Key Word	Japanese
The first volume

"Kabuki" (2)

For the first-time initiates as a Kabuki spectator, it is recommended that one should find a favorite kabuki actor and preview the synopsis just as you would do in an opera. There are several programs in Kabuki; a program named "Jidai-mono" is a portrayal of samurai society and aristocracy, "Sewa-mono" is regarding the commoners, and the "New Kabuki", which was written from Taisho (1912-1925) to the beginning of Showa (1926 - 1988) period.

On the other hand, besides the general choice of aforementioned programs, you may also enjoy kabuki from a visual point-of-view, including its unique make-up, various devices, construction of stage, etc. Below are some of the interesting highlights of a Kabuki play.

Kumadori is the most impressive make-up, which expresses with exaggeration, the actor's bulging muscles and blood vessel when one is trying too hard. Depending on the role, the color and way of make up each have different meanings, RED means youth and courage for a hero, BLUE portrays an evil person or a ghost, and BROWN expresses a wicked monster.

Mi-e is one of actor's actions. At the highlight scene, the actor stop his motion and fix his eyes to the front to demonstrate his original pose. At the same time, the stage name such as "Nakamura-ya!" is shouted to the actor from the audience.

Hana-michi is flower passage that exists as a part of stage and is used at the special highlight scene as an elevated passageway.

Hiki-nuki is a technique that is employed change costume in a flash during the actor's play.

Chuu-nori is a flying act over the audience. The actor flies overhead of the audience and rises up to third stage, in a surprising and astonishing way.

Kuroko is a person who helps the actor during his play. Since the black color symbolizes "null" in Kabuki world, appearance of Kuroko with black clothes should be pretended not to come into sight. According to back of stage, Kuroko's clothes were changed other color one to be matched to the background.

Meanwhile a dance act, "Kabuki-buyou", with or without words, exists in Kabuki programs. Music is an indispensable factor for Kabuki-buyou. Types of such music include the narrator "Gidayuu" or "Nagauta" who narrates in conjunction with a drum, a hand drum, or a flute. Regardless of the narrative message, it is different from usual plain reading but is narrated with a characteristic tone. It would not be exaggerating to say that music controls the success or failure of the stage. Of significant contribution to music are the wooden clappers that complements actor's performance while beating the progress of the story by its' characteristic pouncing sound.

Kabuki is said to be enjoyed by the elderly people in the past, but young people are increasingly inclined to enjoy Kabuki for the last few years since Kabuki actors of younger generation work aggressively as in other performance art like Noh and Kyogen. We often hear opinion from young people that Kabuki is enjoyable and once they get used to the performance, they are addictive. In such a way, handing down of traditional performance is maintained through different generations, while the integrity of the art and its' pride is carried over just as well.

End

Key Word

synopsis		indispensable
exaggeration		in conjunction with
bulge		integrity