Kabuki

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater with its origins in the Edo period. In contrast to the older Japanese art forms such as Noh, Kabuki was the popular culture of the common townspeople and not of the higher social classes. Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts, love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. Actors speak in monotonous voices accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments. Kabuki takes place on a rotating stage (kabuki no butai). The stage is further equipped with several gadgets like trapdoors through which the actors can appear and disappear. Another specialty of the kabuki stage is a footbridge (hanamichi) that leads through the audience. In the early years, both men and women acted in Kabuki plays. Later during the Edo period, the Tokugawa forbade women from acting, a restriction that survives to the present day. Several male kabuki actors are therefore specialists in playing female roles

My opinion

Kabuki is always a special culture in my heart. It is like the Beijing opera, is Japanese traditional culture. I like their cloth and makeup. It is very different from Chinese theater. When you watch it, you can have a special experience like drink a cup of gongfu tea. I have ever heard that many Kabuki actors are must learn it from childhood, and every pose and action must be traditional. They are split into many ratings, and when you get a certain gating, you just can wear kimono to play. I am not sure it is true or not, but I think this art must very wonderful.