No and Kabuki

Entertainment in Japan is rich and varied, ranging from ancient stage dramas to the types of modern drama performed in Western countries.

In the classical theaters of No and Kabuki, the actors are all men, who play the roles of beautiful women, villains, and heroes. The older No plays are slow moving and simple in plot. Actors wear masks and move with studied gestures, which have deep symbolic meaning. In the more lively Kabuki plays there are many thrilling moments. When a popular actor makes his entrance on the "flower walk," a narrow platform leading from the back of the theater to the stage, devoted fans shout words of praise and applaud him as he walks by. Kabuki actors do not wear masks. Instead, their faces are elaborately painted to show the characters they play.

Bunraku

Another ancient and popular theatrical art is Bunraku, a puppet play. The puppets are much larger than Western ones and are themselves works of art. Each puppet is guided by three puppet players, who are dressed entirely in black so as to remain unseen by the audience. The master player controls the head and right hand; a senior assistant, the left hand; and a junior assistant, the body and legs. As the puppets dance, laugh, cry, and do battle, they look almost human.

Theatre

The oldest form of traditional Japanese drama is the no play, which developed during the 1300's. No plays are serious treatments of history and legend. Masked actors perform the story with carefully controlled gestures and movements. A chorus chants most of the important lines in the play. Two other forms of traditional Japanese dramaóbunraku (puppet theater) and the kabuki playódeveloped during the late 1600's. In puppet theater, a narrator recites the story, which is acted out by large, lifelike puppets. The puppet handlers work silently on the stage in view of the audience. Kabuki plays are melodramatic representations of historical or domestic events. Kabuki features colorful costumes and makeup, spectacular scenery, and a lively and exaggerated acting style. Kabuki The traditional types of theater remain popular in Japan. But the people also enjoy new dramas by Japanese playwrights, as well as Western plays.