Noh, Kyogen, Kabuki, Bunraku, Rakugo

Noh

Noh is a traditional performance art that was established in the 14th century and refined to attain its own unique style.

Noh uses historic events or traditional literature as its topics. It is a performance of dance and song. The performers portray ghosts, oni (ogres), gods, or women by wearing simple yet delicate masks and gorgeous, beautiful stage costumes. They use minimal movements to express as much as possible. This is accompanied by a chorus called “Jiutai” and musical instruments called “Hayashi.” The actors’ lines are in classical Japanese, so it is difficult even for native speakers to understand. It is advisable to learn the storyline beforehand. 

The stage is also simple. It is just an open space with no sets or stage curtains. The backdrop, called “Kagamiita” (mirror board), features a large pine tree. The singers and musicians are also on the stage.

Kyogen

Kyogen is a stage performance that developed alongside Noh. It was performed between Noh acts on the same stage. Unlike Noh, Kyogen is a form of comic theater. The actors depict everyday life in the Middle Ages through comical dialogues and gestures. It might be easier to understand than Noh.

Kabuki

The origin of Kabuki lies in a dance called “Kabuki,” which was popular about 400 years ago. Kabuki means “being strange and bizarre.” Influenced by other arts and cultures, it developed into a comprehensive theatrical form. The commoners in the samurai period supported the performances, while the writers and actors made great efforts to improve them. It had mostly attained its unique style by the mid-19th century, which has been maintained to the present day.

Kabuki is composed of three elements: singing (ka), dancing (bu), and acting (ki). The performers wear absolutely gorgeous kimonos and exaggerated makeup. The acting is also exaggerated and stylized, transcending realism.

The performers are all male. They even play female roles. These actors are called “onnagata.”

Kabuki has many unique features on stage, such as:

 1 Mie: Exaggerated Pause. The actors take a pause in an attractive style in the middle of acting. It is one of the moments for the audience to wait for.  

 2 Kumadori: Drawing Makeups. The actors paint the lines patterned according to the playing part on the face. It shows the exaggerated muscles and nerve lines. 

 3 Hayagawari: Quick Changing. The actor changes dresses in a moment. 

 4 Chūnori: Hanging in the Air. A wire device from the ceiling suspends the actor over the audience.

 5 Mawari Butai: Stage Scene Change. Part of the stage is a revolving floor. When it turns, the stage scene changes rapidly.

 6 Hanamichi: The Pathway in the Audience. This pathway leads from the back of the audience seats to the stage. The actors walk on the pathway showing their performances closely to the audience. 

 7 Shamisen: The shamisen is a stringed musical instrument. Kabuki music is played using the shamisen.

https://youtu.be/8p1i7ezQAXQ

Bunraku

Bunraku is a puppet show performed through the cooperation of three parts: the storyteller (Tayu), the shamisen player (Shamisenhiki), and the puppeteers (Ningyotsukai). It dates back to the early Edo period in Osaka. It appeared as a mixture of a storytelling show and a puppet show, named “Ningyo-Joruri.” The storytelling method created by Takemoto Gidayu and the dramas written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon made this Ningyo-Joruri show a blockbuster hit in Osaka. The name “Bunraku” comes from the Uemura Bunraku theater in the 19th century.

Bunraku’s stories can be divided into three groups: “Jidai-mono,” “Sewa-mono,” and “Keigoto/Keiji.” “Jidai-mono” is a story based on historical events. “Sewa-mono” is about the lives of ordinary people. “Keigoto” is a dance drama.

Rakugo

Rakugo is a comic show performed by a single storyteller called a “Rakugoka.” The Rakugoka sits on a zabuton cushion placed in the center of the stage and tells a story in the form of a conversation between multiple characters, playing all the parts in different tones of voice. Using just a sensu fan and a tenugui towel, he vividly expresses a wide range of human emotions, sometimes making the audience laugh, sometimes moving them to tears. He always ends the story with a punchline called an “Ochi.”

As early as the 17th century, the prototype of storytelling shows appeared in Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Rakugo performers tell stories from the Edo period or Meiji era, slightly altering the performance and content to suit contemporary audiences. Thus, Rakugo stories are often set in historical times. This type of Rakugo is called “Koten,” or classics, where samurai often appear. On the other hand, they also create contemporary stories called “Shinsaku,” or new pieces.