Since the late Meiji period, Shakespeare has held a central place in Japanese literary culture. This account explores the conditions of Shakespeare's reception and assimilation. It considers the problems of translation both cultural and linguistic, and includes an extensive illustrated survey of the most significant Shakespearean productions and adaptations, and the contrasting responses of Japanese and Western critics.

Tetsuo Kishi is Professor Emeritus of English at Kyoto University and was President of The Shakespeare Society of Japan (1999-2001).