Culture

Language(s): Eng

Summary/Historical Context

Kabuki is a Japanese traditional theatre form, which originated in the Edo period at the beginning of the Seventeenth Century and was particularly popular among townspeople. Originally, both men and women acted in Kabuki plays, but eventually only male actors performed the plays: a tradition that has remained to the present day. Male actors specialized in women’s roles are called onnagata.

Two other major role types are aragoto (rough style) and wagoto (soft style).

It also exists in a 35 min. version (NTSC)

on this subject: proclamation of masterpices 2005-Element inscribed on the Representative list 2008

Place/country: Japan,
Type: Documentary
Duration: 00:10:00
Publisher/producer: UNESCO,
Published in: 2005