2.5D Theatre Fandom – A Survey
Wilhelmina Ala-Krekola
The University of Tokyo/The University of Helsinki.
June 2016, Tokyo, Japan.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
When it comes to research topics within the field of Japanese popular culture studies, scholars have focused on anime, manga, film and theatre for years. However, in recent years a phenomenon that combines elements from all of these areas has emerged in Japan. The phenomenon we are talking about are the game, anime or manga based theatre productions, known nowadays as 2.5Dimensional Theatre (my own umbrella term that I use for the sake of clarity; in Japanese several words are used, such as 2.5次元ミュージカル / 2.5D Musical and 2.5次元ステージ/2.5D Stage).
The concept first saw the light of day in the 70’s when Takarazuka Revue adapted “The Rose of Versailles” manga to the theatre stage. However, the concept stayed rather unknown until the 90’s, when “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon” musical was being produced as part of the PR campaign for the anime. It wasn’t until 2003 and the debut of the “Musical Prince of Tennis” (Tenimyu, for short) though, when the concept started becoming self-aware and consistent. Tenimyu pioneered alone for several years before smaller productions started popping up here and there. Around the year 2010, the number of productions (especially popular and continuous productions like “Rock Musical Bleach” and “Musical Kuroshitsuji”) had started increasing, and the last couple of years until 2016 have seen an exceptional increase in both production viability as well as their profitability. Tickets are selling out fast and the year 2015 peaked with over hundred productions.
However, given that this is such a fresh field within Japanese popular culture, as far as I am concerned, there is currently no existing English language research on the topic and the Japanese academia is also still in its infancy when it comes to 2.5D Theatre. This is exactly the reason why I am particularly interested in this field. Everything is still unwritten.
ABOUT THE RESEARCHER
My name is Wilhelmina Ala-Krekola. I am an Asian Studies Major (Masters) from the University of Helsinki, and I am currently working on doing academic research on various aspects of 2.5D Theatre for the University of Tokyo. I particularly interested in the way fans see 2.5D Theatre and how they participate in activities related to this phenomena, and thus I am conducting this survey in order to give an authentic voice to the "overseas fandom" and their portrayal within academic research.
Previously in my 2.5D research I have discussed the intermedial relationships between different forms of media of Japanese popular culture.
The results of this survey will be used in an academic essay that will also be publicly available for anyone to read once finished.
AFFILIATES
✩✩The research and this survey are done for the Universities of Helsinki and Tokyo, and the findings will also be presented to the Japan 2.5D Musical Association.✩✩
TIME REQUIRED
This survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
SURVEY STRUCTURE
1. Basic Information
2. Questions about 2.5D Theatre
3. Questions about popular culture in general
4. Electronic statement
5. Confirmation and saving answers
PARTICIPATION & BENEFITS
Your participation in this survey is 100% voluntary. You may refuse to take part in the research or exit the survey at any time. You are also free to decline to answer any particular question you do not wish to answer for any reason.
Your participation will contribute to the academic research of 2.5D Theatre and will help make the phenomena better known within the field of Japanese and Asian studies. Doing academic research on popular culture helps academia to understand modern culture better, and thus it might also directly affect the state and status of popular culture within societies and shed more light to the importance of fans and their participation when it comes to the success of a franchise.
RISKS
There are no foreseeable risks involved in participating in this study.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
The data on your survey answers will be stored in a password protected electronic format. This survey does not collect identifying information such as your name, email address or IP address and therefore your responses will remain anonymous. No one but the researcher will be able to identify you or your answers, and no one else will know whether or not you participated in the study, unless you give a permission to quote you or use your experiences as an example in the study.
CONTACT
Should you have any comments or questions about this survey, my research or 2.5D Theatre in general, please feel free to contact me at:
wilhelmina.ala-krekola@helsinki.fi