Japanese Culture: Traditional Japanese Theatre

Today, its unique combination of drama, music and dance can be enjoyed at countless venues around Japan and has even been officially recognised by UNESCO for its cultural and historical significance.

People often find the idea of traditional Japanese theatre daunting, due to the language barrier (and rightfully so!)—however many theatres now provide English translations on headphones, or screens featuring basic plot information/running commentary. We highly recommend heading along, if you want to experience some authentic and immersive Japanese entertainment. 

There are three main types of traditional Japanese theatre: 'kabuki', 'noh', and 'bunraku'. Here we take a closer look at each, so you can decide which one best suits your vibe. 

Kabuki is the most well-known form of traditional Japanese theatre, and is performed by popular actors at large venues including the iconic Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo, designed by world-famous architect Kengo Kuma, and the Konpira Grand Theater in Kagawa, the oldest known kabuki theatre in the country. 

Kabuki performances often centre around historical or romantic themes, along with moral dilemmas, and in keeping with their roots (kabuki was originally created by a member of an all-woman dance troupe during the Edo period), have an emphasis on dancing, as well as live music. Interestingly, only male actors, known as 'onnagata', perform kabuki today. 

Kabuki is also known for its elaborate costumes and a signature form of makeup known as kumadori, whereby the actors' faces are painted with simple yet striking designs to reflect different character traits or emotions. 

Another defining element of kabuki is 'kurugos'—assistants who help with props and even costume changes throughout the performance; dressed entirely in black so as not to detract from the actors.  

Best places to watch a kabuki performance:

• Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo 
• Konpira Grand Theater, Kagawa 
• National Theatre of Japan, Tokyo (currently being redeveloped—performances are being held at other venues in the meantime) 
• Minamiza Theatre, Kyoto  
• Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre, Tokyo 

Noh dates back to the 14th century, and was once the official ceremonial art of the shogunate. It is similar to kabuki in that it centres around song and dance as well as drama, and is performed by male actors. The stories themselves are often based on literature, with supernatural themes a common feature.  

The characters are bought to life by stunning, over-the-top costumes (not unlike something you might see at a wearable arts show) and elaborate, cypress-wood masks, worn by the lead actor or 'shite' to emphasise traits of their character's personality, in the same way that kumadori is used for kabuki performances. 

Noh was originally performed in outdoor venues—some of which are still used today, albeit very rarely—but is now mainly seen inside theatres with unique, purpose-built stages. These are characterised by a wooden roof with four pillars, and a painted pine tree mural in the back (Tokyo's 400-year-old National Noh Theatre, with its stage of cypress, is a famous example). 

Noh performances can run for several hours and are often accompanied by shorter, comedic acts known as 'kyogen' during intermissions. 
 

Best places to watch a noh performance: 

• National Noh Theatre, Tokyo 
• Kanze Noh Theater, Tokyo 
• Cerulean Tower Noh Theatre, Tokyo  
• Ohtsuki Noh Theatre, Osaka 
• Nagoya Noh Theater, Nagoya 

Last but certainly not least, is bunraku. Also hailing from the Edo period, when it was a popular form of entertainment amongst commoners, this style of theatre involves the use of sophisticated wooden puppets, around half the size of a human, to depict tales of love, heroism, and more, with legends and historical events often serving as inspiration. 

Bunraku puppets are controlled by three puppeteers—one lead and two assistants—who work together with the doll's sophisticated design (which includes an adjustable mouth, eyes, and even fingers) to provide seamless, life-like movements. As with kabuki's kurugos, they are often dressed entirely in black so as not to distract from the puppet itself, though sometimes the lead puppeteer's face may be seen. 

The story is narrated by a single actor known as a 'tayu', who also provides the voices for all of the puppets; while the music is provided by a single musician known as a 'shamisen', who plays a form of lute. 

The National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, which is considered the headquarters for bunraku here in Japan, is the leading venue for these kinds of performances. 

Best places to watch a bunraku performance:

• National Bunraku Theatre, Osaka 
• National Noh Theatre, Tokyo 

Find a property in Osaka—one of the leading homes of traditional Japanese theatre—right here.