|
Kanjinchō
''Kanjinchō'' (勧進帳, ''The Subscription List'') is a kabuki dance-drama by Namiki Gohei III, based on the Noh play ''Ataka''. It is one of the most popular plays in the modern kabuki repertory. Belonging to the repertories of the Naritaya and Kōritaya guilds, the play was first performed in March 1840 at the Kawarazaki-za, in Edo. Ichikawa Ebizō V, Ichikawa Kuzō II, and Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII played the leading roles of Benkei, Togashi, and Yoshitsune, respectively. The lines of Ichikawa Danjūrō and Matsumoto Kōshirō have come to be particularly celebrated for playing the role of Benkei in ''Kanjinchō''. ''Kanjinchō'' was the first kabuki played adapted closely from the Noh theater. Though bearing the same name and general narrative concept as a 1702 play, one of the ''Kabuki Jūhachiban'', the modern version of ''Kanjinchō'', going back to 1840, is believed to not be directly derived from or connected to this earlier ''aragoto'' piece. Akira Kurosawa's f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ataka (play)
' is a Japanese Noh play written in 1465 by Kanze Kojiro Nobumitsu. It has been described as a masterpiece of ''genzai noh'', a type of Noh play in which the story deals with events in the real world. It is also distinguished from the conventional Noh drama, which is noted for its focus on the idealized beauty of ''yugen'', through its use of songs and dances to highlight dramatic tension. Ataka, along with the two other mainstays of classic repertory of Noh - ''Izutsu'' and ''Atsumori'' - had a continuous performance tradition that spanned five to six centuries. Kanze Nobumitsu was a playwright and actor from the Muromachi period, and is considered one of the last important playwrights of the golden age of Noh. Some of his other famous plays are '' Momijigari'', '' Dōjōji'', '' Funa benkei'' and ''Rashōmon''. ''Ataka'' has served as the basis for several successful kabuki plays, including ''Kanjinchō'', and the film ''The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail'', directed by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minamoto No Yoshitsune
was a military commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles which toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-brother Yoritomo consolidate power. He is considered one of the greatest and the most popular warriors of his era, and one of the most famous samurai in the history of Japan. Yoshitsune perished after being betrayed by the son of a trusted ally. Early life Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older half-brother Minamoto no Yoritomo (the third son of Yoshitomo) would go on to establish the Kamakura shogunate. Yoshitsune's name in childhood was Ushiwakamaru or ''young bull'' (). He was born just before the Heiji Rebellion in 1160 in which his father and two oldest brothers were killed. He survived this incident by fleeing the capital with his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kabuki Jūhachiban
The , or Eighteen Best Kabuki Plays, is a set of kabuki plays, strongly associated with the Ichikawa Danjūrō line of actors ever since their premieres. These works were chosen and assembled as "the eighteen" by actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (1800-1832). The pieces were considered to be seminal representations of the ''aragoto'' style in the repertoire.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al.'' (2005). "Kabuki Jūhachiban" in The Danjūrō line has continued to dominate the leading roles, and the printing and production of these plays ever since. ''Shibaraku'', ''Narukami'', ''Sukeroku'', ''Ya-no-Ne'', and ''Kanjinchō'' are still considered among the greatest of all kabuki plays, and are performed at least once a year. These plays are also often performed for ''shūmei'', auspicious naming ceremonies in which actors who receive new names, particularly those receiving the illustrious name "Ichikawa Danjūrō", perform in these great plays which are strongly associated with that linea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII
was a Japanese kabuki actor of the prestigious Ichikawa Danjūrō line. He was a ''tachiyaku'' (male roles) actor in the ''aragoto'' style, like all members of the lineage, but particularly specialized in the roles of young lovers, for which he was extremely popular. Names Like most kabuki actors, Danjūrō had a number of names over the course of his career. He was a member of the Naritaya guild, and could be called by this name (see ''yagō''). He began his career as Ichikawa Shinnosuke II and soon afterwards took on the name Ichikawa Ebizō VI before becoming the eighth Ichikawa Danjūrō at the young age of nine. He also used the name Ichikawa Hakuen III at times; his ''haimyō'', or poetry name, was Sanshō. Lineage Unlike many kabuki actors who are adopted into the various theatre families, Danjūrō VIII was directly descended from Ichikawa Danjūrō I. Danjūrō VIII was the son of Ichikawa Ebizō V, Ichikawa Danjūrō VII, and had a number of brothers who also performed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Men Who Tread On The Tiger's Tail
is a 1945 Japanese period drama film written and directed by Akira Kurosawa, based on the kabuki play ''Kanjinchō'', which is in turn based on the Noh play ''Ataka''. It depicts a famous 12th century incident in which Yoshitsune and a small group of samurai cross into enemy territory disguised as monks. The film was initially banned by the occupying Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP), likely due to its portrayal of feudal values. Kurosawa blamed bureaucratic sabotage by the wartime Japanese censors, who also disapproved. It was later released in 1952 following the signing of the Treaty of San Francisco. Plot In 1185, the Heike clan fights against the Minamoto clan. After a bloody naval battle in the Seto Inland Sea, Yoshitsune Minamoto defeats the enemy and the survivors commit suicide. When the triumphant Yoshitsune arrives in Kyoto, his brother, the Shogun Yoritomo, is uneasy and orders his men to arrest Yoshitsune. However, Yoshitsune escapes with six loyal samur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benkei
, popularly known as simply Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk (''sōhei'') who lived in the latter years of the Heian Period (794–1185) .html" ;"title="/sup>">/sup>. Benkei led a varied life, first becoming a monk, then a mountain ascetic, and then a rogue warrior. He later came to respect and serve the famous warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, also known as Ushiwakamaru. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore, showcased in many ancient and modern literature and productions. Early life Stories about Benkei's birth vary considerably. One tells how his father was the head of a temple shrine who had raped his mother, the daughter of a blacksmith. Another sees him as the offspring of a temple god. Many give him the attributes of a demon, a monster child with wild hair and long teeth. In his youth, Benkei may have been called —"demon/ogre child", and there are many famous ukiyo-e works themed on Oniwakamaru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shosagoto
or , also known as dance or dance-drama, is a type of kabuki play based on dance. It is one of the three genres of kabuki, together with (historical plays) and (contemporary plays). A central element of kabuki since its origin in 1603, plays became an important part of the kabuki repertoire towards the end of the 17th century, and still forms a key part of the kabuki repertoire today. For example, the January 2018 program at the Kabuki-za in Tokyo included three performances. There are several types of kabuki dances. An important difference is between the mainly non-narrative dances with accompaniment (such as ), and the more dramatic ones, with complex storylines and characters (such as ). The musicians are often seated in rows on stepped platforms behind the dancers. There are many other distinctions and styles. For example, dances include particularly theatricalized sets and costumes, often including quick on-stage changes of clothes (called ). dances involve a singl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanamichi
The is an extra stage section used in Japanese kabuki theater. It is a long, raised platform, running left of centre to the stage through the audience, connecting to the main stage. The is typically used for character entrances and exits, though is also used for asides and scenes that do not take place in the location as scenes on the main stage; the also typically features a trapdoor just before the runway meets the stage, placed to be visible to everyone in the audience, which is commonly used for character entrances. Some kabuki plays also require the use of two , running along the left and right of the audience. History The was first used in 1668 in the , in the form of a simple wooden plank that reached from the centre of the stage to the middle of the theatre. It was not used in performances, but allowed actors to step into the audience after a performance to receive flowers, with the word literally meaning "flower path." The modern style of , sometimes called (, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shosagoto
or , also known as dance or dance-drama, is a type of kabuki play based on dance. It is one of the three genres of kabuki, together with (historical plays) and (contemporary plays). A central element of kabuki since its origin in 1603, plays became an important part of the kabuki repertoire towards the end of the 17th century, and still forms a key part of the kabuki repertoire today. For example, the January 2018 program at the Kabuki-za in Tokyo included three performances. There are several types of kabuki dances. An important difference is between the mainly non-narrative dances with accompaniment (such as ), and the more dramatic ones, with complex storylines and characters (such as ). The musicians are often seated in rows on stepped platforms behind the dancers. There are many other distinctions and styles. For example, dances include particularly theatricalized sets and costumes, often including quick on-stage changes of clothes (called ). dances involve a singl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kawarazaki-za
The was one of the major kabuki theatres in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period and into the Meiji period. Not being one of the four theatres formally licensed by the Tokugawa shogunate, the theatre was largely inactive for long stretches of time, operating only when the Morita-za, facing financial difficulties or physical destruction of its theatre building, temporarily lent its license to the Kawarazaki-za. It was established in 1656 and was managed by members of the Kawarazaki family of actors until 1875. History The Kawarazaki-za was opened in 1656 by Kawarazaki Gonnosuke I. In 1670, the shogunate issued licenses to four theatres in the city, forbidding the others, including the Kawarazaki-za, from operating. The Kawarazaki-za was, therefore, largely inactive until 1735, when it obtained the license from the bankrupt Morita-za, losing it once more in 1744. The theatre then reacquired the Morita-za's license from 1790 to 1797, producing a number of plays including ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dynamic style, strongly influenced by Western cinema yet distinct from it; he was involved with all aspects of film production. Kurosawa entered the Japanese film industry in 1936, following a brief stint as a painter. After years of working on numerous films as an assistant director and scriptwriter, he made his debut as a director during World War II with the popular action film '' Sanshiro Sugata''. After the war, the critically acclaimed ''Drunken Angel'' (1948), in which Kurosawa cast the then little-known actor Toshiro Mifune in a starring role, cemented the director's reputation as one of the most important young filmmakers in Japan. The two men would go on to collaborate on another fifteen films. ''Rashomon'' (1950), which premiered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kabuki Plays
is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought to have originated in the very early Edo period, when founder Izumo no Okuni formed a female dance troupe who performed dances and light sketches in Kyoto. The art form later developed into its present all-male theatrical form after women were banned from performing in kabuki theatre in 1629. Kabuki developed throughout the late 17th century and reached its zenith in the mid-18th century. In 2005, kabuki theatre was proclaimed by UNESCO as an intangible heritage possessing outstanding universal value. In 2008, it was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Etymology The individual kanji that make up the word ''kabuki'' can be read as , , and . ''Kabuki'' is therefore sometimes transl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
