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Kabuki,
one of Japan’s finest traditional theatrical arts, is still widely
accepted today as a beautiful art form. Its outstanding colors,
vigorous dancing, and exciting storylines have kept it alive through
five centuries.
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the Edo Era, Japan was split
in social classes. The distinction between warriors and the
commoners was very severe, even in the types of theater they
could attend. Because of this, kabuki was refined by mostly
merchants and townsfolk, though, the art form had to stay inferior
to those of the warrior class due to these social restrictions.
Kabuki became a gateway to let out emotions on current events,
and most stories pertained to the conflict between humanity
and the feudal system.
Kabuki has many significant
characteristics that set it apart from other theatrical art
forms, one being that there are not any female actresses.
Only males take part in playing kabuki roles, and they are
called onnagata.
Though, during its primitive age, kabuki roles were filled
with women actresses, it wasn’t too long before officials
noticed men growing great infatuation with them and decided
to ban them from the art form, in fear of social demoralization.
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A Young Onnogata Performing On Stage |
A Unique Pose Used To Show Greater
Emotion |
Another characteristic kabuki portray is that is an accumulative
theater. Kabuki has incorporated different techniques from other
theatrical types preceding it. One of the major forms that are
included in kabuki are noh drama, and it’s comical interludes,
kyogen. Over a period
of time in the 17th Century, puppet theater or bunraku
had become more popular than kabuki. This was because the storyline
and creativity was enriched in bunraku, unlike kabuki
which focused mostly on actors. Because of this, kabuki had
to start using bunraku techniques to get back in the
lime-light. Almost all kabuki plays are based on bunraku
origins, except for a few dance-drama plays. |
Japan had never even
imagined such glamour, excitement, and extraordinary techniques
until kabuki hit the stage.
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