Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese drama performed only by male actors using highly stylized song, mime, and dance. It features an iconic stage with walkways extending into the audience. Plays fall into categories like historical stories and domestic stories. Actors hold dramatic poses and use elaborate makeup and costumes to convey different characters, with makeup color indicating traits like passion or villainy. Props are often used symbolically and costume changes are considered an art form done as part of live performances.

1. KABUKI
OF
JAPAN

3. ● is a form of traditional Japanese drama with
highly stylized song, mime, and, now performed
only by male actors.
“ka“ - for song
“bu“ - for dance
“ki“ – for art/skill
Kabuki

4. THE KABUKI STAGE FEATURES
Hanamichi – a flower path, a walkway which extends into the audience via
which dramatic entrances and exits are made.
Kogakudo– kabuki theaters that have stages both in front of the audience
and along the sides help create a bond between the actors and viewers.
Mawaro butal – the interior of the theater contains a revolving stage.
Suppon– a platform that rises from below the stage.
Hanamicho– a walkway that cuts through the
audience seating area to connect the stage with the back of the theater.

6. THE THREE MAIN CATEGORIES OF THE
KABUKI PLAY
● Jidaimono- historical or pre-Sengoku period stories

7. ●Sewamono- domestic or post-Sengoku stories

8. ●Shosagoto- dance pieces

10. ▪Mie- the actor holds a picturesque pose to establish his
character and his house name yagō, is sometimes heard in a
loud shout (kakegoe) from an expert audience member,
serving both to express and enhance the audience’s
appreciation of the actor’s achievement.

11. KABUKI “Hero“ CHARACTERS
Onna-gata Role Aragoto Role

12. ▪Makeup- is also one of the most iconic parts of kabuki.
-actors apply their own makeup by painting their faces and necks white,
then adding stylized lines in red, black, or blue.
-the colors and lines that are used tells what kind of character is being
performed. Red and blue are usually aragoto roles, onna-gata playing
young women have very little paint.

13. -Kabuki makeup provides an element of style easily
recognizable even by those unfamiliar with the art form.
Rice powder is used to create the white oshirol base for the
characteristic stage makeup, and kumadori enhances or
exaggerates facial lines to produce dramatic animal or
supernatural character. The color of the kumadori is an
expression of the character’s nature:
●red lines are used to indicate passion, heroism,
righteousness, and other positive traits;
●pink for youthful joy;
●light blue for an even temper;
●pale green for peacefulness;
●blue or black for villainy, jealousy, and other negative traits;
●green for the supernatural; and
●purple for nobility.

14. ▪Kabuki props- are often quite interesting.
-flowing water is usually represented by fluttering rolls of
linen; or creatures like insects and foxes.
-props often have symbolic meanings.
-fans are used to symbolize wind, a sword, a tabacco pipe,
waves, or food.

15. ▪Costumes- are swung from sticks or
manipulated by helpers who come on stage dressed in
black hooded robesso; they are invisible to the
audience.
-the female characters generally wear an elaborate
kimono and obi.
-pleated hakuma trousers are worn by characters sexes,
actors playing both sexes often have a supported midriff
because a straight and curveless figure are regarded the
essence of beauty.

17. ▪Costume changing- is considered as an art.
-there are special teams that take care of complete and partial
costume changes and are done as part of the performances.

18. ▪Wigs- are important accessories, with each costume having
its own type.
-specialized craftsmen shape the wigs to the head, wigs are
made of human hair, horse hair, bear fur, or yak-tail hair
imported from Tibet.

19. THAT’S ALL
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