During the Genroku period, the Onnagata roles were roughly divided into two types; young female roles were called “Waka-onnagata” and Fukeyaku roles over the middle age were called “Kashagata”. Moreover, the actors who played exclusively the roles of young women were also called Waka-onnagata, regardless of their actual age. However, as the time comes closer to today, the meaning has changed, and the term stands for “young Onnagata actors” in many cases today.
