Ph.D., Stanford University
Associate Professor of Japanese, Affiliated Professor of Comparative Literature
Office: Humanities and Social Sciences Building, 2237
Phone: (805) 893-3550
Email: ksaltzli@eastasian.ucsb.edu

With a Ph.D. from the Department of Asian Languages at Stanford University, Katherine Saltzman-Li studied Japanese literature and pre-modern performing arts with support from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Whiting Foundation, and Japan Foundation. Her teaching includes courses on pre-modern literature and drama, Japanese folklore, third-year level Japanese language, and Comparative Literature. Her research is on kabuki and the medieval and early-Edo Period short prose fiction genre of otogizôshi. Her book, Creating Kabuki Plays: Context for Kezairoku, "Valuable Notes on Playwriting" examines kabuki play creation and playwrights through available contemporary sources. It also discusses interactions and intersections among various artistic groups of the latter half of the Edo Period.

Saltzman-Li has also published translations of two early kabuki plays, the quintessential Edo-style piece "Shibaraku" and the puppet-derived "Sanemori Monogatari." The translation of "Shibaraku" grew out of examinations into the self-introduction speeches known as tsurane which are an important feature of this play and about which she has published a study (see publications below.) Current research includes further study of tsurane, a study of yakugara (the role types of kabuki) and work on otogizôshi, among other ongoing projects.

Selected Publications

• Creating Kabuki Plays: Context for Kezairoku, "Valuable Notes on Playwriting." E.J. Brill, 2004.
• "'Shibaraku' (Just a Minute!):" Introduction and Translation. In Kabuki Plays on Stage, vol.1: Brilliance & Bravado, 1697-1766, ed. Brandon & S. Leiter. Ud Hi Press, 2002.
• "'Sanemori Monogatari' (The Samemori Story):" Introduction and Translation. Kabuki Plays on Stage, vol.1: Brilliance & Bravado, 1697-1766, ed. Brandon & S. Leiter. Ud Hi Press, 2002.
• "Communicating the Power of Identity: The Tsurane of 'Shibaraku.'" In A Kabuki Reader, History & Performance, ed. S. Leiter. M.E. Sharpe, 2002.

Teaching

• Japanese 149: Traditional Japanese Drama
• Japanese 169/269: Seminar in Traditional Japanese Drama
• Japanese 110A:Classical Japanese Literature
• Japanese 110B:Medieval Japanese Literature
• Japanese 120A:Advanced Japanese (third-year level)
• Japanese 125: Intermediate Japanese Reading
• Japanese 160: Topics in Japanese Culture
• Japanese 155: Genre in Japanese Verbal Arts
• Japanese 211: Bibliography and Research Methodology
• Comparative Literature 31: Major Works of Asian Literatures