Kabuki Theater

• It was originally performed by women but later on men took over the roles.
• Kabuki is the most prominent form of traditional Japanese theater
• kabuki came from the word kabuku meaning "art of singing and dancing"
• Its was originally for the lower and middle class and for samurais as a form of entertainment is a bat house
• Invented by Izumo Okuni. Around 1600's it reached it peak during the Endo era
• Kabuki were originally all female actors but were later then replaced by male actors because samurais were getting distracted and some SA female actors
• Categories of Kabuki Plays

  • Jidaimono (History)
  • Sewamono ( domestic)
  • Shosagoto ( dance drama)
• Style of acting

  Aragato - "rough style" of acting

  - exaggeration of actions and expressions
• Make-ups

  Kumadori- use of dark lines to create a mask-life effect

  - highlights emotions

  - made out of pure rice, flour or flowers
• Unique thing about kabuki theaters is that it has trapdoors, revolving stages etc.
• Music that accompanies kabuki theater:

  Debayashi (on stage assemble)

  Joruri (narrative singing)
• Noh drama

  • made for the higher class
  • Mysterious, tragic, spiritual etc.
  • grew out of ritual dances and more symbolic