Theatre of Japan

Traditional Japanese theatre includes Kabuki, Noh (and its comic accompaniment, Kyōgen) and the puppet theatre, Bunraku.

Traditional form of theatre

Noh and Kyogen

The early existing Kyogen scripts date from the 14th century. Kyogen was used as an intermission between Noh acts—it linked the theme of the Noh play with the modern world by means of farce and slapstick. Noh played to the high level class, but there were occasions where Noh was performed for common audiences. Unlike Noh, the performers of Kyogen do not wear masks, unless their role calls for physical transformation.

Both men and women were allowed to perform Kyogen until 1450.

Kabuki

The best known form of Japanese theatre is Kabuki. It combines music, drama, and dance. It was performed by Okunis. Perhaps its fame comes from the wild costumes and sword fights, which used real swords until the 1680s. Kabuki grew out of opposition to Noh — they wanted to shock the audience with more lively and timely stories. The first performance was in 1603. Like Noh, however, over time Kabuki became not performing in a new way, but a stylized art to be performed only a certain way.