kabuki workshop and showcase. <\/p>\n

“For the next 100, 200, 300 years, I hope that Kabuki here at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> will continue,” he said. “Let\u2019s keep doing this!”<\/p>\n

Read more at Hamilton Library.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The model is now on permanent display at Hamilton Library, celebrating cultural exchange with Japan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[777,1471,225,1463,128,76,9],"class_list":["post-221082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-asian-studies","tag-college-of-arts-languages-and-letters","tag-history","tag-japanese-studies","tag-manoa-library","tag-theatre-and-dance","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t