To fully enjoy a game, it`s important to understand etiquette. Before watching a Noh performance, purchase the program to understand the plot and context. Many classics of the Western canon, from ancient Greek theater, William Shakespeare, Fyodor Dostoevsky to Samuel Beckett, are now performed in Tokyo. A large number of performances, perhaps as many as 3,000, are given each year, making Tokyo one of the world`s leading theater centers. The Bunraku National Theatre in Osaka and the National Theatre in Tokyo are easily accessible venues for foreign visitors, with audio guides translating the dialogues and texts of certain performances into a range of languages. Noh flourished before and during the Edo period (1603 to 1867) with feudal lords across the country supporting their own troops and studying the art form itself. Noh fell out of favor at the beginning of the following Meiji era (1868-1912), but enough artists had private patrons to keep this art form alive. Today, it is thriving again and is recognized as an important part of the nation`s heritage. Many stories are related to history and literature and often dreams, ghosts and ghosts play an important role. All actors are men. The piece is accompanied by traditional instruments played live.

The three main classical theatres in Japan are Kabuki, Noh and Bunraku. All three types of services have been inscribed on intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Kabuki is a form of classical Japanese theatrical art that dates back to the Edo period. The word Kabuki is written with three characters meaning song (ka), dance (bu) and skill (ki). A typical kabuki show has elaborate costumes, exaggerated wigs, pronounced makeup, exaggerated actions and consists of an all-male cast. The accentuated movements in the performance are intended to convey certain meanings to the audience, as many ancient Japanese words are used in dialogue. Noh is a traditional form of theatre that includes music, dance and theatre. The movements are slow with poetic language in a monotonous tone, while the actors wear rich, heavy costumes.

During the interludes of the main performance, comic plays known as kyogen are performed. It first appeared in the 14th century and was popularized by a man named Zeami. The peculiarity of Noh is the use of masks that indicate to the audience which character is being played. The masks are usually carved from blocks of Japanese cypress with three-dimensional properties that allow actors to show different expressions from different angles. Only men are allowed to play the roles of Shite (main character), Waki (secondary actor), Hayashi (musician), Jiutai (chorus) and Koken (stage assistant). Bunraku is a traditional puppet theater that was once a popular form of entertainment for citizens during the Edo period in Osaka. Later, at the end of the 17th century, it developed into an artistic theater. The puppets are half the size of a human and are operated by three performers who, along with their two assistants, are the main operators. No rope is used to operate the puppet and the puppeteer is prominently displayed to the audience.

The story of the show is told by a person who also speaks all the puppets. A shamisen (three-string guitar) accompanies the narration to create the tone of the performance. This form of puppet theatre was founded in Osaka in the 17th century and is now considered a high-level art form. The large puppets are operated by three operators, and the story is told by a single actor. The music accompanies the narrative and the complex movements of the performers. A Noh play is performed on a square stage with a roof, and masks are one of its main features, representing the characters in different ways. The costumes are quite complicated, with several levels creating imposing figures. To increase expressiveness, actors embellish their movements with folding fans.

Apart from traditional theatrical entertainment, theater revues were recognized as popular entertainment in Japan in the early 1900s. The light theatrical entertainment of theatrical revues originating in the West inspired the formation of famous Japanese revue groups such as the Takarazuka Revue, founded in 1914 by Ichizō Kobayashi, with a failing pool in Takarazuka converted into a theater. [7] [8] The Tokyo National Theatre is a great place to see a good Noh play. Osaka has a famous theater dedicated exclusively to Noh, the Otsuki Noh Theater. For a unique experience, try helping out with a play performed at Miyajima`s Itsukushima Shrine, with the scene on pillars in the sea. We highly recommend seeing a performance at the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, the birthplace of this art form. The Tokyo National Theatre is also a great option. Playwrights returned to common stage devices perfected in Noh and Kabuki to project their ideas, like a narrator who could also use English for an international audience.

Important playwrights of the 1980s were Kara Juro, Shimizu Kunio and Betsuyaku Minoru, all of whom were closely associated with certain companies. In contrast, passionately independent Murai Shimako, who has won awards around the world for her many works focused on the bombing of Hiroshima, has only starred with one or two actresses. In the 1980s, Japanese stage art evolved into a more sophisticated and complex format than previous post-war experiments, but it lacked its bold critical thinking. During this period, women began to run their own theatre companies such as Kishida Rio, Kisaragi Koharu, Nagai Ai and Watanabe Eriko. [1] [2] During the Edo period in Osaka, Bunraku began as a popular entertainment for citizens. It is the traditional puppet theater of Japan. It is also recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, along with Noh and Kabuki. In the past, the performance was called ningyo joruri – ningyo means puppet and joruri is a kind of sung narrative. Now it is officially called Bunraku because the name was derived from a troupe organized by Uemura Bunrakuken in the early 19th century.

The Bunraku puppets, each operated by three performers (a main operator and two assistants), are about half or two-thirds of their actual size. Instead of using ropes, puppeteers work together to maneuver the puppets` limbs, eyelids, eyeballs, eyebrows, and mouths to create realistic actions and facial expressions. The puppeteers can be seen by the audience, but are dressed in black to express that they are “invisible”. The three puppeteers work together on stage in perfect harmony to make the puppet truly alive. His movements are surprisingly delicate and beautiful when controlled by his master puppeteers. Puppets can be beautiful, mysterious and funny because they can make the audience laugh. They seem to gain more empathy from the audience since they are dolls. The story is told by one person (the Tayu) who also speaks all the puppet characters. Therefore, the Tayu must have a variety of vocal expressions to represent all ages and genders. Shamisen players are musicians who set the tempo of the narrative with the music that accompanies them.

Synchronized with the shamisen`s narration and music, it`s nice to see the sophisticated puppets come to life. Like kabuki, Bunraku is often based on adaptations of tragic love stories, heroic legends, and historical events. The most important compositions of the famous Japanese playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653 – 1724) are plays by Bunraku. Many of them are portrayed around this type of conflict. Bunraku is performed in mostly modern theaters with Western-style seating. It can be seen in venues such as the Tokyo National Theatre and the Bunraku National Theatre in Osaka. English helmets are usually available for most performances. The theater sells one-act tickets for those who aren`t sure if they want to attend a full performance.

You can also visit the Kabukiza Gallery, where you can see Kabuki costumes and other exhibits. Kabuki is a traditional theatrical form that has its origins in the Edo period. In Japan, it is recognized as one of the three main classical theatrical forms, along with Noh and bunraku. Kabuki has conquered the hearts and minds of the public from the beginning of the 17th century until today. It is an art form rich in sensationalism. He is known for his appearance with impressive costumes, eye-catching makeup, eccentric wigs and not to mention the exaggerated actions of the actors. Music and dance are skillfully used, bringing to life the real and imaginary characters of Japan`s past. Plays can range from realistic tragic dramas to exciting adventure stories. Plots are usually based on historical events, moral conflicts, love stories, warm dramas, stories of tragedies or conspiracies, and many other well-known stories. Kabuki is staged and equipped with dynamic gadgets such as rotating platforms and hatches that allow actors to appear and disappear. In addition, the Kabuki stage has a pedestrian bridge (hanamichi) that leads to the public and allows spectacular entrances and exits. Kabuki theater has important features such as its own music, costumes, props, and gadgets, and uses specific styles of speech and acting.

All these elements together make it an amazing and captivating performance. Originally, kabuki included both male and female actors and was popular with ordinary people. Later in the Edo period, however, the Tokugawa shogunate restricted women`s participation. Since then, all actors have been played by men, a tradition that has remained to this day. Therefore, there are male actors who specialize in the female role (onnagata). All actors play the roles of warriors, thieves and respectable ladies and prostitutes.