Introduction

Features

A classical performing art that remains fresh

• Meaning of the term “Kabuki”
• All male performers
• Diverse repertoire of plays

For the audiences’ enjoyment

• Friendly interaction between the audience and actors
• How to enjoy Kabuki is up to the individual

Stage

Theatre Transformations

Various curtains for production

Characters and Actors

Characters and Costumes

• Becoming familiar with the characters
• Costumes
• Wigs
• Stage props

Various Kabuki Roles

• Umeomaru
• Fujiya Izaemon
• Sekibei (Otomo no Kuronushi)
• Soga no Iruka
• Kamiyui Shinza
• Sato Tadanobu (Genkurogitsune)
• Miuraya Agemaki
• Yaegakihime
• Kirare Otomi

Expressions of the Actors

• Stage names, Stage family names and Crests
• Family Arts
• Acting styles

Production and Music

Expression of Scene

• Expression of stage set
• Dramatic techniques showing weather
• Dramatic techniques for matsubame-mono
• Expression of makugire (end of act)

Distinctive Expressions

• Hikinuki (onstage costume change)
• Chunori (midair performance)
• Tachimawari (fighting performance)
• Roppo (stylized walking)
• Mie (pose)
• Ningyoburi (puppet-like acting)
• Kurogo (stage assistant in black costume)

Expression by Sounds

• Enjoy listening to Kabuki
• Geza (off-stage musical accompaniment and sound effects)
• Narimono (musical accompaniment and sound effects besides shamisen)
• Nagauta (songs in time with shamisen music)
• Takemoto (narrative music with shamisen)
• Tokiwazu-bushi (narrative music with shamisen)
• Kiyomoto-bushi (narrative music with shamisen)
• Ki (wooden clappers)
• Tsuke (sound effects using wood clappers)

History

The Beginning

• The kabuki-odori
• From onna-kabuki to wakashu-kabuki
• Development of yaro-kabuki

Establishment

• Establishment of aragoto
• Establishment of wagoto
• Popularity of gidayu-kyogen

Development Period

• Development of the shosagoto
• Works of Tsuruya Namboku IV
• Establishment of the “Kabuki-Juhachiban”

Successful Period

• Emergence of the theatre town Saruwaka-machi
• Works of Kawatake Mokuami
• Modernization of Kabuki

Classical and Modern Styles

• Popularity of a shin-kabuki
• Carrying on classical Kabuki
• From revival to prosperitys
• Modern-day Kabuki

Plays

Kabuki Dramaturgy

Eminent Playwrights

Classifications of Plays

Leading Plays

• Aotozoshi Hana no Nishikie (The Five Thieves)
• Imoseyama Onna Teikin (Husband and Wife Mountains: An Exemplary Tale of Womanly Virtue)
• Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of 47 Loyal Retainers)
• Kawasho (The Kawasho Teahouse scene)
• Kanjincho (The Subscription List)
• Kyoganoko Musume Dojoji (The Girl at Dojoji Temple)
• Koibikyaku Yamato Orai (The Money Courier from Hell）
• Kotobuki Soga no Taimen (The Revenge of the Soga Brothers)
• Sakurahime Azuma Bunsho (The Scarlet Princesss and Her Story in the East)
• Sannin Kichisa Kuruwa no Hatsugai (The Thieves Named Kichisa)
• Shibaraku (Wait a Moment!)
• Shunkyo Kagamijishi (The Kagami Lion Dance)
• Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy)
• Sukeroku Yukari no Edozakura (Sukeroku, the Hero of Edo)
• Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Sekinoto (The Snowbound Barrier)
• Tsuyu Kosode Mukashi Hachijo (Shinza, the Barber)
• Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (The Ghosts of Yotsuya)
• Narukami (The Holy Man Narukami and Lady Taema)
• Bancho Sarayashiki (The Broken Dish)
• Heike Nyogonoshima (The Priest in Exile)
• Meiboku Sendai Hagi (The Troubles in the Date Clan)
• Momijigari (Viewing the Autumn Leaves)
• Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees )

To the Theatre

Where do I watch?

• Theatres and tickets
• Selecting seats

How do I watch?

• Before you go
• During the performance
• Viewing manners