When someone asks you a question about Kabuki, are you confident that you can clearly explain the basics?

When communicating something to others, it is clear how important it is to have correct basic knowledge.

Being able to answer with confidence will help you communicate smoothly and, more importantly, make people more interested in Japanese culture.

Good communication also leads to satisfaction for both parties.

We will introduce basic knowledge about Kabuki, such as the background and history of its creation, the classification of performances, and the differences between Edo and Kamigata.

The background and history of the birth of Kabuki

First, let me introduce the background and history of the performing art of Kabuki.

How did Kabuki originate? Where does the name Kabuki come from?

In the early Edo period, people who appeared on the streets in unconventional, eccentric clothing and behavior, attracting people's attention, were described as "kabuku."

And those who performed these acts came to be called "kabukimono."

Later, "Kabuki Dance," which incorporated the unique clothing and movements of these kabuki actors, became a huge hit and became the origin of modern-day kabuki.

The unique movements, dazzling costumes, and colorful facial makeup of Kabuki all have their roots in the fashion and behavior of the Kabuki actors, and are similar to how modern trends are born.

Kabuki performers changed from women to boys to adult men

It is said that the first person to start Kabuki dance was Okuni, a shrine maiden at Izumo Taisha Shrine.

Okuni and her troupe were traveling around the country to collect donations for Izumo Taisha Shrine, and they performed kabuki dance to win the favor of their guests.

Okuni's singing and dancing in male attire resembling a kabuki actor became popular, and there are records that she was extremely popular in Kyoto in 1603.

Its reputation spread to Edo, and many kabuki dance troupes appeared.

However, because many of the performances in women's kabuki were considered too risqué, the Edo Shogunate banned women's kabuki in 1629. After that, men began to take on the role, which led to modern-day kabuki.

Men's Kabuki also originally began as "Wakashu Kabuki" performed by beautiful young men aged between 12 and 18, but Wakashu Kabuki was banned by the Edo Shogunate due to moral issues, and it became "Yaro Kabuki," performed by adult men as we know it today.

And to modern Kabuki

During the Meiji period, the cultural status of Kabuki improved, and there are records of Emperor Meiji attending a performance.

The first Kabukiza was established in November 1889 in Kobikicho, located in the southern part of present-day Chuo Ward, Tokyo. During the Taisho era, the theater began to perform "Shin Kabuki," original works incorporating overseas styles, and new developments began to take hold.

The Kabukiza was destroyed by fire in 1921 due to an electrical fault, and after being rebuilt, it was destroyed again in an air raid during World War II. However, it was rebuilt again in 1951, and in 1986, the introduction of "Super Kabuki," which made full use of the latest stage technology, attracted a whole new generation of fans. After that, the building was rebuilt due to deterioration, and it is now the fifth generation Kabukiza.

With the Kabukiza Theatre, the hall of fame for Kabuki, at its center, Kabuki has become a traditional performing art that represents Japan.

Kabuki plays can be broadly divided into four types

Although it is generally referred to as Kabuki, the genres of the plays can be broadly divided into four categories: historical plays, domestic plays, shosagoto plays, and new Kabuki plays, which are areas where people have different tastes.

Once you find a performance you like, watching Kabuki will become even more enjoyable, so be sure to understand it well.

"Jidaimono" is a period drama from that time

Although it is called a period piece, it is set in the Edo period when Kabuki developed, and is therefore a play set in the Heian, Kamakura, and Muromachi periods.

Actual events that took place during the Edo period have been changed and the names have been changed.

Representative works include "Kanjincho," "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Blossoms," and "Kanadehon Chushingura," which feature Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

Is "Sewamono" similar to current dramas?

Sewamono (domestic dramas) were considered modern dramas by people in the Edo period, and many of the works were based on incidents that caused a stir in society at the time.

His works "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" and "Yotsuya Kaidan" are very famous, and many people have probably heard of them.

Sewamono has something in common with modern talk shows and dramas.

"Shosagoto" is centered around dance

Shosagoto is a performance centered around dance. It is characterized by gorgeous costumes such as Kagamijishi, Fujimusume, and Musume Dojoji.

The content is diverse, ranging from dance dramas based on Noh and Kyogen themes to performances in which one dancer plays different roles.

Popular works include "The Mad Deer Girl Dojoji" and "The Heron Girl."

Newly written plays from the mid-Meiji period onwards are called "Shin Kabuki"

From the mid-Meiji period onwards, plays written by outside playwrights were called "Shin Kabuki."

A notable feature of the group is that many of its works are influenced by outside theater, with famous works such as "Bancho Sarayashiki."

Kabuki culture flourished in Edo and Kamigata

From the mid-Edo period onwards, Kabuki split into two schools: Edo's "aragoto" and Kyoto's "wagoto," each of which flourished.

Be sure to remember the characteristics of these two major trends.

"Aragoto" was a popular heroic play that promoted good and punished evil in the Edo period.

Aragoto is characterized by its rough and powerful acting. To complement the dynamic acting, a distinctive feature is the use of makeup called "kumadori" that exaggerates the veins and muscles of the face.

They mainly feature simple and clear stories of good triumphing over evil, in which a hero defeats a villain, and "Sukeroku" is a typical example of this.

The popular "Wagoto" in Kamigata features a playboy as the lead.

A distinctive feature of Wagoto is that a handsome man with a feminine charm appears and captivates the audience with his soft and graceful acting.

Like "Sonezaki Shinju," the story is a human drama centered around love.

"Aragoto" and "Wagoto" are still alive and well today

The tradition of "Aragoto" and "Wagoto" continues to this day, with "Aragoto" performed by the Ichikawa family and "Wagoto" by the Sakata family, both of which are family arts of prestigious Kabuki families.

summary

We hope you have gained an understanding of the background and history of the birth of Kabuki, the classification of plays, and the differences between Edo and Kamigata.

The origins of Kabuki are very close to the origins of modern trends.

Once you understand the differences between the four types of plays, you will understand that Kabuki is closely related to modern theater and drama.

Also, be sure to understand the difference between the Edo "aragoto" style, represented by the Ichikawa family, and the Kamigata "wagoto" style, represented by the Sakata family.

Kabuki is a representative traditional Japanese performing art that is popular overseas, as its unique makeup, costumes, and movements are easy to understand even without speaking the language.

Once you understand the basics, you will be able to see Kabuki and Kabuki actors in a new light, and you will realize that the scope of your knowledge and culture has expanded.

This article has been partially re-edited by KARUTA from an article originally published on "Nihongo Biyori."
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