Kabuki!

Influenced by Noh In terms of the singing style and movement of the performers Kabuki is heavily influenced by Noh. However, Kabuki is much more elaborate and comedic than its predecessor, Noh. Considered one of Japan’s three classical styles of theater along with Noh and Bunraku.

Kabuki is very showy and elaborate, with fantastically designed costumes, make-up and wigs. The actions of the performers are very exaggerated.

The actors use highly-stylized movements, which help convey meaning to the audience. The words are in an ancient form of Japanese, many modern audiences have difficulty understanding.

Unlike Noh, Kabuki uses dynamic sets including revolving platforms, trapdoors and a bridge that helps with dramatic entrances, exits. The stories of Kabuki plays are historical events, well-known stories, love stories, tragedies, dramas and conspiracy stories.

Often a Kabuki play will only tell part of a story, so audience members often read the story beforehand to familiarize themselves.

Kabuki began around the same time that Shakespeare was writing plays on the other side of the world Originally, Kabuki was only performed by women. Became a common form of entertainment in Yoshiwara’s Red Light District Women who performed in Kabuki plays were often also prostitutes for hire

Kabuki performances were a place where the people could see latest fashion trends, doubled as a fashion show. Kabuki often brought shops and restaurants to towns/cities in Japan, helped create a sense of “pop culture” in Japan

Due to the “immoral” view on the female Kabuki performers, women were banned from performing in Japanese Samurai were associating with the female performers, and therefore bringing shame to the shongunate (military).

After women performers were banned, young male performers took their place in the female roles of Kabuki plays. Eventually the young male performers were also hired for prostitution, and therefore banned from Kabuki.

Starting in the mid-1600s all Kabuki performers were adult males. Once women and young boys were banned from Kabuki, more of an emphasis was placed on dramatic performance than dance.

: Kabuki styles and characters became more defined. In the mid-1800s fires broke out across Japan, burning down many Kabuki theaters. The shogunate took advantage of the disasters, and would not let them rebuild the theaters.

Kabuki was forced out of the capital Edo (now Tokyo), and moved to smaller cities.

Around this time many European artists became interested in the imagery associated with Japanese visual arts and theater.

Once the Tokugawa shogunate, who had been trying to get rid of Kabuki, fell they were able to rebuild the theater culture. Kabuki moved back to its original home city in Japan, Edo (now known as Tokyo).

In the late 1800’s the Samurai class was eliminated from Japan. With their newly found freedom from the government, Kabuki artists adapted the art for the upper classes. Eventually the Meiji Empire began sponsoring performances

Kabuki was banned in Japan during WWII from during occupation.