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Complete Guide To Kabuki – Japanese Traditional Dance Theatre Culture 2021.09.22 2020.05.01
In general, entertainment forms an integrated part of Japanese culture, just think of all the karaoke parlours, manga or anime places, game centres and more. Another highly popular form of entertainment integrated in Japanese culture is kabuki.
Table of contents
What is kabuki? The origin of kabuki Kabuki plays Famous kabuki plays Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) Sonezaki Shinju (Love Suicides at Sonezaki) Kanjincho New style of kabuki “Super Kabuki” How to watch a kabuki show? Tips to watch kabuki How to get tickets to kabuki? What is kabuki? Kabuki is a rich blend of music, dance and mime, spectacular staging and costuming.
The origin of kabuki The traditional Japanese form of performance art originated in the Edo period. Originally it was performed by both women and men, but present day only male actors perform the plays. However, it is said that a woman called Izumo no Okuni, began performing in the 1600’s in Kyoto, and thereby laying the foundation of kabuki. Later during the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate prohibited women from performing and men took over the female parts.
Picture by 1048 on flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Japan’s traditional art form is recognised as one of the country’s three major classical theaters along with noh and bunraku and in 2015 it was designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Kabuki plays The kabuki plays are often based on historical events and moral conflicts and were used to parody everyday life. The three main categories of kabuki plays are jidaimono (early historical and legendary plays), sewamono (contemporary plays post-1.600) and shosagoto (dance dramas).
Make-up The striking make-up on the actors faces is another feature of kabuki that is easily recognisable and essential to storytelling of kabuki. The traditional method of applying make-up is referred to as kumadori ; heavily applied make-up to create a brightly painted mask that uses colours in symbolic ways to indicate the age, gender, and class of each character, as well as their moods and personalities. The base version of make up, a pure white face, used by the actors is called kesho .
Picture by Cotaro70s on flickr (CC BY-ND 2.Music Kabuki plays are accompanied by music created by singers and or instruments. that are performed live. The music is sung by one or more utakata (singers) that use monotone voices and are often accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments such as shamisen (stringed instrument) or taiko drums .
Dance Dancing is an integral part of all kabuki plays and there are a large number of characteristic patterns and styles of posing the body. The dance will differ per character, for example gracious and beautiful for the onnagata (female characters) or bouncier for the doki (comedic characters).
Stage The stage is not your typical theatre stage, with dynamic stage sets including revolving platforms and trapdoors that allow for the quick changing of a scene or the appearance/disappearance of the actors. What you will also undoubtedly notice is the hanamachi , the footbridge that leads through the audience, allowing for a dramatic entrance or exit.
Famous kabuki plays Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) The most famous play of Jidaimono is Kanadehon Chushingura . The story starts in 1701, when the leader of Ako Domain, Asano Naganori, attempted to kill Kira Yoshihisa at the Edo Castle but failed, and ended up sentenced to commit seppuku. His retainers who lost their leader sought revenge and the story followed these loyal 47 ronin until they took their revenge.
‘A View of Loyal Ako Samarui Breaking into Kira’s Mansion’ by Yamazaki Toshinobu II (Public Domain)Sonezaki Shinju (Love Suicides at Sonezaki) Sonezaki Shinju , translated as Love Suicides at Sonezaki, is one of the most famous plays of Sewamono . It’s a tragedy between Tokubei, a hardworking merchant of a soy sauce firm and his lover courtesan Ohatsu. Tokubei was almost forced into an arranged marriage and he barely escaped, but he was deceived by his friend and lost his money and trust from people.
Kanjincho It’s a fun play to watch and is recommended for a beginner. A military commander Minamoto no Yoshitsune traveled with his loyal retainer Benkei to escape for the Tohoku region. However, what waited for them was Togashi, the local clan, who was ordered to guard the checking station on the way to catch Yoshitsune. Benkei and other retainers disguised as Yamabushi (mountain ascetic hermits) and Yoshitsune as Goriki who carried the luggages, the story follows the comic and clever interaction between Benkei who tried to outwit the local clan and Togashi who was vigilant in the play.
Ebizō Ichikawa V as Benkei and Danjūrō Ichikawa VIII as Tokashi (Public Domain)New style of kabuki “Super Kabuki” Not only the traditional style of kabuki, lately the new style of kabuki appeared. It’s called Super Kabuki and it includes the modern story and play.
How to watch a kabuki show? Throughout Japan there are many theaters where you can watch kabuki. Though, Kabukiza in Tokyo is the only theatre that specialises in kabuki and and merely shows kabuki plays. Other kabuki theaters in Tokyo are Shinbashi Enbujo, and the National Theater. We recommend you go and watch a show in Kabukiza because it is most accessible to foreigners; staging plays almost everyday and offering single-act tickets and rental monitors with subtitles and explanations in English. Kabukiza also houses the Kabuki gallery, shops and a restaurant.
In Kyoto, you can go and see kabuki in the Minamiza Theater , where they offer shows that often run for a few weeks.
Tips to watch kabuki There are not so many rules to follow and unlike many of you might assume so, kabuki is not originally for luxury people but was an entertainment for ordinary people during the Edo period. It was from the Meiji period, when people started to enjoy it in a luxurious way which was a part of westernization. So, there’s no need to worry about the strict rules and such in order to enjoy kabuki at the theatre! You don’t have to dress up for the theatre and many people go there in casual clothes. Just the basic rules and tips to remember are as follows;
Turn off the smartphone Don’t go to the bathroom in the middle of the play Filming or recording the performance is strictly forbidden You can eat only if you reserve the Sajiki-seki , the seat with a table on the right and left sides of the stage. For these seats, meals will be served and enjoy the meals during the performance There’s a shout to the performance but there are some hidden rules behind it How to get tickets to kabuki? A kabuki play is usually divided into two or three segments and each is again separated into indifferent acts.
Depending on your ticket, you can buy them online or when you are looking for a single act ticket, you will have to go down to Kabukiza and purchase your ticket there as they cannot be reserved.
Get your tickets online!
If you are looking for a unique cultural experience, you should definitely try to watch a kabuki show in Japan. It will be unlike any other (theatre) show you have ever seen and a unique experience. If you have any questions, we are happy to assist you. Let us know in the comments below or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for more travel inspiration.
Happy travelling!
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Japanese dance culture Japan is a country with a huge cultural heritage. The Japanese sacredly honor and cherish their customs and traditions. For example, the national Japanese tradition is to bow when meeting, or traditional Japanese dressing. The art of dance is another cultural tradition of the land of the rising sun.
Dancing for the Japanese is not simple body movements. Each Japanese dance has its own history, its own symbolic movements. This is a kind of ritual in which the Japanese put a certain meaning and attach meaning that is understandable only to them.
Dances are denoted in Japanese by the symbolic word - bue. The word has two parts. The first syllable - "bu" - refers to all the dances of the medieval era, the second syllable - "e" - these are dances belonging to Edo - the era of the 18th century. Boo dances include all theatrical and court dances. These are smooth, refined, calm movements. E dances are Japanese folk dances, kabuki dances.
In addition to these dances, each region of Japan has its own traditional dances.
The oldest Japanese dance is the kagura. His movements symbolize the dance of the mythical Japanese goddess Amo-no-Uzume. From Japanese myths, it follows that thanks to her dances, this goddess lured the goddess Omikami out of the heavenly cave.
The first foreign dance to appear in Japan was the mime-gigaku dance. This is a symbolic dance with a huge lion mask. There are a huge number of varieties of this dance - mim-bugaku, mim-gagaku, etc. These dances came to Japan from Korea and China. Performing these dances, the Japanese dressed up in special colorful costumes. They were attended mainly by men. Some of these dances included elements of acrobatics. For example, mim-gagaku is an ancient samurai dance. During the performance, the samurai went to the center of the hall in wide baggy pants, with a weapon in his hands. At the end of the dance, he put on a colored kimono. It was a symbol of spring and prosperity of the Japanese people. As a rule, these types of dances were performed at the courts. They were considered a kind of entertainment for the emperor and his retinue.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, entire dance performances were held in the imperial palaces. Even children took part in the theatrical dance. Boys, for example, performed movements - chigo, and girls circled in dance - sira-buesi. The emperor himself could also attend such a performance. For example, the furyu dance meant a conversation between the emperor and the court minister.
During the Kamakura period, many new dances appeared. Basically, these dances were part of a theatrical performance. For example, the sarugaku dance was often performed during musical performances. This is a rhythmic, expressive dance, consisting of various dance "pas".
Another purely male Japanese dance is the kovakamai dance. Three adult men take part in the performance of this dance. It is accompanied by a military chant to the sounds of a flute and drums.
Nembutsu is a religious Japanese dance. It is often performed in Buddhist temples on memorial days. The smooth, magical movements of this dance fascinate and delight.
The most famous Japanese dance is Kabuki. This dance originated in Japan in the 17th century. There is male and female kabuki. Kabuki was danced mainly during theatrical performances, New Year's celebrations. Favorite by tourists, the "geisha dance" is one of the varieties of kabuki dances.
At the beginning of the 20th century, in the magnificent Meiji Shrine, a new Japanese dance, the shinbue, was born. For the first time, both women and men took part in this dance. During this period, numerous dance schools began to appear in Japan.
Modern Japanese dances - butoh, are completely different from the restrained movements of the medieval era. These are fast, expressive dances. The dancers are brightly made up and half-naked. This dance tells the audience about the frailty of life, about mental suffering and the search for life's meaning.
At present, the dance culture in Japan is actively flourishing and developing.
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Classical Japanese Dance (Traditional) | Belcanto.ru Japanese folk choreographic art originated in ancient times. Dances were part of the daily life of the people (ritual dances-spells, dances-prayers for the sending of harvest or rain, dances of gratitude, offerings to the gods, etc.). Some of their elements were included in Nar. dances, which served as the basis for the formation of the classical. Japanese schools. dance.
According to ancient legend, the first dance. the performance in Japan took place at the beginning of the "era of the gods", when the earth had just separated from the sky. The supreme deity of the Shinto cult, the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, became angry with her mischievous brother, the wind god Susanoo, and took refuge in a heavenly grotto. The world plunged into darkness.
V 7 c. began the penetration of the theater. and dance. art from the mainland. The first type of such art, attested by the historian. a chronicle, but not preserved, was the dance pantomime gigaku. In the gigaku, elements of the art of the Asian Middle Ages, which arose on the basis of Iranian, Indian and Central Asian cultures and merged with the theater, were traced. art of China, Indochina and Korea. The next borrowing from the mainland belongs to the 8th century. These are bugaku dances, which finally took shape by the 10th century. and preserved (in the old form) until the 20th century. The art of bugaku had a huge impact on the formation of the entire Japanese theater. Some of its elements formed the basis of national music and choreography.
In addition to bugaku, which became the art of the aristocracy, in the middle. 8th c. the common folk theatrical art of sangaku was also brought to Japan, which included decomp. (simple) types of mass art: comic. mimic scenes, sketches and stories, nar. songs and dances, acrobatics, tricks, juggling, performances of puppeteers, etc. From the performances of sangaku to the beginning. 11th c. the art of sarugaku developed. The participants in these performances were from the lower strata of society. They performed during the religious holidays, when crowds of believers flocked to temples. Sarugaku quickly gained great popularity. To con. 12th c. there are many prof. troupes patronized by large temples and monasteries; performances were held on the territory of temples during religions. holidays to attract believers. The richest monasteries and temples had their own sarugaku troupes. The art of sarugaku absorbed court ritual and rural songs and dances. A special form of theater arose.
K con. 16th century in Japan, a variety of people spread. dances, bearing the general name. furyu-odori (furyu - lit.
The word "buyo" consists of two elements that convey the specifics of Y. k. t.: "bu" is mai, that is, a dance in which hand movements predominate, and legs are inactive. Almost all ancient religions dances in Japan were mai, most of the noo dances also belong to mai. Usually such dances are performed to calm music; "yo" is odori, dynamic. dance, main on the movements of the legs, the hands participate in it, but do not bear the main load. Y. k. t. buyo was developed and spread outside the framework of noo and kabuki theaters. Several dance schools (buyo ryuha), headed by outstanding choreographers. Among them, the most famous are: Shigayama, Nakamura, Fujima, Nishikawa, Hanayagi, etc.
All buyo dances are accompanied by music with text, this text is depicted plastically.
Significant in Japanese. choreography had performances in Japan by A. P. Pavlova (1922) and the Denishawn troupe (1929), which served as an impetus for the development of European art in Japan. ballet. Its first representatives were educated abroad. Among them is ballet. Komaki Masahide, dancers Kaitani Yaoko, Matsuyama Mikiko and Tani Momoko - later organizers and directors of ballet troupes: "Komaki baredan", "Kaitani baredan", "Matsuyama baredan", "Tani Momoko baredan", in whose repertoire - production. Russian and Western European ballet classics.
In 1958, the Japanese Ballet Association (Nihon bare kyokai) was founded, uniting the leading figures in the country's ballet.
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They can also be seen at venues such as Gion Corner and the National Theater of Japan.
