Kabuki Za

Kabuki Za

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to see 3 Kabuki performances at the famous Kabuki Za in Ginza, Tokyo. Waka chan invited my host mom and I to see the 4:30 set of shows. Nestled in bustling Ginza, this 150 year old theater is a gateway to the beautiful ancient art of Kabuki theater. Actors are elaborately painted, dressed in beautiful and flowing kimonos, and sing, dance and move in a very precise manner along with the music. I love kabuki plays a lot. I had the chance to see one act 2 years ago when I was staying in Tokyo for a month long home stay and was thrilled when I found out I would be able to see 3! I was also lucky enough to see an all star cast . ( see this link for a picture of the performance poster http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/theaters/kabukiza/images/handbill/kabukiza200810b_handbill.jpg?html)


The Kabuki Za site lists descriptions for each play. the ones I saw are as follows:

HONCHO NIJUSHIKO -Jusshuko, Kitsunebi- (The Japanese Examples of Filial Piety - The Incense Burning, Foxfires)Princess Yaegaki is mourning the death of her fiance Katsuyori, but as she burns incense in his memory, she notices the resemblance between the new gardener and her fiance's portrait. The gardener is in fact Katsuyori, who has entered the household in disguise to regain possession of a stolen family treasure, a famous battle helmet, with the aid of an accomplice, Nureginu, a woman who also mourns for the man that died in the place of the real Katsuyori. Unfortunately, Yaegaki's father has also seen through the disguise and plans to kill Katsuyori and Yaegaki decides that she must save the man she loves. Taking the helmet, she runs after Katsuyori while surrounded by mysterious fox fires caused by the fox spirit closely associated with the helmet. As she takes on superpowers with the magic of the fox, she begins moving like a Bunraku puppet with an actor as the puppeteer (Onoe Ukon). The role of Princess Yaegaki is one of the most important onnagata female role specialist roles and this month will be played by onnagata superstar Tamasaburo.

YUKI NO YUBE IRIYA NO AZEMICHI (Naozamurai and Michitose)The thief Naozamurai has been betrayed and is on the run. He risks one last meeting with his lover, the courtesan Michitose, but he has never revealed his true identity to her and as far as she knows, he is a wealthy merchant. On a freezing, snow-bound night, in a romantic scene accompanied by the lush and erotic singing of Kiyomoto narrative music, the two lovers Naozamurai and Michitose meet and part forever. Starring Kikugoro as Naozamurai and the popular young star Kikunosuke as Michitose.

HANABUSA SHUJAKU JISHI (Courtesan Lion Dance)Lion dances show a vigorous masculine spirit that is the guardian of a sacred mountain in China. But the kabuki tradition transforms this fierce dance into a showpiece for an elegant female role specialist. Fukusuke stars as a top-ranking courtesan dancing elegantly in a banquet parlor who is then transformed into a feminine version of the spirit of the lion.

Personally I enjoyed the last performance the most. (Hanabusa Shujaku Jishi) because it didn't involve any dialouge and I could enjoy listening to the music, watching the dance and listening to my english earphone on all the symbolism between the the stage, costume, music and movements. It was increadibly beautiful to watch the transformation of the courtesan into the Budhist lion diety.