"Onnagata" (mail actors playing female roles) existed in the era of Wakashu-kabuki. At that time, personal charm was considered more important than acting skill. But in "Yaro-kabuki," actors who performed exclusively as Onnagata appeared, and these Onnagata actors developed their skills in the direction of expressing realistic female attractiveness.
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At first, Yaro-kabuki performances presented a series of multiple "Hanare-kyogen" (individual plays) with complete short scenes involving song and dance, but gradually "Tsuzuki-kyogen" (continuous plays) constituted of multiple scenes and telling a story, began to be performed. Before long, in the Empo period [1673-1681], the dramatis personae were stylized for performance in order to express complicated stories, and "Yakugara" (role types) with specific characteristics and ages for each role began to be established. A "Waka-onnagata" actor played young women, a "Tachiyaku" played the roles of men, a "Katakiyaku" played bad men, a "Kashagata" played woman from middle-aged to elderly, and a "Dokegata" played humorous roles. New acting techniques suitable for each role type were originated.
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