Glossary of performance terms

Japanese traditional performing arts involve a multitude of specialized terms. While many are explained within other articles, this list is aimed at making it easier to find specific terms.

• Aragoto 荒事 - lit. "rough pieces," a style of kabuki more associated with Edo than with Kamigata, and featuring bold heroes and bombastic action.

• Enmoku 演目 - a play, or a piece. Can be used for most theatre forms.

• Hakama Noh 袴能 - Noh performed not in full costume, but in kamishimo. This is often done in summer, in order to both protect the actors from the heat, and the costumes from the actors' sweat.

• Hatsubutai 初舞台 - an actor's debut; first appearance on stage

• Hayashi 囃子 - the orchestra or instrumental ensemble in Noh or kabuki.

• Kaeyagura 代櫓 - a temporary kabuki theatre, temporarily licensed by the Tokugawa shogunate to operate for a limited period of time, while one of the long-term licensed theatres is rebuilt, or otherwise temporarily not in operation. Also kariyagura 仮櫓.

• Kaomise 顔見世 - "face-showing". The first performance of a new kabuki season.

• Kumadori 隈取 - kabuki makeup, specifically makeup schema featuring bold lines or patterns in red or other colors to indicate a character's disposition or personality.

• Kyoku 曲 - a piece, or a play. Typically used for Noh pieces, and not for kabuki plays.

• Mai 舞 - One of two broad categories of traditional dance, contrasted with odori. Mai are defined by a gliding motion of the feet, relatively subdued arm movements, a more subdued mode, and other elements which make it a more abstract, and restrained form in contrast to odori. Mai is chiefly found in Noh, bugaku, and kagura, and has always been performed by professional performers.

• Mie 見得 - dramatic poses performed by kabuki actors.

• Murasaki bôshi 紫帽子 - the purple cloth onnagata actors wore under their wigs, covering their shaved pates.

• Odori 踊 - One of two broad categories of traditional dance, contrasted with mai. Odori are defined by rhythmic movement of the limbs, and by a freer, more colorful, and more realistic style compared to mai. Odori dance grows out of popular folk dance traditions, only becoming incorporated into formal/professional dance traditions later. It continues to be central to many folk dance traditions, as well as geisha and courtesan dances, kabuki, and Nihon buyô.

• Onnagata 女形 - kabuki actors specializing in playing female roles

• Ritsu 律 - in Noh, the voice of sadness, of breath inhaled, in contrast to ryô.

• Ryô 呂 - in Noh, the voice of joy, of breath exhaled, in contrast to ritsu.

• Sajiki 桟敷 - box seats, either at a kabuki theatre, or along the road for watching a parade or procession

• Shibai 芝居 - a play, typically used in kabuki and not in Noh.

• Shibai jaya 芝居茶屋 - teahouses attached to kabuki theatres

• Shikiriba - the management office and ticket counter at a kabuki theatre

• Shûmei 襲名 - an actor's passing down and/or taking on of a stage name (esp. in kabuki). For example, in June 2012, kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke III became Ichikawa En'ô II, passing on his name to his nephew Ichikawa Kamejirô II who then became Ichikawa Ennosuke IV. Productions officially said to be celebrating this shûmei continued through December 2013.

• Wagoto 和事 - lit. "gentle pieces". A style of kabuki associated with Kamigata more so than Edo, featuring gentle male leads and romantic plots.

• Yorizome - a ceremony held at the beginning of each new performance season, in which members of kabuki acting companies (troupes) come together for the first time that season

See Also

• Glossary of Japanese aesthetics
• Sub-categories of kabuki plays