Betsuyaku Minoru: The Playwright Who Came Back to a Place He had Never Been to

Abstract:

In this essay by playwright, director, translator, and colleague of Betsuyaku Roger Pulvers, the author looks at Betsuyaku’s work through a variety of perspectives, sharing academic as well as personal insights about the playwright and his work. He examines the ways that Betsuyaku’s plays echo the ambiguity and circularity found within the Japanese language. He also argues for the misapplication of the term “absurd” in regards to Betsuyaku’s work, focusing instead on the influence of Miyazawa Kenji. Finally, this essay looks at how Betsuyaku explores alienation and subtle humor in his characters, especially in his best known play, Zō (The Elephant).