Kabuki is an ancient Japanese form of popular music and dance, in which the performers present themselves in a highly stylized manner. It combines songs, dances, mimes, and spectacular staging and costuming. The performing arts have been a major form of entertainment in Japan for four centuries. The term originally referred to the unorthodox and shocking nature of the arts. In modern Japanese, the word is written with three characters: ka, meaning “song”, bu, “dance” and ki, “skill.” At its origins, Kabuki was performed only by women and was popular among common people. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shogunate placed a restriction on women participating; a similar restriction exists to this day forbidding women from participating. Several male actors are therefore specialists at playing female characters (onnagata).
Plays in Kabuki are generally historical stories about relationships of the heart and moral conflict. The actors speak in a monotone voice, accompanied by traditional instruments. The Kabuki stage is equipped with several gadgets, including a moving stage and trapdoors in which actors can appear and disappear. Another specialty of the Kabuki stage is a bridge extending into the audience (hanamichi). Many significant characteristics of Kabuki theatre include the music, costumes, stage devices, and props as well as the specific plays and language. Among the most notable features are mie, a specific pose in which the actor holds a characteristic pose to establish his character. Keshÿ, the make-up in the costumes, provides a visible element of style even for those familiar with the art form.
Traditional Kabuki theatre involves constant interaction between the performers and the crowd. The actors frequently interrupt the performances to address the crowd, and the latter responds with appropriate praise or claps according to a prescribed pattern. The audience is able to call out their favorite actors during the performance. Considering the fact that Kabuki programs take place from morning to evening and that most spectators attend for a single play or scene, there is a constant stream of people entering and leaving the theatre. In addition, food is served to attendees at mealtimes.
Despite the basic purposes of Kabuki, which are to entertain the audience and allow the actors to demonstrate their skills, there is also a didactic element. This element presents reward for the righteous and punishment for the wicked. Hence, the plays often feature conflicts, some involving religious ideas, such as the transitory nature of the world from Buddhism, and the significance of duty in Confucianism. In addition, the plays often present more general moral sentiments. When these moral sentiments conflict with human passions, tragedy occurs. Following the opening of Japan to Western influences in 1868, Kabuki was also elevated among the upper classes. The traditional styles of the play were adapted for modern tastes. Traditional Kabuki was performed in selected venues in major cities such as Edo (present-day Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto. Local versions were also performed in rural towns. Today, Kabuki plays are most easily enjoyed at selected theaters with Western-style seats.
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