14 Facts About Kabuki

Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.

Kabuki is thought to have originated in the very early Edo period, when founder Izumo no Okuni formed a female dance troupe who performed dances and light sketches in Kyoto.

Kabuki developed throughout the late 17th century and reached its zenith in the mid-18th century.

Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as "the art of singing and dancing".

Kabuki became a common form of entertainment in the red-light districts of Japan, especially in Yoshiwara, the registered red-light district in Edo.

Related searches

Kabuki theatres became well known as a place to both see and be seen in terms of fashion and style, as the audience—commonly comprising a number of socially low but economically wealthy merchants—typically used a performance as a way to feature the fashion trends.

Kabuki switched to adult male actors, called, in the mid-1600s.

Kabuki returned to the pleasure quarters of Edo, and throughout the Meiji period became increasingly more radical, as modern styles of kabuki plays and performances emerged.

Kabuki appears in works of Japanese popular culture such as anime.

The Oshika Kabuki troupe, based in Oshika, Nagano Prefecture, is one example.

Kabuki was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2005.

Super Kabuki has sparked controversy within the Japanese population regarding the extent of modification of the traditional art form.

Kabuki makeup provides an element of style easily recognizable even by those unfamiliar with the art form.

Kabuki actors are typically part of a school of acting, or are associated with a particular theatre.