History Fact Finder | Culture and Recreation - What Are The Elements Of Japanese Kabuki Theater?

What are the elements of Japanese kabuki theater?

Kabuki theater is the most popular traditional form of Japanese drama and is characterized by dance, song, mime, colorful costumes, heavy makeup, and lively exaggerated movements that tell stories about historical events. The drama originated in 1575 when a woman named Okuni founded the first kabuki company. In 1603 the all-woman troupe—playing both male and female roles—popularized kabuki when they danced in Kyoto at the Kitani shrine. In October 1629 the shogun (military leader) Iemitsu declared it immoral for women to dance in public and forced them off the stage, making kabuki an entirely male dramatic form. It became increasingly popular during the 1600s, surpassing bunraku (puppet theater), in which a narrator recites a story while it is acted out by life-size puppets. Kabuki remains a popular art form, which has evolved culturally, incorporating...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass