Eve T.Katherine L.

World CulturesPeriod 1

The Theater: Kabuki, Bunraku and Noh

Bunraku Theater

* Bunraku is another word for ningyo- joruri, meaning puppets and story telling.

* The characters of Bunraku theater are life size wooden puppets.

* There are three puppeteers that control the puppets.

* Sewamono, are Bunraku plays about the merchant class. Most of sewamono are about Shinju which are love suicides.

Kabuki Theater

• The word the Kabuki means to get freaked out

• The Kabuki has a revolving stage, to help with the transition of scenes.

• Merchants and ordinary towns people make up the Kabuki Theater’s audience.

• The performances are exciting and overwhelming for the audience.

• Many actors play different parts, including women characters.

Noh Theater• Began in the 1300’s • Originally derived from a religious ceremony, so the

stage was located at temples or shrines.• Dignified enough for a samurai warrior. • The plays told stories of Japanese legends. • The characters are ghosts, spirits and demands.

Differences between: Kabuki, Bunraku, Noh

• Bunraku’s characters are puppets unlike Kabuki and Noh’s who are people.

• Noh is calm and elegant and Kabuki is exciting and energetic.

• Noh Theaters are for samurai and Kabuki Theater is for Merchants and towns people.

Costumes of Kabuki

Kabuki Costumes:• Colorful and gorgeous costumes and makeup• Exaggerated Wigs The Kuroko- • people that take care of the props and actors wear

all black.

Costumes of Noh

• Noh:• Costumes are the every day

wear of a Samurai• Mizugoromo jackets and Maiginu

dance robes• The main charactors are usually

masked• Trousers, headbands, sashes,

and other accessories complete the wardrobe.

Costumes of Kabuki

• Colorful and Gorgeous

• WigsKuroko- the people that take care of the props- wear black