Kabuki is the most popular form of Japanese theater.
Kabuki was originally performed by women but became all-male due to strict laws against female performers on stage.
Kabuki
Japan's popular theatre form that incorporates music, dance, mime, and elaborate costumes, and has been in existence for four centuries
Musical instruments used in Kabuki
Hyoshigi (wooden idiophone clapper that marks the start of the presentation)
Nohkan (noh flute, a transverse aerophone flute made from bamboo)
Shime-daiko (small membranophone drum covered in animal skin on both sides)
The Kabuki today is the most popular of the traditional styles of Japanese drama and its star actors appear in television or film roles. It also appears in works of Japanese popular culture as anime.
In kabuki, there are three main types of roles: male, female, and onnagata.
Onnagata - played by men who specialize in playing female roles with great skill and artistry
Male role - played by men who portray young boys, old men, warriors, samurai, farmers, merchants, etc.
Female role - played by women who portray wives, daughters, mothers, lovers, geishas, courtesans, etc.
Background of Kabuki
beginnings of Kabuki can be traced back to 17th century.
Okuni is a female dancer who became popular for performing parodies of Buddhist chants that Japanese folks finds entertaining.
She performed a troupe of female performers and went around town to perform for common people.
