KISHIDA KUNIO

Kishida Kunio was an author, playwright, translator, and director widely recognized as one of the founders of MODERN THEATER in Japan. He studied French literature and modern drama at Tokyo University and later traveled to France in the early 1920s to study the history of French drama. Upon returning to Japan, he published many plays in literary journals, such as Furui omocha (Old Toys, 1924) and Chiroru no aki (1924; tr. Autumn in the Tyrol, 1967). In 1937, he founded the Bungaku-za (Literary Theater Company), which produced many famous actors and actresses. The Kishida Kunio gikyoku sho (Kishida Kunio Prize for Drama) is named in his honor and is the most prestigious drama award. Kishida died of a stroke suffered during a dress rehearsal in a Tokyo theater.

See also THEATER REFORM.