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111-467: The district's name comes from late-1940s plans to build a kabuki theater, and although the theater was never built, the name stuck. The area has many movie theaters, and is located near Shinjuku Station , Seibu Shinjuku Station , and several other major railway and subway stations. Originally, the area was known as Tsunohazu ( 角筈 ) and was a swamp. After the Meiji Period , the area became

222-504: A coalition with other small parties including Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto 's Japan Restoration Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai). In November 2012, Ishihara and his co-leader Hiranuma said that the Sunrise Party would pursue "establishment of an independent Constitution, beefing up of Japan's defense capabilities, and fundamental reform of fiscal management and tax systems to make them more transparent". The future of nuclear power and

333-479: A difficult time for kabuki; besides the war's physical impact and devastation upon the country, some schools of thought chose to reject both the styles and artforms of pre-war Japan, kabuki amongst them. Director Tetsuji Takechi 's popular and innovative productions of kabuki classics at this time are credited with sparking new interest in kabuki in the Kansai region. Of the many popular young stars who performed with

444-573: A duck sanctuary. As the Yodobashi Purification Plant was built in 1893, the ponds were filled in. In 1920, a girls' school was built there, and the surroundings were developed into a residential area. Prior to World War II , the district was one of the areas open to non-mainland property owners (primarily from the colonies in Taiwan and Korea ), who mainly operated tsurekomi yado , predecessors to today's love hotels . During

555-508: A former mattress salesman, opened "Club Ai", the first host club in Kabukichō; at its peak, Aida's company reported ¥2.7  billion in annual revenue. By 1999, the area had been named "Asia's largest adult entertainment district", and tabloids were regularly running candid photographs of drunken Kabukichō patrons fighting and being arrested. However, starting in 2003, joint citizen and police patrols began enforcing business licensing, and

666-407: A former senator and exiled critic of Ferdinand Marcos , on 21 August 1983. Ishihara was often critical of Japan's foreign policy as being non-assertive. Regarding Japan's relationship with the U.S., he stated that "The country I dislike most in terms of U.S.–Japan ties is Japan, because it's a country that can't assert itself." As part of the criticism, Ishihara published a book co-authored with

777-506: A highly contested race for the party presidency, Ishihara came to the attention of the West through his book The Japan That Can Say No , co-authored with Sony chairman Akio Morita . The book called on his fellow countrymen to stand up to America. In the 1999 Tokyo gubernatorial election , he ran on an independent platform and was elected as Governor of Tokyo. Among Ishihara's moves as governor, he: He won re-election in 2003 with 70.2% of

888-486: A holocaust but that is not true. It is a story made up by the Chinese. It has tarnished the image of Japan, but it is a lie." He continued to defend this statement in the uproar that ensued. He also backed the film The Truth about Nanjing , a Japanese film that denies the atrocity, framing it as Chinese communist propaganda. In 2000, Ishihara, one of the eight judges for a literary prize, commented that homosexuality

999-580: A kabuki drama each year since 1976, the longest regular kabuki performance outside Japan. In November 2002, a statue was erected in honor of kabuki's founder, Izumo no Okuni and to commemorate 400 years of kabuki's existence. Diagonally across from the Minami-za, the last remaining kabuki theater in Kyoto, it stands at the east end of a bridge (Shijō Ōhashi) crossing the Kamo River in Kyoto. Kabuki

1110-433: A key aspect of kabuki tradition, such as conventional character tropes. Kabuki theater and ningyō jōruri , an elaborate form of puppet theater later known as bunraku , became closely associated with each other, mutually influencing the other's further development. The famous playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon , one of the first professional kabuki playwrights, produced several influential works during this time, though

1221-493: A lawsuit from several language schools in 2005. Ishihara subsequently responded to comments that he did not disrespect French culture by professing his love of French literature on Japanese TV news. At a Tokyo IOC press briefing in 2009, Governor Ishihara dismissed a letter sent by environmentalist Paul Coleman regarding the contradiction of his promoting the Tokyo Olympic 2016 bid as 'the greenest ever' while destroying

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1332-405: A low advertised price but then charged numerous hidden fees. In one instance, a group of nine was lured into a bar under the promise the all-inclusive cost was ¥4,000 ; the hostesses inside consumed 172 drinks and the final bill was ¥2,663,000 . The staff at the bar allegedly threatened the patrons to ensure payment. In 2015, there were 1,052 reported cases of bottakuri in the first four months of

1443-550: A motorcycle. He wrote a memoir of his journey, Nanbei Odan Ichiman Kiro . From 1966 to 1967, he covered the Vietnam War at the request of Yomiuri Shimbun , and the experience influenced his decision to enter politics. He also was mentored by the influential author and political "fixer" Tsûsai Sugawara . In 1968, Ishihara ran as a candidate on the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) national slate for

1554-589: A movie director, I can assure you that I would have at least become a better one than Akira Kurosawa ". In the early 1960s, he concentrated on writing, including plays, novels, and a musical version of Treasure Island . One of his later novels, Lost Country (1982), speculated about Japan under the control of the Soviet Union . He also ran a theatre company, and found time to visit the North Pole , race his yacht The Contessa and cross South America on

1665-431: A performer in kabuki theatre. Since the word kabuki is believed to derive from the verb kabuku , meaning 'to lean' or 'to be out of the ordinary', the word kabuki can also be interpreted as 'avant-garde' or 'bizarre' theatre. The expression kabukimono ( 歌舞伎者 ) referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed. It is often translated into English as 'strange things' or 'the crazy ones', and referred to

1776-533: A pleasant environment." In 2011, Tokyo began to enforce the Organised Crime Exclusion Ordinance, which makes it a crime for businesses or individuals to deal with the yakuza. Although the punishment for violating the ordinance ranges up to one year in prison and a fine of ¥50,000 , it is intended to provide an excuse for refusing to make protection payments. Bottakuri is a form of bait-and-switch , where patrons are attracted by

1887-611: A pledge of unity in their own blood . Ishihara ran for Governor of Tokyo in 1975 but lost to the popular Socialist incumbent Ryokichi Minobe . Minobe was 71 at the time, and Ishihara criticized him as being "too old". Ishihara returned to the House of Representatives afterward, and worked his way up the party's internal ladder, serving as Director-General of the Environment Agency under Takeo Fukuda (1976) and Minister of Transport under Noboru Takeshita (1989). During

1998-483: A portrait photographer who took pictures and sold prints back to his subjects for a modest ¥200 , documented the citizens of Kabukichō during this transition period in the 1960s and 1970s. His portraits of Kabukichō residents received critical attention and praise from fellow photographers,and are today exhibited in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art . In 1971, Takeshi Aida  [ ja ] ,

2109-467: A result, Hideaki Ishikawa, a regional planner, dubbed the town Kabukichō, which was adopted on April 1, 1948. Although the theatre was cancelled due to financial problems, the name remained. The Tokyu Cultural Hall  [ ja ] (to the south, in Shibuya), Tokyu Milano-za  [ ja ] movie theater, Tokyo Ice Skating Rink, and Shinjuku Koma Theater were all completed in 1956, cementing

2220-471: A ruling coalition even though JRP was showing strength relative to the ruling DPJ. In December 2014 general elections , he was a candidate for the Party for Future Generations , an extreme right-wing party, but he was defeated. Following this, he retired from politics. Defunct Defunct Ishihara is generally described as having been one of Japan's most prominent extreme right-wing politicians. He

2331-596: A speech in Washington, D.C., publicly stating his desire for Tokyo to purchase the Senkaku Islands , called the Diaoyu Islands by mainland China, on behalf of Japan in an attempt to end the territorial dispute between China and Japan, causing uproars in Chinese society and increasing tension between the governments of China and Japan. The government of Japan bought the islands in an effort to preempt

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2442-402: A wheeled platform. Also common are stagehands rushing onto the stage adding and removing props, backdrops and other scenery; these kuroko ( 黒子 ) are always dressed entirely in black and are traditionally considered invisible. Stagehands also assist in a variety of quick costume changes known as hayagawari ("quick change technique"). When a character's true nature is suddenly revealed,

2553-601: A writer and a film director, Ishihara served as in the House of Councillors from 1968 to 1972, then he served as in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1995, just four years before he served as Governor of Tokyo from 1999 to 2012. He resigned from the governorship to briefly co-lead the Sunrise Party , before he joined the Japan Restoration Party upon his return to the House of Representatives in

2664-598: Is Gerald Vizenor 's Hiroshima Bugi (2004). Writer Yukio Mishima pioneered and popularised the use of kabuki in modern settings and revived other traditional arts, such as Noh , adapting them to modern contexts. There have even been kabuki troupes established in countries outside Japan. For instance, in Australia, the Za Kabuki troupe at the Australian National University has performed

2775-415: Is a classical form of Japanese theatre , mixing dramatic performance with traditional dance . Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes, and for the elaborate kumadori make-up worn by some of its performers. The term kabuki originates from a verb that was used to describe young samurai patrons, meaning "being weird" or "offbeat." Kabuki

2886-420: Is a technique, which appeared toward the middle of the 19th century, by which an actor's costume is attached to wires and he is made to "fly" over the stage or certain parts of the auditorium. This is similar to the wire trick in the stage musical Peter Pan , in which Peter launches himself into the air. It is still one of the most popular keren (visual tricks) in kabuki today; major kabuki theaters, such as

2997-544: Is abnormal, which caused an outrage in the gay community in Japan. In a 2001 interview with women's magazine Shukan Josei , Ishihara said that he believed "old women who live after they have lost their reproductive function are useless and are committing a sin," adding that he "couldn't say this as a politician." He was criticized in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for these comments, but responded that

3108-436: Is greed. These things need to be washed away from triple disaster. I think this is a divine punishment from heaven. However, he also commented that the victims of triple disaster in Japan were pitiable. This speech was quickly caused many controversies and critical responses from the public opinion, both inside and outside Japan. The governor of Miyagi expressed displeasure about Ishihara's speech amid Akihito 's response

3219-505: Is leading to new forms of crime such as car theft. We should be letting in people who are intelligent." On 17 April 2010, Ishihara said "many veteran lawmakers in the ruling-coalition parties are naturalized or the offspring of people naturalized in Japan". In 1990, Ishihara said in a Playboy interview that the Rape of Nanjing was a fiction, claiming, "People say that the Japanese made

3330-621: Is often photographed as the main entrance to Kabukichō. Other major entrances, east of Ichibangai-Dōri along Yasukuni-Dōri, include Central Road ( セントラルロード , Sentoraru Rōdo ) , where the Kabukichō branch of Don Quijote is; and another neon-lit arch at Sakura-Dōri ( さくら通り ) . The Shinjuku Koma Theater was a landmark in Kabukichō. By 2008, it had moved to its third location; since it opened in 1956, it has hosted concerts and other performances by top stars, including enka singers Saburō Kitajima , Kiyoshi Hikawa , and actor Ken Matsudaira . The management announced that they would close after

3441-499: Is often referred to as the "Saruwaka-machi period", and is well known for having produced some of the most exaggerated kabuki in Japanese history. Saruwaka-machi became the new theatre district for the Nakamura-za, Ichimura-za and Kawarazaki-za theatres. The district was located on the main street of Asakusa, which ran through the middle of the small city. The street was renamed after Saruwaka Kanzaburo, who initiated Edo kabuki in

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3552-481: Is pulled back to one side by a staff member by hand. An additional outer curtain called doncho was not introduced until the Meiji era following the introduction of western influence. These are more ornate in their appearance and are woven. They depict the season in which the performance is taking place, often designed by renowned Nihonga artists. Since feudal laws in 17th century Japan prohibited replicating

3663-493: Is thought to have originated in the early Edo period , when the art's founder, Izumo no Okuni , formed a female dance troupe that 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

3774-511: The shamisen , clothes and fashion often dramatic in appearance, famous actors and stories often intended to mirror current events. Performances typically lasted from morning until sunset, with surrounding teahouses providing meals, refreshments and place to socialise. The area surrounding kabuki theatres also featured a number of shops selling kabuki souvenirs. After performances, women performers would offer sexual services for those who could afford it. Since fights would usually erupt among

3885-409: The 2012 general election . He unsuccessfully sought re-election in the general election of November 2014 , and officially left politics the following month. In October 2021, Ishihara was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while his wife, Noriko had ruptured aortic aneurysm , and given only three months to live amid a routine physical exam. Ishihara died from its complications on 1 February 2022, at

3996-580: The 2016 Summer Olympics , he eased his criticism of the PRC government. He accepted an invitation to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing , and was selected as a torch-bearer for the Japan leg of the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay . On 9 April 2000, in a speech before a Self-Defense Forces group, Ishihara said crimes were repeatedly committed by illegally entered people, using the pejorative term sangokujin , and foreigners. He also speculated that in

4107-538: The Akutagawa Prize (Japan's most prestigious literary prize) for the novel Season of the Sun . His brother Yujiro played a supporting role in the movie adaptation of the novel (for which Shintaro wrote the screenplay). Ishihara had dabbled in directing a couple of films starring his brother. Regarding these early years as a filmmaker, he said to a Playboy Magazine interviewer in 1990 that "If I had remained

4218-452: The House of Councillors . He placed first on the LDP list with an unprecedented 3 million votes. After four years in the upper house, Ishihara ran for the House of Representatives representing the second district of Tokyo , and again won election. In 1973, he joined with thirty other LDP lawmakers in the anti-communist Seirankai or "Blue Storm Group"; the group gained notoriety for sealing

4329-596: The Meiji era to follow. Kawatake Mokuami commonly wrote plays that depicted the common lives of the people of Edo. He introduced shichigo-cho (seven-and-five syllable meter) dialogue and music such as kiyomoto . His kabuki performances became quite popular once the Saruwaka-machi period ended and theatre returned to Edo; many of his works are still performed. In 1868, the Tokugawa ceased to exist, with

4440-472: The National Theatre , Kabuki-za and Minami-za , are all equipped with chūnori installations. Scenery changes are sometimes made mid-scene, while the actors remain on stage and the curtain stays open. This is sometimes accomplished by using a Hiki Dōgu , or "small wagon stage". This technique originated at the beginning of the 18th century, where scenery or actors move on or off stage on

4551-502: The Party for Japanese Kokoro , he was one of the most prominent ultranationalists in modern Japanese politics . Ishihara was infamous for his misogynistic comments, his xenophobic views and his racist remarks against Chinese and Koreans in Japan, including his use of the antiquated pejorative term " sangokujin ". He was also a denier of the Nanjing Massacre . Also, a critic of relations between Japan and

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4662-595: The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly approved his resignation on 31 October 2012, officially ending his tenure as Governor of Tokyo for 4,941 days, the second-longest term after Shunichi Suzuki . Ishihara's new national party was expected to be formed with members of the right-wing Sunrise Party of Japan , which he had helped to set up in 2010. When announced by co-leaders Ishihara and SPJ chief Takeo Hiranuma on 13 November 2012, Sunrise Party incorporated all five members of SPJ. SP would look to form

4773-517: The United States of America , his artistic accomplishments included his authorship of a prize-winning novel, his authorship of best-sellers, and his work in theater, film, and journalism. His 1989 book, The Japan That Can Say No , co-authored with Sony chairman Akio Morita (published in English in 1991), called on the authors' countrymen to stand up to America. After an early career as

4884-572: The restoration of the Emperor . Emperor Meiji was restored to power and moved from Kyoto to the new capital of Edo, or Tokyo, beginning the Meiji period. Kabuki once again returned to the pleasure quarters of Edo, and throughout the Meiji period became increasingly more radical, as modern styles of kabuki plays and performances emerged. Playwrights experimented with the introduction of new genres to kabuki, and introduced twists on traditional stories. Beginning in 1868, enormous cultural changes, such as

4995-557: The 1948 Businesses Affecting Public Morals Regulation Act was more strictly enforced as well starting in April 2004, forcing adult-themed businesses to start removing customers at midnight in preparation to close by 1 AM. Kabukichō leaders attributed the change in enforcement to Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and the Tokyo bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics . Today, the 36 ha (89 acres; 0.14 sq mi) Kabukichō district has all

5106-442: The 1980s, Ishihara was a highly visible and popular LDP figure, but was unable to win enough internal support to form a true faction and move up the national political ladder. In 1983, his campaign manager put up stickers throughout Tokyo stating that Ishihara's political opponent was an defector from North Korea . Ishihara denied that this was discrimination, saying that the public had a right to know. In 1989, shortly after losing

5217-650: The December 31, 2008 show, and the building was demolished in 2009. The site was redeveloped and the Toho Shinjuku Building was completed there in 2014, including the 12-screen Toho Cinemas Shinjuku theatre and the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. A "life-size" replica of Godzilla (from the neck up) was added to an outdoor terrace in 2015; it has since become a local landmark. The Tokyu Milano-za movie theater, just west of Cinecity Square,

5328-556: The Emperor sponsoring a kabuki performance on 21 April 1887. After World War II , the occupying forces briefly banned kabuki, which had formed a strong base of support for Japan's war efforts since 1931. This ban was in conjunction with broader restrictions on media and art forms that the American military occupation instituted after WWII. However, by 1947 the ban on kabuki was rescinded, but censorship rules lingered. The ensuing period of occupation following World War II posited

5439-593: The Fūrin Kaikan; and Lee Ho-chu, owner of the Tokyo Hotel Chinese restaurant . In 2002, it was estimated that 70% of the land in Kabukichō was owned by foreign-born Japanese residents and their descendants. The rise of home video entertainment decreased the demand for live performances and film theaters, and Kabukichō became home to a number of video arcades, discos, and fuzoku (businesses offering sexual services). Watanabe Katsumi  [ ja ] ,

5550-484: The Genroku period was the development of the mie style of posing, credited to kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō I , alongside the development of the mask-like kumadori makeup worn by kabuki actors in some plays. In the mid-18th century, kabuki fell out of favor for a time, with bunraku taking its place as the premier form of stage entertainment among the lower social classes. This occurred partly because of

5661-512: The IHI Stage Around Tokyo from March 4 to April 12, 2023. The kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi ( 花道 , "flower path") , a walkway which extends into the audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are made. Okuni also performed on a hanamichi stage with her entourage. The stage is used not only as a walkway or path to get to and from the main stage, but important scenes are also played on

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5772-523: The Kabukicho Concierge Association was formed to recommend businesses that would be safe for foreign patrons, as the area is notorious for the practice known as bottakuri , where some businesses add exorbitant hidden fees to bring the final bill well beyond the initial advertised prices. Kabukicho is generally bounded by: The red Kabuki-chō Ichiban-gai ( 歌舞伎町一番街 ) gate, near the southwest corner along Yasukuni-Dōri,

5883-438: The Nakamura-za in 1624. European artists began noticing Japanese theatrical performances and artwork, and many artists, such as Claude Monet , were inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. This Western interest prompted Japanese artists to increase their depictions of daily life, including the depiction of theatres, brothels, main streets and so on. One artist, Utagawa Hiroshige , produced a series of prints based on Saruwaka from

5994-411: The Nakamura-za was completely destroyed in 1841, the shōgun refused to allow the theatre to be rebuilt, saying that it was against fire code. The shogunate, mostly disapproving of the socialisation and trade that occurred in kabuki theatres between merchants, actors and prostitutes, took advantage of the fire crisis in the following year, forcing the Nakamura-za, Ichimura-za and Kawarazaki-za out of

6105-505: The Saruwaka-machi period in Asakusa. Despite the revival of kabuki in another location, the relocation diminished the tradition's most abundant inspirations for costuming, make-up, and storylines. Ichikawa Kodanji   IV was considered one of the most active and successful actors during the Saruwaka-machi period. Deemed unattractive, he mainly performed buyō , or dancing, in dramas written by Kawatake Mokuami , who also wrote during

6216-612: The Takechi Kabuki, Nakamura Ganjiro III (b. 1931) was the leading figure, first known as Nakamura Senjaku before taking his current name. It was this period of kabuki in Osaka that became known as the "Age of Senjaku" in his honor. Today, kabuki is the most popular of the traditional styles of Japanese drama, with its star actors often appearing in television or film roles. Well-known onnagata actor Bandō Tamasaburō V has appeared in several non-kabuki plays and movies, often in

6327-603: The Tokyu Milano) is built and was opened on 14 April 2023. In 2004, according to a spokesperson of Metropolitan Tokyo, there were more than 1,000 yakuza in Kabukichō, and 120 different enterprises under their control. Entering the new millennium, laws were more strictly enforced and patrols became more frequent. In addition, fifty closed-circuit cameras were installed in May 2002 after the Myojo 56 building fire that killed 44;

6438-579: The age of 89. Shintaro Ishihara was born on 30 September 1932 in Suma-ku, Kobe . His father, Kiyoshi Ishihara (1899–1951), an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company , and his mother, Mitsuko Ishihara (1909–1992), a daughter of Sannosuke Kato from Hiroshima . He grew up in Zushi, Kanagawa , parts of Greater Tokyo Area . In 1952, Ishihara entered Hitotsubashi University , and he graduated in 1956. Just two months before graduation, Ishihara won

6549-527: The aggressive "catching" street solicitations, and eliminate the bottakuri practice. The Shinjuku City Board of Education operates public elementary and junior high schools. Kabuki-cho 2-chome and a portion of Kabuki-cho 1-chome is zoned to Ōkubo Elementary School (大久保小学校) and Shinjuku Junior High School ( 新宿中学校 ). Another portion of Kabuki-cho 1-chome is zoned to Hanazono Elementary School (花園小学校) and Yotsuya Junior High School (四谷中学校). Kabukichō has been featured in: Kabuki Kabuki ( 歌舞伎, かぶき )

6660-513: The area's reputation as an entertainment center. Kabukichō was quickly redeveloped after the war, mainly due to the efforts of the overseas Chinese in Japan who bought land left unused after the expos and greatly developed them. The "three most renowned overseas Chinese of Kabukicho" include the founder of Humax , Lin Yi-wen , who started his business with a cabaret ; Lin Tsai-wang, who built

6771-455: The art form. Rice powder is used to create the white oshiroi base for the characteristic stage makeup, and kumadori enhances or exaggerates facial lines to produce dramatic animal or supernatural masks . The colour of the kumadori is an expression of the character's nature: red lines are used to indicate passion, heroism, righteousness, and other positive traits; blue or black, villainy, jealousy, and other negative traits; green,

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6882-400: The attention of the third shogun , Iemitsu , known for his interest in pederasty. He even arranged special performances. However, after Iemitsu's death in 1651 and with samurai now fighting for the attention of boys rather than girls, the shogunate imposed further restrictions, allowing only males over 15 to perform on stage. Kabuki switched to adult male actors, called yaro-kabuki , in

6993-542: The cinema), a Chinese restaurant (closed in 2008), a fast food restaurant (Wimpy until the mid 1990s, Mos Burger afterwards; closed in 2011) and a casino. Its last day of operation was December 31, 2014, closing after a screening of the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . A 225 m (738 ft) high skyscraper called the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower (which is being developed by the former owners of

7104-406: The city limits and into Asakusa , a northern suburb of Edo. This was part of the larger Tenpō Reforms that the shogunate instituted starting in 1842 to restrict the overindulgence of pleasures. Actors, stagehands, and others associated with the performances were also forced to move as a result of the death of their livelihood; despite the move of everyone involved in kabuki performance, and many in

7215-401: The city of Edo. Kabuki theatres became well known as a place to both see and be seen in terms of fashion and style, as the audience—commonly comprising a number of socially low but economically wealthy merchants —typically used a performance as a way to feature the fashion trends. As an art-form, kabuki also provided inventive new forms of entertainment, featuring new musical styles played on

7326-421: The country, including anime-based productions such as Naruto or One Piece starting from 2014. Super Kabuki has sparked controversy within the Japanese population regarding the extent of modification of the traditional art form. Some say that it has lost its 400-year history, while others consider the adaptations necessary for contemporary relevance. Regardless, since incorporating more advanced technology in

7437-472: The criticism was driven by "tyrant… old women." During an inauguration of a university building in 2004, Ishihara stated that French is unqualified as an international language because it is "a language in which nobody can count", referring to the counting system in French, which is based on units of twenty for numbers from 70 to 99 rather than ten (as is the case in Japanese and English). The statement led to

7548-420: The devices of hikinuki and bukkaeri are often used. This involves layering one costume over another and having a stagehand pull the outer one off in front of the audience. The curtain that shields the stage before the performance and during the breaks is in the traditional colours of black, red and green, in various order, or white instead of green, vertical stripes. The curtain consists of one piece and

7659-417: The emergence of several skilled bunraku playwrights in that time. Little of note would occur in the further development of kabuki until the end of the century, when it began to reemerge in popularity. In the 1840s, repeated periods of drought led to a series of fires affecting Edo, with kabuki theatres—traditionally made of wood—frequently burning down, forcing many to relocate. When the area that housed

7770-727: The event a natural disaster struck the Tokyo area, they would be likely to cause civil disorder. His comment invoked calls for his resignation, demands for an apology and fears among residents of Korean descent in Japan , as well as being criticised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Regarding this statement, Ishihara later said: I referred to the "many sangokujin who entered Japan illegally." I thought some people would not know that word so I paraphrased it and used gaikokujin , or foreigners. But it

7881-399: The fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the elimination of the samurai class, and the opening of Japan to the West, helped to spark kabuki's re-emergence. Both actors and playwrights strove to improve the reputation of kabuki in the face of new foreign influence and amongst the upper classes, partially through adapting traditional styles to modern tastes. This endeavour would prove successful, with

7992-463: The favors of a particularly popular or handsome actor, leading the shogunate to ban first onnagata and then wakashū roles for a short period of time; both bans were rescinded by 1652. During the Genroku period, kabuki thrived, with the structure of kabuki plays formalising into the structure they are performed in today, alongside many other elements which eventually came to be recognised as

8103-407: The forested mountain of Minamiyama , the closest ' Satoyama ' to the centre of Tokyo, by angrily stating Coleman was 'Just a foreigner, it does not matter'. Then, on continued questioning by investigative journalist Hajime Yokota, he stated 'Minamiyama is a Devil's Mountain that eats children.' Then he went on to explain how unmanaged forests 'eat children' and implied that Yokota, a Japanese national,

8214-459: The gallery", is sometimes used as a catch-all for these tricks. The hanamichi , and several innovations including revolving stage, seri and chunori have all contributed to kabuki. The hanamichi creates depth and both seri and chunori provide a vertical dimension. Mawari-butai (revolving stage) developed in the Kyōhō era (1716–1735). The trick was originally accomplished by

8325-456: The hallmarks of a red-light district, with over three thousand bars, nightclubs, love hotels, massage parlours, and hostess clubs. However, there are no red lights in the literal sense with prostitutes in the windows as in Amsterdam . With increased tourism from China and South Korea, tourists can now be seen in Kabukichō even during daytime. After several large hotels opened in the district,

8436-579: The higher pitch of their voices. The roles of adolescent men in kabuki, known as wakashu , were also played by young men, often selected for their attractiveness; this became a common practice, and wakashu were often presented in an erotic context. The focus of kabuki performances also increasingly began to emphasise drama alongside dance. However, the ribald nature of kabuki performances continued, with male actors also engaging in sex work for both female and male customers. Audiences frequently became rowdy, and brawls occasionally broke out, sometimes over

8547-428: The kabuki industry for generations. The kimono the actors wear for their costumes are typically made with vibrant colours and multiple layers. Both otoko and onnagata wear hakama - pleated trousers – in some plays, and both use padding underneath their costumes to create the correct body shape for the outfit. Kabuki makeup provides an element of style easily recognizable even by those unfamiliar with

8658-451: The latter party's anti-consumption tax increase policy did not match the JRP's pro-consumption tax policy. Reporting on a poll in early December 2012, Asahi Shimbun characterized the merger with Japan Restoration Party as the latter having "swallowed up" Sunrise. The poll, in advance of the 16 December Lower House elections, also said the association with SP could hurt JRP's chances of forming

8769-428: The looks of samurai or nobility and the use of luxurious fabrics, the kabuki costumes were groundbreaking new designs to the general public, even setting trends that still exist today. Although the earliest kabuki costumes have not been preserved, separate otoko and onnagata kabuki costumes today are made based on written records called ukiyo-e and in collaboration with those whose families have been in

8880-662: The majority of kabuki troupes have remained entirely-male. The introduction of earphone guides in 1975, including an English version in 1982, helped broaden the artform's appeal. As a result, in 1991 the Kabuki-za, one of Tokyo's best known kabuki theaters, began year-round performances and, in 2005, began marketing kabuki cinema films. Kabuki troupes regularly tour Asia, Europe and America, and there have been several kabuki-themed productions of Western plays such as those of Shakespeare . Western playwrights and novelists have also experimented with kabuki themes, an example of which

8991-495: The mid-1600s. Adult male actors, however, continued to play both female and male characters, and kabuki retained its popularity, remaining a key element of the Edo period urban life-style. Although kabuki was performed widely across Japan, the Nakamura-za, Ichimura-za and Kawarazaki-za theatres became the most widely known and popular kabuki theatres, where some of the most successful kabuki performances were and still are held. During

9102-490: The new stage sets, costumes, and lighting, Super Kabuki has regained interest from the young demographic. In addition, Square Enix announced a Super Kabuki adaptation of Final Fantasy X collaborating with Tokyo Broadcasting System in 2022. Entitled Kinoshita Group presents New Kabuki Final Fantasy X and part of celebrations of the Final Fantasy franchise's 35th anniversary, it is scheduled to be performed at

9213-422: The on-stage pushing of a round, wheeled platform. Later a circular platform was embedded in the stage with wheels beneath it facilitating movement. The kuraten ("darkened revolve") technique involves lowering the stage lights during this transition. More commonly the lights are left on for akaten ("lighted revolve"), sometimes simultaneously performing the transitioning scenes for dramatic effect. This stage

9324-562: The patrols and cameras reduced criminal activities in Kabukichō, amidst controversy. Private citizens and government agencies launched a joint effort in July 2003, called the Shinjuku Shopping Center Committee to Expel Organized-Crime Groups, with the aim to replace unlicensed and adult-oriented businesses (which were believed to pay protection fees to organized crime groups) with legitimate businesses. In 2004,

9435-418: The piece usually acknowledged as his most significant, Sonezaki Shinjū ( The Love Suicides at Sonezaki ), was originally written for bunraku . Like many bunraku plays, it was adapted for kabuki, eventually becoming popular enough to reportedly inspire a number of real-life "copycat" suicides, and leading to a government ban on shinju mono (plays about love suicides) in 1723. Also during

9546-520: The police undertook an operation clamping down on illegal clubs and brothels , causing many to go out of business. An amendment to the 1948 Adult Entertainment law made aggressive catching of female patrons by male hosts illegal. Also, the Kabukichō Renaissance organization started in April 2008 to rid Kabukichō of the yakuza; office manager Yoshihisa Shimoda stated "[a]t the end of the day, we want Kabukicho to be clean. We want security, safety and

9657-498: The provocative bid, although the Chinese side viewed the purchase as an effort by Japan to bring the islands under Japanese sovereignty. Ishihara married to Japanese essayist, Noriko Ishihara (石原典子, b. 1 January between 1933 and/or 1938 – d. 8 March 2022) (formerly real name as Yumiko Ishida), a Hiroshima bombing survivor. The couple have four sons: Nobuteru (b. 19 April 1957), a politician; Yoshizumi (b. 15 January 1962), an actor and weatherman; Hirotaka (b. 19 June 1964),

9768-564: The role of a woman. Kabuki also appears in works of Japanese popular culture such as anime . In addition to the handful of major theatres in Tokyo and Kyoto, there are many smaller theatres in Osaka and throughout the countryside. The Ōshika Kabuki ( 大鹿歌舞伎 ) troupe, based in Ōshika , Nagano Prefecture, is one example. Some local kabuki troupes today use female actors in onnagata roles. The Ichikawa Shōjo Kabuki Gekidan, an all-female troupe, debuted in 1953 to significant acclaim, though

9879-511: The stage. Kabuki stages and theaters have steadily become more technologically sophisticated, and innovations including revolving stages and trap doors were introduced during the 18th century. A driving force has been the desire to manifest one frequent theme of kabuki theater, that of the sudden, dramatic revelation or transformation. A number of stage tricks, including actors' rapid appearance and disappearance, employ these innovations. The term keren ( 外連 ) , often translated as "playing to

9990-677: The style of dress worn by gangs of samurai . The history of kabuki began in 1603 during the Edo period when former shrine maiden Izumo no Okuni , possibly a miko of Izumo-taisha , began performing with a troupe of young female dancers a new, simple style of dance drama in pantomime , on a makeshift stage in the dry bed of the Kamo River in Kyoto In the earliest forms of kabuki, female performers played both men and women in comic playlets about ordinary life. It did not take long for

10101-517: The style to become popular, and Okuni was asked to perform before the Imperial Court. In the wake of such success, rival troupes quickly formed, and kabuki was born as ensemble dance and drama performed by women. Much of the appeal of kabuki in this era was due to the ribald, suggestive themes featured by many troupes; this appeal was further augmented by the fact that many performers were also involved in prostitution . For this reason, kabuki

10212-466: The subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster , which claimed the lives of 20,000 people, Ishihara said that "the triple disaster was 'divine punishment from heaven', because Japanese people have become a greedy": America's identity is freedom. Japan has no sense of that. Only responsible, material, and monetary greed. For many years, in the heart of Japanese people, who had always bounded with devil. This greed bounds with populism. Japanese people's identity

10323-483: The supernatural; and purple, nobility. Shintaro Ishihara Shintaro Ishihara ( 石原 慎太郎 , Ishihara Shintarō , 30 September 1932 – 1 February 2022) was a Japanese politician and writer, who served as the Governor of Tokyo from 1999 to 2012. Being the former leader of the radical right Sunrise Party , later merged with Toru Hashimoto 's Japan Restoration Party out of which he split his faction into

10434-409: The surrounding areas, to the new location of the theatres, the inconvenience of the distance led to a reduction in attendance. These factors, along with strict regulations, pushed much of kabuki "underground" in Edo, with performances changing locations to avoid the authorities. The theatres' new location was called Saruwaka-chō, or Saruwaka-machi; the last thirty years of the Tokugawa shogunate's rule

10545-705: The then Prime minister of Malaysia , Mahathir Mohamad , titled "No" to ieru Ajia – tai Oubei e no hōsaku in 1994. Ishihara was also long critical of the communist government of the People's Republic of China . He invited the Dalai Lama and the President of Taiwan Lee Teng-hui to Tokyo. Ishihara was deeply interested in the North Korean abduction issue , and called for economic sanctions against North Korea . Following Ishihara's campaign to bid Tokyo for

10656-474: The time period of 1628–1673, the modern version of all-male kabuki actors, a style of kabuki known as yarō-kabuki (lit., "young man kabuki"), was established, following the ban on women and young boys. Cross-dressing male actors, known as " onnagata " (lit., "woman role") or " oyama " took over previously female- or wakashu -acted roles. Young (adolescent) men were still preferred for women's roles due to their less obviously masculine appearance and

10767-403: The upcoming consumption tax hike were issues it would have to address with potential coalition partners. Only four days after the Sunrise Party was launched, on 17 November 2012, Ishihara and Tōru Hashimoto , leader of the Japan Restoration Party (JRP), decided to merge their parties, with Ishihara becoming the head of the JRP. Your Party would not join the party, nor would Genzei Nippon, as

10878-461: The victims of triple disaster in Japan. Then, Ishihara had to apologize for his comments. During the 2012 Summer Olympics , Ishihara stated that "Westerners practicing judo resembles beasts fighting. Internationalized judo has lost its appeal." He added, "In Brazil they put chocolate in norimaki, but I wouldn't call it sushi. Judo has gone the same way." Ishihara has said that Japan ought to have nuclear weapons . On 15 April 2012, Ishihara made

10989-413: The vote, and re-election in 2007 with 50.52% of the vote. In the 2011 gubernatorial election , his share of the vote dipped to 43.4% against challenges by comedian Hideo Higashikokubaru and entrepreneur Miki Watanabe . On 25 October 2012, Ishihara announced he would resign as Governor of Tokyo to form a new political party in preparation for upcoming national elections. Following his announcement,

11100-576: The war, a bombing raid on April 13, 1945, razed the area to the ground. After the war, Hideyuki Suzuki from the Association of Readjustment and Reconstruction of Shinjuku worked with the major landowner, Mohei Minejima to draw up plans for Kiku-za, a kabuki theatre, in the area; they believed that performers from the Kabuki-za theatre in Ginza would accept their invitation to perform at Kiku-za. As

11211-537: The year alone, particularly targeting foreign tourists from China and Korea, prompting a crackdown that began in May; in July, there were only 45 reported cases of bottakuri and 28 bars had been shut down. In 2007, local businessman Takeshi Aida founded the Shinjuku Kabukicho Host Club Anti-Organized Crime Gang Association to disassociate host and hostess clubs from organized crime , reduce

11322-476: The young samurai patrons, shogunal authorities, who wanted to maintain order, banned women from performing on stage. Following this ban, Okuni replaced the women with boys in Kabuki performances. During the early seventeenth century, within a culture where pederasty was pervasive among samurai, her decision didn't significantly harm the theater's popularity. In fact, it may have even benefited Kabuki, as it caught

11433-473: Was a newspaper holiday so the news agencies consciously picked up the sangokujin part, causing the problem. ... After World War II, when Japan lost, the Chinese of Taiwanese origin and people from the Korean Peninsula persecuted, robbed and sometimes beat up Japanese. It's at that time the word was used, so it was not derogatory. Rather we were afraid of them. ... There's no need for an apology. I

11544-456: Was also known as 'prostitute kabuki' ( 遊女歌舞妓 ) during this period. Kabuki became a common form of entertainment in the red-light districts of Japan, especially in Yoshiwara , the registered red-light district in Edo. The widespread appeal of kabuki often meant that a diverse crowd of different social classes gathered to watch performances, a unique occurrence that happened nowhere else in

11655-558: Was betraying his nation by saying 'What nationality are you anyway?' This was recorded on film and turned into a video that was sent around the world as the Save Minamiyama Movement In 2010, Ishihara claimed that Korea under Japanese rule was absolutely justified due to historical pressures from Qing dynasty and Imperial Russia . In reference to the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami and

11766-461: Was called "Japan's [Jean-Marie] Le Pen " on a program broadcast on Australia's ABC . He was affiliated with the openly ultranationalist organization Nippon Kaigi . Ishihara was a long-term friend of the prominent Aquino family in the Philippines . He is credited with being the first person to inform future President Corazon Aquino about the assassination of her husband Ninoy Aquino ,

11877-447: Was first built in Japan in the early 18th century. Seri refers to the stage "traps" that have been commonly employed in kabuki since the middle of the 18th century. These traps raise and lower actors or sets to the stage. Seridashi or seriage refers to trap(s) moving upward and serisage or serioroshi to traps descending. This technique is often used to lift an entire scene at once. Chūnori (riding in mid-air)

11988-587: Was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2005. While still maintaining most of the historical practices of kabuki, Ichikawa En-ō ( 市川猿翁 ) aimed to broaden its appeal by creating a new genre of kabuki productions called "Super Kabuki" ( スーパー歌舞伎 ) . With Yamato Takeru ( ヤマトタケル ) as the first Super Kabuki production to premiere in 1986, remakes of traditional plays and new contemporary creations have been brought to local theaters throughout

12099-727: 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 . The individual kanji that make up the word kabuki can be read as 'sing' ( 歌 ) , 'dance' ( 舞 ) , and 'skill' ( 伎 ) . Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as 'the art of singing and dancing'. These are, however, ateji characters which do not reflect actual etymology , being used for pronunciation. The kanji of 'skill' generally refers to

12210-409: Was surprised that there was a big reaction to my speech. In order not to cause any misunderstanding, I decided I will no longer use that word. It is regrettable that the word was interpreted in the way it was. On 20 February 2006, Ishihara also said: "Roppongi is now virtually a foreign neighborhood. Africans —I don't mean African-Americans —who don't speak English are there doing who knows what. This

12321-563: Was the largest in Japan when it opened in 1956. The cinema showed many of the latest movies in Japan, including anime films. As well as a cinema, which had four screens at the time of closure, the Tokyu Milano-za complex also had a skate rink when it first opened which was converted into a bowling alley called the Milano Bowl a few years later, a Japanese restaurant (both the bowling alley and the Japanese restaurant closed alongside

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