KABUKI THEATER
KABUKI
- from the verb kabuku, meaning to be eccentric or extraordinary or outstep the bounds of common sense
- has developed in the direction of stylized performances, persistently pursuing on-stage expression that goes beyond mere realism
- known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers
THE STAGE
The kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi (literally, flower path), a walkway which extends into the audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are made.
In the theater, the right-hand side of the stage as seen from audience seats is called Kamite, and the left-hand side of the stage as seen from audience seats is called Shimote.
THE STRUCTURE
Kabuki, like other traditional forms of drama in Japan and other cultures, was (and sometimes still is) performed in full-day programs. Rather than attending for 2–5 hours, as one might do in a modern Western-style theater, audiences "escape" from the day-to-day world, devoting a full day to entertainment.
Nearly every full-length play occupies five acts. The first corresponds to jo, an auspicious and slow opening which introduces the audience to the characters and the plot. The next three acts correspond to ha, speeding events up, culminating almost always in a great moment of drama or tragedy in the third act and possibly a battle in the second and/or fourth acts. The final act, corresponding tokyu, is almost always short, providing a quick and satisfying conclusion.
THE REPERTOIRE (Content)
Jidaimono means the Kabuki works describing the world of samurai and kuge (court nobles) in periods earlier than the Edo period, including works such as "Kanadehon chushingura" based on incidents that occurred in the Edo period, but were rewritten as if they occurred before the Edo period.
Sewamono are Kabuki works based on the lives of tradesmen in the Edo period.
Shosagoto means Buyo (Kabuki dance).
THE COSTUMES
The costumes for bushi (samurai) and kuge (court nobles) who appear in Jidaimono are more exaggerated and stylized, because their lives were so distant from those of the common people who were the audience in the Edo period. In particular, costumes for clearly-defined role types such as Aragoto and Kugeaku (villainous court lords) are more exaggerated and stylized, to reveal their characters at a glance.
On the other hand, the costumes for Sewamono roles were quite similar to the clothes worn by audience members at the time.
THE PROPS
The wig used in Kabuki are basically constituted of 4 parts: bin [the sections of hair on both sides of the face], tabo [hair on the back of the head], mage [central section of hair done up in various shapes] and maegami [forelock]. The roles and their characteristics are expressed by variations and combinations of each of these parts. For the same reason as for costumes, the degrees of exaggeration and stylization in Jidaimono are more extreme than for Sewamono.
Props can be roughly divided into Hommono (real things) actually used in daily life and Koshiraemono (created things) created in order to be effectively shown on stage.
- from the verb kabuku, meaning to be eccentric or extraordinary or outstep the bounds of common sense
- has developed in the direction of stylized performances, persistently pursuing on-stage expression that goes beyond mere realism
- known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers
THE STAGE
The kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi (literally, flower path), a walkway which extends into the audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are made.
In the theater, the right-hand side of the stage as seen from audience seats is called Kamite, and the left-hand side of the stage as seen from audience seats is called Shimote.
THE STRUCTURE
Kabuki, like other traditional forms of drama in Japan and other cultures, was (and sometimes still is) performed in full-day programs. Rather than attending for 2–5 hours, as one might do in a modern Western-style theater, audiences "escape" from the day-to-day world, devoting a full day to entertainment.
Nearly every full-length play occupies five acts. The first corresponds to jo, an auspicious and slow opening which introduces the audience to the characters and the plot. The next three acts correspond to ha, speeding events up, culminating almost always in a great moment of drama or tragedy in the third act and possibly a battle in the second and/or fourth acts. The final act, corresponding tokyu, is almost always short, providing a quick and satisfying conclusion.
THE REPERTOIRE (Content)
Jidaimono means the Kabuki works describing the world of samurai and kuge (court nobles) in periods earlier than the Edo period, including works such as "Kanadehon chushingura" based on incidents that occurred in the Edo period, but were rewritten as if they occurred before the Edo period.
Sewamono are Kabuki works based on the lives of tradesmen in the Edo period.
Shosagoto means Buyo (Kabuki dance).
THE COSTUMES
The costumes for bushi (samurai) and kuge (court nobles) who appear in Jidaimono are more exaggerated and stylized, because their lives were so distant from those of the common people who were the audience in the Edo period. In particular, costumes for clearly-defined role types such as Aragoto and Kugeaku (villainous court lords) are more exaggerated and stylized, to reveal their characters at a glance.
On the other hand, the costumes for Sewamono roles were quite similar to the clothes worn by audience members at the time.
THE PROPS
The wig used in Kabuki are basically constituted of 4 parts: bin [the sections of hair on both sides of the face], tabo [hair on the back of the head], mage [central section of hair done up in various shapes] and maegami [forelock]. The roles and their characteristics are expressed by variations and combinations of each of these parts. For the same reason as for costumes, the degrees of exaggeration and stylization in Jidaimono are more extreme than for Sewamono.
Props can be roughly divided into Hommono (real things) actually used in daily life and Koshiraemono (created things) created in order to be effectively shown on stage.