Kayo Mikami’s Doctoral Thesis

Tatsumi Hijikata: An Analysis of Ankoku Butoh Techniques

Kayo Mikami’s doctoral thesis further develops research that she began when she was studying for her master’s degree at Ochanomizu University in 1991. An expanded version of her master’s degree dissertation was subsequently published as The Body as a Vessel: An Approach to Tatsumi Hijikata’s Ankoku Butoh (Utsuwa toshite no shintai: Hijikata Tatsumi Ankoku butō gihō e no apurōchi Tokyo: ANZ, 1993). There have been many requests from dance researchers and teachers for Kayo Mikami’s doctoral thesis to be made available in English, and although the translation presented here is an uncorrected first draft which should be considered a work in progress, it has been decided to make the work available now in order to promote research into butoh. A completely revised version of the English translation will be made available shortly. Requests to view an e-text version of Kayo Mikami’s doctoral thesis should be made by e-mail to TORIFUNEBUTOHSHA@HB.TP1.JP（lower case letters）researchers should state their name, title, institution, and their area of research.