Theater2

=Kabuki, Bunraku, and Noh Theater =  Kabuki, Bunraku, and Noh Theater has developed over hundreds of years in order to entertain and please everyone. People ranging from everyday peasants to the shogun himself have been entertained by these magical plays and acts. These theaters have colorful history and the various actors wear special costumes. The stages have some hidden surprises and the actors are either rich or poor.

Noh was started in the Ashikaga period (A.D. 1333-1573) from music and dance. Kabuki plays were started in the Tokuwaga period (1600-1867). When Kabuki was first originated, it was performed by only women. Today, all characters (men and women) are performed by men. Kabuki is colorful and dramatic. In the kabuki plays the actors have elaborate costumes and makeup, and include slow emotional scenes, and intense sword fighting scenes.

Kabuki actors wear heavy makeup and elaborate costumes, just like the actors in Noh Theater and the puppets in Bunraku Theater. Kabuki actors' costumes are elegant and colorful, just like their makeup, which is used to enliven their faces. The life-sized puppets of Bunraku Theater wear the same costumes as the actors of Kabuki Theater. Noh Theater, on the other hand, has a very different style of clothing. During the early creation of Noh Theater, actors wore clothes similar to the average attire of the samurai. Slowly, the costumes developed and changed. By the time period 1573-1615, the wardrobe of the Noh actors consisted of nuihaku, karaori, kariginu, chôken, maiginu, happi, mizugoromo, atsuita, and surihaku, all of which are specially made garments.

The Noh stages are also specially built for the plays and performances, as are stages for Kabuki Theater. Kabuki stages have been made in a special way so they can turn during scenes of suspense or action. The stages in Noh Theater are different from Kabuki stages and are made of special white cedar wood, which is sturdy and durable. The four parts of the white cedar stage are the "Hombutai (main stage), Hashigakari (corridor), Atoza (back stage), and Giutaiza (side stage)."

Today men play all parts in the plays. Men are not paid to be actors, but are paid for performing in plays. Many actors live off of acting, however some actors have other jobs. Actors are often not recognized on stage because of their elaborate makeup. Actors train to be great sword fighters because of sword-fighting scenes in the kabuki plays. Actors must be very talented to perform the kabuki plays that can last up to six hours.

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**Citations **  Odjik, Pamela. The Japanese. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1989. Print.

Mishima, Shizoku. "Japanese Kabuki." About.com: Japan Travel. About.com. Web. 16 Feb 2010.

Takemura, Mitsuhiro. “Noh Theater.” //Digital Archives of Ishikawa Japan //. Graduate School of Frontier Sciences The University of Tokyo, 1999. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.

Denney, Joyce. "Noh Costume". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Web. 16 Feb 2010.