Theater6

media type="custom" key="5446833"During the samurai period theater involved into an art. The merchants created theater for entertainment. Japanese theater has three different types. Kabuki is a colorful and very dramatic form theater which includes music and dance. Noh is preformed on a stage with no scenery or props. Bunraku is preformed large hand puppets. Many Japanese enjoyed Japanese theater for its characteristics.

The type of people that performed in plays varied from living beings to puppets. In Kabuki plays, only men could perform, because women are banned from acting on stage. Samurai are not allowed to see or perform in plays. In Noh theater, women performed, but rarely. In Bunraku, only puppets are used. Both women and men were the puppeteers in Bunraku. Many people perform in plays, and many enjoy them.

Many things were used in Ancient Japanese theater. In kabuki, music and dance were used to portray the story, including regular acting. Costumes and make-up were applied to the actors to make them look as realistic as possible. Also, actors would perform on a Mawari-Butai, a revolving stage. In Noh, the theater was built in a temple or shrine, so not much noise could be used. No props were used, but highly expressive masks and elaborate costumes made up for this. In bunraku, only large hand puppets and scenery were used. The variety of these materials is outstanding for these ancient peoples.

Kabuki is one of Japanese traditional entertainments. Kabuki originated in the 17th century. It was made by merchants as a way to express their emotions. Most women played female roles in early times of plays. The Tokugawa Shogun banned appearance of women in Kabuki plays in the early 17th century. As a result, all female roles are played by male actors called Onna-gata. Onna-gata is one of the main reasons people come to see Kabuki.

Noh is preformed on a stage with no scenery or props. Men preformed with women rarely. Noh was an religious theater type. Often preformed around a poem. Music and dance were used to emphasize the poem instead of props. Noh is religious because it was original preformed in temples and shrines. Noh also uses makes and elaborate costumes.

Theater is a widely diverse art in Japan. Each play has a special characteristic about it. Kabuki, for example, has no women actors. Noh uses no props, and Bunraku uses large puppets controlled by puppeteers to portray the story. Japanese theater is still an art in Japan, and many enjoy it.

Bibliography

Mishima, Shizuko. "Japanese Kabuki" about.com. The New York Times Company, 2010. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.

Odijik, Pamela. The Japanese. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1991. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.