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Onnagata
(also ) are male actors who play female roles in kabuki theatre. History The modern all-male kabuki was originally known as ("male kabuki") to distinguish it from earlier forms. In the early 17th century, shortly after the emergence of the genre, many kabuki theaters had an all-female cast (), with women playing men's roles as necessary. ("adolescent-boy kabuki"), with a cast composed entirely of attractive young men playing both male and female roles, and frequently dealing in erotic themes, originated circa 1612. Both and (or ), actors specializing in adolescent female roles (and usually adolescents themselves), were the subject of much appreciation by both male and female patrons, and were often prostitutes. All-male casts became the norm after 1629, when women were banned from appearing in kabuki due to the prevalent prostitution of actresses and violent quarrels among patrons for the actresses' favors. This ban failed to stop the problems, since the young male () acto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daigoro Tachibana
Daigoro Tachibana (橘 大五郎 ''Tachibana Daigorō''), birth name Daisuke Isayama (諌山 大輔 ''Isayama Daisuke'', born 27 January 1987) is one of Heisei era's celebrated onnagata and taishū engeki actor. He is branded as the ''Taishu Engeki-kai Purinsu'' (大衆演劇界プリンス, ''Taishu Engeki's Prince'') with the alias " Taishū engeki-kai no Nyūhīrō Tensai Onnagata" (大衆演劇界のニューヒーロー 天才女形, '' Taishū engeki's New Hero Genius Onnagata'') and best remembered as ''Osei'' in Takeshi Kitano’s ''Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman'' (2003). He is one of the taishū engeki stars to have become a professional enka recording artist. Early life Tachibana was born into a family of stage actors, particularly in taishū engeki which translates to "theater for the masses" or “working-class Kabuki” in Oita Prefecture. His troupe,'' Tachibana Kikutarou Gekidan'', was founded by his grandparents and it was inherited by his uncle. At the age o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nakamura Utaemon VI
was a Japanese kabuki performer and an artistic director of the Kabuki-za in Tokyo.Strom, Stephanie."Nakamura Utaemon VI, 84, International Star of Kabuki" ''New York Times.'' April 4, 2001''The Dallas Morning News'' He was a prominent member of a family of kabuki actors from the Keihanshin region.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al.'' (2005). Nakamura Utaemon was a stage name with significant cultural and historical connotations. The name Utaemon indicates personal status as an actor. Such a title can only be assumed after the death of a previous holder, under restrictive succession conventions.Scott, Adolphe C. (1999). He was considered the greatest onnagata of the post-War period, and was heralded as a "a divine messenger given to kabuki from heaven" during his naming ceremony. Life and career Utaemon VI was the son of Nakamura Utaemon V.While the stage names of all kabuki actors have retained traditional order (Surname-Givenname) on Wikipedia, birth names of those born ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
LGBT In Japan
This article focuses on Japanese definitions of gender and sexuality, Japanese reactions to queer life, the clash between traditional and contemporary ideas, and the cultural restraints of being queer in Japan. The Western term “queer,” an umbrella term for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender represents a change in thought pertaining to gender and sexuality in contemporary Japan. Japanese definitions of gender and sexuality In Japan, gender and sexuality are conceptualized through a spectrum wherein the various social roles of the “all encompassing” group are emphasized. Under this construction, expressions of gender and sexuality are varied, as is evidenced by Japan's gender-bending communities. The concept of transgender originates from edo period in Japan. Actresses were forbidden to perform in the kabuki theatre considering the gender inequality and social hierarchy. Male actors are playing all the characters within the play, as they will dress up like women. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nakamura Jakuemon IV
(20 August 192022 February 2012) was a Japanese kabuki actor most known for onnagata (also ) are male actors who play female roles in kabuki theatre. History The modern all-male kabuki was originally known as ("male kabuki") to distinguish it from earlier forms. In the early 17th century, shortly after the emergence of the g ... performance. Biography In 1991 the Japanese government designated him as a Living National Treasure. Filmography *1954 '' The Woman in the Rumor(Uwasa no Onna)'' as Dr. Matoba Further reading *''Beautiful boys/outlaw bodies: devising Kabuki female-likeness'', 2005, By Katherine Mezur *''Nakamura Jakuemon IV: The Art of Onnagata Acting'', 2005, by Rei Sasaguchi References External links * (Japanese)biography {{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Jakuemon Kabuki actors 1920 births 2012 deaths Deaths from pneumonia in Japan Cross-gender male actors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Musume Dōjōji
''Kyōganoko Musume Dōjōji'' (京鹿子娘道成寺), commonly called ''Musume Dōjōji'' (娘道成寺, "''The Maiden at Dojoji Temple''"), is a kabuki dance drama. It is the oldest surviving Noh-based Kabuki dance drama, which tells the story of a maiden who dances before a bell in the Dōjō-ji temple and then reveals herself to be a serpent-demon. The work is noted for its sequence of dances during which the performer dances for nearly an hour with nine changes of costume. It may be considered the most important piece in the kabuki dance repertoire, one that the onnagatas are required to learn to show their mastery of classic dances. It is classified as one of the ''hengemono'' (変化物, "change pieces") that involve quick change of costumes and roles. Geisha and other dancers may also learn to perform parts of the dance as solo buyō dance pieces. Origin ''Musume Dojoji'' originates from the Noh play '' Dōjōji'' which refers to the tale of a woman later named Kiyohim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Otokonoko
is a Japanese term for men who have a culturally feminine gender expression. This includes amongst others males with feminine appearances, or those cross-dressing. is a play on the word ("boy", from the characters for 'male' and 'child'), which is also pronounced ; in the slang term, the kanji for "child" () is substituted with "daughter"/"girl" (). The term originated in Japanese manga and Internet culture in the 2000s, but the concept reflects a broad range of earlier traditions and examples of male cross dressing in Japan, such as in kabuki theater. Its popularity increased around 2009, with the rise of dedicated maid cafés, fashion stores, cosmetic products, and a range of popular media in the culture. It is often combined with the cosplay of female fictional characters by men ( crossplay). By extension, is also a genre of media and fiction about feminine-looking or feminine-dressing men, and often contains erotic or romantic elements. It is mainly aimed at male ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese Theatre
This article is an overview of traditional and modern Japanese theatre. Traditional Japanese theatre is among the oldest theatre traditions in the world. Traditional theatre includes Noh, a spiritual drama, and its comic accompaniment ; kabuki, a dance and music theatrical tradition; , puppetry; and , a spoken drama. Modern Japanese theatre includes (experimental Western-style theatre), shinpa (new school theatre) and (little theatre). In addition, there are many classical western plays and musical adaptations of popular television shows and movies that are produced in Japan. Traditional forms of theatre Noh and Noh and theatre traditions are among the oldest continuous theatre traditions in the world. The earliest existing scripts date from the 15th century. Noh was a spiritual drama, combining symbolism from Buddhism and Shinto and focusing on tales with mythic significance. , its comic partner, served as a link between the theological themes of the Noh play with the p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoshizawa Ayame I
Yoshizawa Ayame I (初代 吉沢 菖蒲) (1673-15 July 1729) was an early Kabuki actor, and the most celebrated ''onnagata'' (specialist in female roles) of his time. His thoughts on acting, and on ''onnagata'' acting in particular, were recorded in ''Ayamegusa'' (菖蒲草, "The Words of Ayame"), one section of the famous treatise on Kabuki acting, ''Yakusha Rongo'' (役者論語, "The Actors' Analects"). A.C. Scott wrote that "Yoshizawa Ayame I was regarded as the greatest onnagata or female impersonator of his time and was an artist of ability, who developed the unique technique which was to be a model for the actors of the future. His ideas and secrets were written down in a book called 'Ayamegusa', which was afterwards regarded as the Bible of the female impersonator."Scott, A.C. (1955) The Kabuki Theatre of Japan George Allen & Unwin Ltd. Ayame is famous for advocating that ''onnagata'' behave as women in all their interactions, both onstage and off. In ''Ayamegusa'', he is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taichi Saotome
, also known as , is a Japanese actor and singer. He played young men and onnagata roles of women. Biography His father is the head of the theatre troupe ''Gekidan Sujaku''. Saotome performed in '' taishū engeki''. A "female impersonator", he has performed onstage. In ''Zatoichi'', he played the child disguising himself as a geisha ( Daigoro Tachibana). Though in a different troupe from Tachibana, they frequently practiced and performed together. In '' Takeshis''', Saotome played a young female impersonator and dancer. He played a ''bishōnen'' aesthetic, i.e. graceful, beautiful young men. He played Mori Ranmaru in a National Museum event called " Sengoku Fantasy", and played a young Horibe Yasubee in the NHK New Year's ''jidaigeki'' play. He created his official fan club in 2006. He said that he misunderstand his appeal, but is happy about his role."Teen's Female Performances Draw Him a Crowd." NPR.org 30 October 2007. He appeared in the variety show ''D no Gekijō'' in Janua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sakata Tōjūrō IV
was a Japanese kabuki actor in the Kamigata style and was officially designated a Living National Treasure. Unlike most kabuki actors, he performed both male and female roles, and was renowned as both a skilled '' wagotoshi'' (actor of male roles in the ''wagoto'' tradition) and '' onnagata'' (actor of female roles). He was the fourth in the line of Sakata Tōjūrō, having revived the name after a lapse of over 230 years. Lineage Though he bears no direct hereditary connection to the previous lineage of Sakata Tōjūrō which he has revived, Tōjūrō traced his line back several generations within the kabuki world. He is the eldest son of Nakamura Ganjirō II, grandson of Nakamura Ganjirō I, and great-grandson of Nakamura Kanjaku III who was adopted into the kabuki families by Nakamura Utaemon IV. Tōjūrō's sons Nakamura Ganjirō IV and Nakamura Senjaku III perform as kabuki actors, as do his grandsons Nakamura Kazutarō and Nakamura Toranosuke. Life and career He ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Onoe Kikugorō V
was a Japanese Kabuki actor, one of the three most famous and celebrated of the Meiji period,"Onoe family" (尾上家, ''Onoe-ke'')Kabuki Encyclopedia(歌舞伎事典, ''kabuki jiten''). Japan Arts Council, 2001–2003. Accessed 30 May 2009. along with Ichikawa Danjūrō IX and Ichikawa Sadanji I. Unlike most kabuki actors, who specialize in a particular type of role, Kikugorō, as a ''kaneru yakusha'', played both ''tachiyaku'' (male heroes) and ''onnagata'' (women) roles and was best known for his roles in plays by Kawatake Mokuami. Kikugorō was also known as one of the chief actors in the "modern" subgenre of kabuki plays known as '' zangirimono'' ("cropped hair plays"), featuring Western-style clothes and hairstyle. Kikugorō was a popular figure in ''ukiyo-e'' woodblock prints, especially in those by Toyohara Kunichika. He was also featured on Japanese postage stamps, and performed in one of the first motion pictures ever made in Japan, '' Momijigari'', as the demon prince ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nakamura Shichinosuke II
(born May 18, 1983) is a Japanese Kabuki, theatre, TV, and film actor. He was born , the second son of famed Kabuki performer, Nakamura Kanzaburō XVIII. Unlike many kabuki actors, who specialize in a single type of role, Shichinosuke plays both male (''tachiyaku'') and female (''onnagata'') parts. Name and Lineage Nakamura, often represented as "Shichinosuke Nakamura" in reference to his American film career, is a member of the kabuki guild Nakamura-ya, and currently performs kabuki along with his brother Nakamura Kantarō II. His family can trace their lineage back, within the kabuki world, at least seven generations, to Onoe Kikugorō III and Ichimura Uzaemon XI, who performed in the early 19th century. As is the case with the names of all kabuki actors, "Nakamura Shichinosuke" is a ''yagō'' or stage name. Life and career In September 1986 he made his first appearance on stage at the Kabuki-za, taking the name Nakamura Shichinosuke the following year. Within a few years ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
