Foreword

Asia Theatre Education Centre comes into being, under the joint sponsorship of The Central Academy of Drama (China), Nihon University (Japan) and Chuang-ang University (Korea), and hence the journal of Asia Theatre Education as a vehicle of academic exchanges and research by educationists of dramatic art in Asian countries.

The birth of the centre and the journal provides a new platform for the communication of professors and students of higher schools of art in Asia. It will also promote academic exchanges in the fields of dramatic education. Different theories and works of drama from different countries with diverse cultural backgrounds will meet here, enabling us to explore universalities in theatre education and dramatic culture. The centre as well as the journal is the outcome of the joint efforts by many colleagues from drama schools in various Asian countries. On behalf of ATEC, I would like to extend my heart-felt appreciation to all colleagues from drama academies and faculties and dramatic artists in Asia, who have made unremitting efforts for the development of drama as an art in Asia, and have contributed their enthusiasm and commitment to the establishment of ATEC.

Drama education and research call for diligence and rigor, as well as commitment, dream and passion for dramatic art. We hope this journal will be at once academic, youthful and original, a journal that vividly describes the present and envisions the future for the development of dramatic art in Asia with multi-cultural perspectives. I am confident that, with our concerted efforts, Asia Theatre Education will grow into an arena for the wisdom and zeal of the colleagues in drama education and research in Asia, and a unique and attractive window to display the achievements of Asian drama to the world.