Kunio Kishida

Who was Kunio Kishida?

Kunio Kishida was one of the most prominent Japanese dramatist and writer of the early 20th century and is regarded as one of the founders of modern Japanese drama.

He served in the army but, with aspirations of studying literature, entered the Tokyo Imperial University to study French literature and modern drama. In 1920, he went to Paris and studied the history of French drama. After returning to Japan, he wrote dramas and novels and, in 1937, founded the Literature Theatre Company, which produced many famous actors and actresses, including his daughter, Kyōko Kishida.

His name is prefixed to the most famous prize for drama in Japan, the annual Kunio Kishida Award.