Kabuki

Kabuki is one of the major forms of traditional Japanese theater. It dates from the seenteenth century. There are three basic kinds of drama in Kabuki. One deals with the lives of warriors and nobles, and another with the lives of the common people. Still another incorporates dance. Kabuki is performed on a revolving stage with a runway extending into the audience.

Music is used in Kabuki, except for certain plays, music is an essential part of Kabuki. But it might sound strange to western ears. The instruments are traditional ones- the Japanese lute or shamisen, for example. And the music is highly stylized.

Kabuki costumes are quite elaborate. The makeup is very heavy, almost mask-like. The audience can tell the character by the makeup. All female roles are played by men. The entire performance, even the speaking style, is extremely exaggerated.

Noh

Noh is the oldest traditional form of japanese theater. It goes back to ancient times. It's a kind of musical dance-drama. The plays are performed on a square stage with no curtains. The orchestra sits at the rear. There are drums of different sizes, and a special Noh flute. There are about two hundred fifty different Noh plays.

The main characters express themselves through dance. The speaking is done by a special chorus which sings or chants the narration and the lines. Noh often reminds westerners of classical Greek drama, especially the chorus.

The performers do wear costumes. But they also wear masks. Noh masks are symbolic. They represent different types of people. The actors have to develop the characters through movements, not facial expressions. It takes a lot of skill.

What's Bunraku?

Bunraku is a kind of Japanese puppet theater. It's one of the three major forms of traditional Japanese theater, along with Kabuki and Noh. Bunraku dates from the seventeenth century. It features a special kind of accompaniment. There's shamisen music. And there's a reciter who sings or chants both the story line and the lines for each character in the play.

What kind of puppets are used?

The Bunraku puppets are special. Each one is between three and five feet high. The heads are made very skillfully. On some, the eyes and mouth can open and close, and the eyebrows can move.

What about the puppeteers?

Each puppet is manipulated by three puppeteers. One person manipulates the head and right arm, another, the left arm, and another, the feet. The puppeteers wear black hoods to cover their heads and faces, so as not to distract from the dolls.

Do you know how to do the tea ceremony in Japan?

Yes, I've studied the tea ceremony. (No, I haven't formally studied the tea ceremony.) But whether we've studied it or not, most of Japanese do know something about it. It's been a traditional japanese art form since the fifteenth century, when it was perfected. The tea ceremony is much more than just serving and drinking tea. It's a deeply aesthetic experience.

What does the tea ceremony involve?

There are precise rituals of form and etiquette for host and guests. They include the tea room itself, the selection of the tea cups, the making and serving of the tea, and the appreciation of the hospitality.

Is is always so formal?

The degree of formality may vary according to the particular school of tea ceremony you follow. And, in a way, serving tea in your home to family or guests may be considered and informal extension of the ritual Japanese tea ceremony.

Flower Arrangement in Japan!

Most of Japanese know something about it whether they've studied it or not. It's a centuries-old traditional Japanese art form. The original emphasis in flower arrangement, or ikebana, was on the natural materials, and the way they were used to express harmony with nature. Most Japanese have a feel for that.

Has the emphasis changed?
Not the fundamentals - the arrangement of three main branches or sprays to signify sky, earth, and mankind. But in the past, only natural materials were used. Today some avant-garde school use man-made materials as well.


According to some estimates, there are about three thousand schools of flower arrangement. And about twenty million people practice it as a serious hobby. There are also several hundred ikebana clubs outside Japan.

Traditional Japan

Is there anything left of traditional Japan?

There certainly is. They have so many places where the past is preserved - cities like Kyoto, for example. In towns like Kanazawa and Kurashiki, you can see what feudal Japan was like. And almost everywhere there are homes, temples, and shrines that are built according to traditional Japanese styles of architecture.

What about in everyday life?

Traditional Japan is all around them - for example, in their art forms, their entertainment, their way of dressing, and their food. Japan has industrialized very rapidly. But they haven't lost their traditional Japanese culture.

What are the traditional art forms or entertainment?

The art forms would include such things as brush painting, flower arrangement, ceramics, wood-block prints, and tea ceremony. Entertainment includes theatrical performances such as Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku. And Sumo is both entertainment and sport.

What do geisha really do in Japan?

Geisha are hostess-entertainers for certain kinds of Japanese-style dinner-and-drinking parties. They sing, dance, and play musical instruments in either modern or traditional Japanese style. Some wear elaborate kimono, hairstyles, and makeup. They're supposed to be skilled in the art of conversation. Today not many geisha are trained the way they used to be.

Geisha parties are extremely expensive. It could cost hundreds of dollars per guest to have geisha present. Not many individuals can afford to entertain this way - it's usually done at company expense.

What happens at a party at a geisha house?

You sit on the floor around a table, Japanese style. You eat and drink, and talk with the other guests and with the geisha, who may be seated beside you. The geisha sing, play instruments, or dance, and often the guests join in.