ALL ABOUT JAPANESE KABUKI THEATER – An Iconic Form of Performance
Japan is a nation known for its stunning landscapes, exciting cities, and fascinating culture, but it has so much more to offer. When you go further, you’ll find that Japan has a long and storied connection with the arts, with kabuki theatre standing out as one of the most innovative and important forms of stagecraft ever created.

What this article educates you

Tell me about the origins of the kabuki stage.
What are the five components of kabuki?
When and where can I see a kabuki performance?
Once I go inside the theatre, what should I anticipate?

The Origins of Kabuki Theatre

The origin of Kabuki theatre may be traced back to the Edo era, possibly as early as 1603. The genre emerged to satisfy urbanites’ desires for a more authentic, sentimental, and ostentatious type of entertainment.

However, the shogun, Japan’s military commander and the de facto ruler was not pleased with the advent of this new type of performance art. Kabuki theatre has been banned by the shogunate from its inception in the early Edo era due to its shockingly violent subject matter.

The shogunate assumed the women performing kabuki comedy dance routines to a mostly male audience were prostitutes and outlawed the practice in 1629.

An Updated Concept of Femininity: Onnagata

Since then, male performers have played both male and female characters in kabuki performances. Female parts in kabuki are traditionally played by men (onnagata), who is thought to have established a new femininity distinct from mere female mimicry throughout the generations.

Varieties of Kabuki Performances

There are many various types of kabuki plays that have been performed throughout the years, despite their shared qualities. While many kabuki plays are based on classic literature from before the Edo period, others are set in the bustling urban centres of the time and reflect the more authentic experiences of their audiences. This traditional art form has been catapulted into the modern realm of Japanese pop culture via adaptations of several anime series and films, such as Naruto or Nausicaa, into kabuki performances.

Kabuki’s 5 Essential Elements

Some elements of kabuki have persisted through the many changes the performance has experienced in contemporary Japan.

What to Wear: Kabuki Costumes

The employment of elaborate costumes and makeup is a hallmark of kabuki performances. Actors may dress in many layers of traditional Japanese clothes, padding them as needed to get the correct body shape for the role. Not only are elaborate costumes gorgeous to look at, but they are also quite heavy and costly because of the genuine gold and silver used to highlight them. Costumes for actors playing courtesans or nobility, who are often dressed extravagantly, might weigh more than sixty pounds each.

The Kabuki Face Paint

Similarly elaborate and instantly recognised is the Kabuki makeup, which consists of a white foundation with coloured accents to convey a character’s mood and place in the plot. The Japanese term for this is kumadori, and it involves the use of colour to symbolise abstract concepts or thoughts.

Techniques of Acting in Kabuki

Acting in kabuki is quite different from what you may see in a Hollywood production or on Broadway. Some kabuki dances have graceful, understated motions; others use exaggerated speech and movement to highlight the villainy or masculinity of their characters.

Speech in Kabuki performances is also delivered in traditional Japanese, making parts of the dialogue difficult to comprehend even for native Japanese speakers. If you want to get the most out of a kabuki performance, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the original narrative or folk tale that inspired the play.

The Kabuki Music

The use of live music is one of the most notable and significant features of kabuki performances. The utilisation of traditional Japanese instruments and the booming voices of strong narrators adds depth and emotion to the narrative. Live “special effects” music is also used; the clap of wooden blocks or other percussion instruments is typically used to highlight the protagonist’s footsteps and attitudes, producing a stop-motion impression that helps the viewer grasp the protagonist’s internal monologue.

Kakegoe – Involvement of the Audience

The audience is encouraged to participate in Kabuki performances. The phenomenon is called kakegoe and it has been in the art form for millennia. It’s not uncommon for there to be an audience “guild” that sits in a designated area and yells encouragement to the actors onstage at strategic times. This not only revs up the rest of the crowd but also energises the performers, making for a more exciting show overall.

When and Where is Today’s Kabuki Show?

Kabuki performances have been a mainstay of Japanese culture for centuries, so it’s no surprise that the Kabukiza Theatre in Ginza has become a famous tourist attraction. Repertory scheduling often repeats productions of plays and dances over the course of a season. Performances only last just a few days, and the performers have demanding schedules that frequently include rehearsing for another play while performing in the current one.

Culture of the Kabuki Act

Appropriate behaviour is demanded from audience members during a kabuki performance. Aside from the obvious differences between a sporting event and a theatre play, audience members at both should follow the same rules of conduct: silence their phones, put away their cameras, and stay put throughout the show.

Those who don’t know Japanese may follow along with the action thanks to the theatre’s interpretation services, which provide an English translation of the script and narrative. During the breaks between shows, patrons may buy items such as traditional Japanese bento boxes, sandwiches, and alcoholic drinks such as traditional Japanese sake.

The theatre also has an interactive exhibition where visitors can get up and personal with a variety of kabuki artefacts and costumes.

The Japanese type of theatre known as Kabuki has become a globally recognisable icon because of its spectacular visuals and mind-boggling complexity. With its simple beginnings, breathtaking aesthetics, and rich history, kabuki performances have something to offer everyone.

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