P1+Theater

=P1 Theater=

Eve T. Katherine L.

The Theater
Japan is country full of entertainment and wonderful monuments and nature. The theater has always been a common source of entertainment in Japan. It was first discovered by the gods of Japan, and has been popular ever since. The three types of Theater Kabuki, Bunraku and Noh are all unique and different. The audiences of the theater are separated by social class. If one was a samurai they would only attend a Noh performance, because it is the only type dignified enough for them. Although, the two other sources of entertainment attract a large audience of people in Japan.

Bunraku Theater
Bunraku is another word for ningyo-joruri which means literally puppets and storytelling. The Bunraku Theater is a musical puppet theater for adults. A man called Chikamatsu created sewamono, which are Bunraku plays about the merchant class. Most of the sewamono are about shinju which are love suicides. The wooden puppets used for the Bunraku Theater were almost life size. It would take three skillful puppeteers to work a puppet: one for the body, one for the right arm and one for the left arm. The puppeteers would wear black so the audience won’t notice them during the performance. A narrator called tayu tells the story and says the puppet’s lines. A stringed instrument that is played like a guitar called samisen accompanies the action.

Kabuki Theater
Another form of theater is Kabuki Theater. The definition of the word “Kabuki” means to get freaked out. A very popular element of Kabuki Theater is its revolving stage. The purpose of the revolving stage is to help with the transition of scenes. The kabuki theater’s audience was made for merchants and ordinary town’s people. For a period of time the audiences of Kabuki Theater thought that the performances were vulgar. On the other hand many people were drawn to the exciting and overwhelming performances that Kabuki was known for. The performances consist of exaggerated dances, songs and speeches. As well as the extravagant performances, the heavy makeup, elaborate costumes and wigs that Kabuki actors wear make a large impact on Kabuki. The plays are preformed just like they were 200 years ago except the actors are now all men and no women. The men actors play all parts including the women characters.

Noh Theater
Noh are Japan’s oldest form of theater which began is the 1300s. Noh are originally derived from a religious ceremony so the stage was located at temples or shrines. The scenery of a Noh Theater is very simple. Noh began as the only type of public entertainment that was considered dignified enough for a Samurai. The Noh play told stories of Japanese legends and the character of Noh are ghosts, spirits and demons. The actors of Noh are all men. The Noh Theater is well known for the masks and costumes. Shogun Tokugawa would entertain Japan’s leading Daimyo with a performance of Noh.

The differences between Kabuki, Bunraku and Noh
Even though Kabuki, Noh and Bunraku are all a Japanese form of theater, they are very different. Bunraku theater is the most unique compared to Kabuki and Noh. The intricate designs of the wooden puppets create a distinctive performance for people to see. Actors control a few of these life size puppets in the shows. Kabuki and Noh Theater use real people in their performances and not puppets. Kabuki Theater is more of an exciting, energetic performance unlike Noh that is more calm and elegant. Another element that’s sets the three forms of theater apart is the audiences that attend the shows. Noh theaters audience is directed to Samurai, due to the fact that is the only form of public entertainment dignified enough for them. Kabuki theaters audience is made up of merchants and ordinary town’s people. The nice variety of Theater means there is always something for everyone to attend. The only problem with the plays is you can only visit certain theaters depending on your class.

** Costumes for Kabuki and Noh **
The actors in the Kabuki Theater wear colorful and gorgeous costumes and makeup. The actors also wear wigs. The Kuroko who are the people that takes care of the props and actors in the Kabuki Theater wear black. In the Noh Theater, the actors usually wear every day wear of a samurai including Mizugoromo jackets and Maiginu dance robes. The main character is usually masked. Trousers, headbands, sashes, and other accessories complete the wardrobe

media type="custom" key="8452462"

Denney, Joyce. "Noh Costume". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.

Noh Plays. [|__http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/shofu/geinou_e/nougaku/6e/index_e.html__]. 2/21/2011. Image.

Virginia Schomp, " Japan in the Days of the Samurai," New York. Benchmark Books, 2002. Medium