Kabuki,
which is somewhat likened to Western opera, is a
traditional Japanese entertainment that combines
music, dance and mime in highly stylized performances.
The word "kabuki" stands for three essential
components of the art - ka (song), bu (dance) and
ki (skill).
The origin of kabuki dates back to about 400
years ago, when Izumo no Okuni began dancing to
the repeated chanting of a simple prayer and the
rhythm of the accompanying bell in a primitive
kind of dance called nenbutsu odori in downtown
Kyoto. During the Edo period, it gradually developed
into a more stylish manner and was soon enthusiastically
supported by townspeople as an indispensable entertainment.
The phenomenal
popularity of kabuki during the Edo period bewildered
the Tokugawa shogunate, however, as the regime did
not want any kabuki performers to be respected more
than the ruler. It was feared that the existence
of any charismatic stars would upset the strictly
stratified social structure that had been established
so as to ensure the absolute power of the shogun.
So the shogunate decided to curtail the influence
of kabuki by putting a ban on women performing on
the stage, which forced male actors to play the
female roles. Interestingly enough, even today kabuki
is only performed by special male actors called
"oyama."
Kabuki is performed by actors wearing traditional
costume with unique facial make-up. The make-up
of the actors is called "kumadori,"
and the colors and designs differ according to
the characteristics of each role: red stands for
virtue and bravery, dark blue for vice. The actors'
dialogue is stylized old Japanese, which is difficult
for even Japanese to follow, and their gestures
are somewhat exaggerated.
TRJ can arrange for you to see kabuki in a theater
exclusively designed for the performances.
