Kabuki is a rich blend of music, dance and mime, spectacular staging and costuming.
The play involves several set elements including particular rhythmic music, make-up known as kumadori, costumes and most remarkably, the exaggerated actions performed by the actors.
The traditional Japanese form of performance originated in the Edo period.
Originally it was performed by both women and men, but present day only male actors perform the plays.
However, it is said that a woman called Izumo no Okuni, began performing in the 1600’s in Kyoto, thereby laying the foundation of kabuki.
Later during the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate prohibited women from performing and men took over the female parts.
The kabuki plays are often based on historical events and moral conflicts and were used to parody everyday life. The three main categories of kabuki plays are jidaimono (early historical and legendary plays), sewamono (contemporary plays post-1.600) and shosagoto (dance dramas).
The most famous play of Jidaimono is Kanadehon Chushingura.
The story starts in 1701, when the leader of Ako Domain, Asano Naganori, attempted to kill Kira Yoshihisa at the Edo Castle but failed, and ended up sentenced to commit seppuku. His retainers who lost their leader sought revenge and the story followed these loyal 47 ronin until they took their revenge.
Sonezaki Shinju, translated as Love Suicides at Sonezaki, is one of the most famous plays of Sewamono.
It’s a tragedy between Tokubei, a hardworking merchant of a soy sauce firm and his lover courtesan Ohatsu. Tokubei was almost forced into an arranged marriage and he barely escaped, but he was deceived by his friend and lost his money and trust from people. Being desperate, his only choice to prove his innocence was committing suicide, and he and Ohatsu went to the forest to die together.
Kanjincho is a fun play to watch and is recommended for a beginner.
A military commander Minamoto no Yoshitsune traveled with his loyal retainer Benkei to escape for the Tohoku region. However, what waited for them was Togashi, the local clan, who was ordered to guard the checking station on the way to catch Yoshitsune. Benkei and other retainers disguised as Yamabushi (mountain ascetic hermits) and Yoshitsune as Goriki who carried the luggages, the story follows the comic and clever interaction between Benkei who tried to outwit the local clan and Togashi who was vigilant in the play.
Not only the traditional style of kabuki, lately the new style of kabuki appeared. It’s called Super Kabuki and it includes the modern story and play.
Super Kabuki started in 1986 by Ichikawa Ennosuke to create the new style of kabuki mixed with modern taste that people can easily relate to and the traditions such as music and dance.
In 2015, one of the best selling manga ONE PIECE was used for the play of Super Kabuki and not only the kabuki actors but popular actors performed as well.