Kabuki is one of the traditional forms of Japanese theatre, and like many theatre forms in Europe, it was performed by men. This is kind of interesting because the creator of Kabuki Theatre was a female shrine attendant in the 1600’s. It had a lot of influence from the Noh, an aristocratic class in Japan, but was popular for the masses. Similar to theatre in England was heavily influenced by the ruling classes. The characters were often familiar to those who had any learning in the history of Japan because they were often based off the different historical stories, again, similar to theatre in England and playwrights like Shakespeare. The language may be old but the story ideas were familiar.

At one point, women were allowed to act in Kabuki theatre, but there was an issue with most the female actors being

Typical Kabuki actors

prostitutes and this caused an uprising in the seats. Women were banished, but the young men that took their place were also prostitutes which insighted similar problems. Eventually just older actors were asked to perform the pieces. In addition, those that played female roles used to have to  be female in their everyday lives as well, but this practice was changed in 1868.

Standard roles included the “Good guy” roles such as the virtuous hero or handsome lover. A “Bad guy” role such as an evil samurai, and the females roles like the wicked woman, young maiden, or high-ranking samurai lady.

A couple of the most famous Kabuki playwrights included Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653~1724) and Ichikawa Danjuro. Chikamatsu Monzaemon was more known for his bunraku plays, but Ichikawa Danjuro’s  plays are still performed today, and sometimes even by his decedents.

 

Image by by Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1865) in 1860

The play I chose to highlight was one of Ichikawa Danjuro’s  “Eighteen Great Plays” or Kabuki Juhachiban called Shibaraku.  Shibaraku was originally performed in 1697 at the Nakamura-za by its creator, Ichikawa Danjuro I

The main themes involve the Bad guy who has taken over and a goodly samurai is trying, in vain, to right them off.  From off stage the word “SHIBARAKU!” is shouted, meaning roughly “Wait a minute”, and out steps our hero,  Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa, dressed in a costume to make him appear huge and intimidating, and make-uped in red and white. This costuming is often seen as stereotypical of kabuki actors now. He delivers his monologue, strikes a mie (srossed eyes, exaggerated expression) pose, and drives off the villain to save the day. The shouting of “Shibaraku” came about by accident when Ichikawa was first performing this play. His fellow actors wouldn’t give him his cue to enter, so he shouted “wait a minute” and made his entrance. Its been a part of the play ever since.

Ezibo Ichikawa

 

 

My reason for choosing this form of art is because of the historical value of Kabuki for the Japanese culture.  It was made a Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNSECO in November of 2005. Though its popularity has waned to mostly the older population and women, I see it as important to Japanese culture as Shakespeare is to the Western World. My reasoning for choosing Shibaraku is because of the recognizably of the play and that it still exists and is performed to this day. There have been adaptations made of it as well as parodies. For me, this play shows a lot of what many people think of when they think of Kabuki.

 

References:

Japan Zone, Class reading

“Shibaraku” Last updated on 7/28/ 2010. Retrieved on 11/18/11 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibaraku