Invitation to Kabuki - Guidance for Kabuki appreciation
The Kabuki stage
Naraku
Naraku means the area under the Hombutai and Hanamichi. At present, various systems are installed to move the Seri and Mawaributai, but in the period when they were moved by human power, it was a very dark, damp place reminding people of hell, so it was called Naraku, which means hell. As shown in the picture, stagehands relied on the light of candles when doing the work of moving the stage systems.
 
Naraku in Edo period using candles ("Shibai kimmou zui") Naraku (basement section)