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Japanese Theater

Japanese TheaterJapanese theater has a long, rich history. There are four main types of traditional theater in Japan. These are noh, kyogen, kabuki, and bunraku. Each of these forms of theater performance is very distinct and unique from the another.

NOH

NohorNogakuderived from theSino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent"is a major form of classical Japanese musicaldrama that has been performed since the 14th century. Developed byKan'amiand his sonZeami, it is the oldest major theatre art still regularly performed today. Traditionally, a Noh program includes five Noh plays with comedickyogenplays in between, even though an abbreviated program of two Noh plays and one kyogen piece has become common in Noh presentations today. Anokinaplay may be presented in the very beginning especially during New Years, holidays, and other special occasions.

Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians. Emotions are primarily conveyed by stylized conventional gestures while the iconic masks represent the roles such as ghosts, women, children, and old people. Written in ancient Japanese language, the text "vividly describes the ordinary people of the twelfth to sixteenth centuries".Having a strong emphasis on tradition rather than innovation, Noh is extremely codified and regulated by theiemotosystem.

Stage of a Noh TheaterThe noh stage is an extremely simple space in which there is no curtain between the playing area and the audience. Originally, noh was played in open fields. In order to retain the idea of performing outdoors, the modern noh stage, though fashioned indoors, is designed complete with details such as a roof, bridge with a handrail and a pine tree painted on the back wall.Another example of the thoughtful design is the change in perspective of the three pine trees that run along thehashigakari(bridgeway). The tree closest to the stage entrance is smaller than the one closest to the stage in order to give a sense of distance. In addition the lighting is arranged in such a way as resemble natural lighting.In terms of the sound, various devices are used to help amplify the natural sound. It is said that under many noh stages large empty clay jars are placed to aid in the sound of not just theshites stamping, but the resonance of the drums and flute as well as the voices from the chorus. (The National Noh Theatre does not have jars under its stage)

Noh CostumesThe costumes used in noh are callednoh shzoku.A good example is thekaraori, an exquisitely embroidered, traditional womans kimono. Certainly one of the most beautiful theatrical costumes in the world.During the early stages of noh, around the time ofKannamiandZeami, the costumes were more modest, as they were using the their everyday clothes to perform in. However, as noh became favorable in the eyes of the aristocracy and military ruling classes, they began to receive more finely crafted kimono to perform and this gradually became the norm. Furthermore during theAzuchi Momoyamaperiod (approx. 1558-1600), the flourishing of Japanese culture coupled with great advances in fine arts led to even higher standards for costumes.In this way, these costumes were truly works of art and quite separated from reality of the character. For example, historically, a poor fisherman or a woman who gathers sea-salt would not be adorned in such finery, but by using such stylized and symbolic costumes, noh is better able to express a characters feelings.

Noh MasksMasks are an essential part of the Japanese noh theater whilst the actors of the Japanese kabuki theater perform without masks. But there is one exception. The kabuki play "Nanatsumen" (The Seven Masks) is a fast role change play with masks. This play and the noh theater are the background for images of Japanese masks shown on Japanese printsMasks are a fundamental part of theJapanese noh theater Noh masks are calledomotein Japanese. They serve to characterize a certain role in a play. Noh plays seldom have more than 2-3 actors, and only the actor who represents the main role ("shite") plus his companion ("tsure") wear masks. The narrator ("waki") never wears a mask.

There are roughly 50-60 different categories of noh masks to represent specific characters and beings. Basic categories are:otoko- human male.jo- elders.onna- womanuba- old womanchigo- childrenjinki- supernatural beingkijin- demonsdifferent forms of animal masksThere are also noh masks used only for particular plays.

KYOGEN

Kygen,is a form of traditional Japanesecomictheater. It developed alongsideNoh, was performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts, on the same Noh stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day; therefore, it is sometimes designatedNoh-kygen. However, its content is not at all similar to the formal, symbolic, and solemn Noh theater; kygen is a comical form, and its primary goal is to make its audience laugh. Kygen is sometimes compared to the Italian comic form ofcommedia dell'arte, which developed around the same period and likewise features stock characters. It also has parallels with the Greeksatyr play, a short, comical play performed between tragedies.

KABUKI

Kabuki is a classicalJapanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-upworn by some of its performers.The individualkanji, from left to right, meansing,dance, andskill. Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as "the art of singing and dancing". These are, however,ateji characters which do not reflect actual etymology. The kanji of 'skill' generally refers to a performer in kabuki theatre. Since the word kabukiis believed to derive from the verb kabuku, meaning "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary",kabukican be interpreted as "avant-garde" or "bizarre" theatre.The expressionkabukimono referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and swaggered on a street.

BUNRAKU

Bunraku, also known asNingy jruri, is a form of traditionalJapanesepuppettheatre, founded inOsakain 1684. Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance: theNingytsukaiorNingyzukai(puppeteers), theTay(chanters) andshamisenmusicians. Occasionally other instruments such astaikodrums will be used.The most accurate term for the traditional puppet theater in Japan isningy jruri. The combination of chanting and shamisen playing is calledjruriand the Japanese word for puppet (or dolls, generally) isningy. it is used in many playsBunraku puppetry has been a documented traditional activity for Japanese for hundreds of years.