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Kabuki

kabuki is a popular dramatic art form that has been a favorite among the Japanese popular since the seventeenth century . It is today more popular than either noh or
bunraku, two classical dramatic forms from which it borrows heavily. Because of its assimilation of various aspects of the other dramatic art forms, kabuki might well be called a summarization of traditional Japanese theatrical art.

Kabuki does however, have a number of unique points. One of these is the mawari butai (revolving stage) which permits almost instantaneous changes of scene. Another is the hanamichi, a long, narrow, walk-like extension of the stage that runs through the audience to the back of the stage that runs through the audience to the back of the theater . Although the actors often enter and exit via the hanamichi, it is not primarily a passageway but a device for permitting the actors to come into closer contact with their audience.

Music and dancing are fundamental to the Kabuki performance. Most kabuki plays are performed to the accompaniment of typically Japanese melodies played on several shamisen (a three-stringed instrument of the lute family) and other instruments peculiar to Japan. The actors are required to follow a specific “kabuki rhythm” pattern are required to follow a specific “kabuki rhythm” pattern in both their speech and their moviments. Differing greatly from modern drama which lays primary emphasis on realism, kabuki is a formalized art in which the significance of omissions, exaggerations and many of the actors movements is pre-defined.

Anyone watching kabuki for the first will no doubt be surprised to learn that all roles, including those of female characters, are played by men. He will also be amazed by the rapidity with which the actors change costumes, often transforming themselves into totally different characters in a matter of seconds.

By subject matter, kabuki plays fall into two categories: those which deal with the fortunes of the noble and warrior classes and those which depict the lives of the common people.

The art of kabuki acting is passed on from father to son and training begins at a very early age. The actor is considered more important than the play but the play is changed to fit his particular skills.

【日本語訳】
c) 歌舞伎
歌舞伎は17世紀から盛んになった日本の代表的な庶民演劇である。現在、能や文学よりも愛好者が多い。能や文楽の要素も取り入れているので、日本の伝統芸能の集大成的なものといえる。
歌舞伎の舞台装置には、花道や周り舞台など独特のものがある。花道は舞台に向けて観客席を貫いて設けられた通路である。これは俳優が登場、退場するためだけでなく、俳優と観客との交流をも目的としている。
演劇としての性格からいえば、歌舞伎は音楽劇であり、舞踊劇である。その多くの作品が三味線などによる日本固有の音曲を伴奏とし、台詞にも動作にも独特の音楽的リズム感が要求される。そして、省略、誇張、形式化された動きが一つの様式を生み出し、近代的リアリズムに立脚する演劇とは大きく異なっている。
男優が女性の役に扮することや、瞬間的な衣装替えの技巧なども特色の一つである。歌舞伎の主題には昔の貴族や武士の世界を描くものと、庶民の生活を描く物との２種類がある。
歌舞伎の俳優は、先祖の芸を受け継ぐよう幼少から育てられ、脚本に従って演ずるというよりは俳優の芸を中心に脚本が作られる。

Writing System

There are three main types of written characters in Japan: kannji, hiragana, and katakana. Roman letters are also used, but to a much lesser extent.

Kanji characters are ideograms which were brought in from China. On the basis of the Chinese and Japanese readingsof these characters there were devised the photy-netic manyokana characters which in turn were simplified into the hiragana and katakana systems in about the ninth century. The characters of higagana and katakana systems represent single syllables. Each system presently has forty-six characters.

In writing Japanese, most nouns, verbroots and adjectives are represented by kanji while the verb endings indicating the various tenses etc., the auxilliary verbs and the particles are written in one of the kana systems(hiragana or katakana). Adverbs can be written in either kanji or kana characterds. Of the two kana systems, hiragana has by far the wider usage in modern times. Katakana characters are used mostly for the spelling of loan words brought into Japanese from other language.

The first characters taught at school are those of the hiragana system. In fact, however, a fairly large percentage of Japanese children are able to read and write kana characters even before they enter school.

All three types of Japanese characters are designed to be written in vertical lines, though they can also be written horizontally. When written vertically, the first line comes on the right of the page and succeeding lines follow it to the left. Years ago, almost all writing was vertical but the horizontal style has gradually become more popular since it is more adaptable to inclusion of Arabic numerals and passages in foreign languages. From the reader’s point of view, however, vertically written sentences are easier to assimilate and for this reason most newspapers, magazines and popular books are printed in this style.

Tea Cult

Called cha-no-yu or sado, the tea cult is the traditional Japanese way of drinking tea in accordance with set rules of etiquette. Both the host and guests share a sense of togetherness during the ceremony. The cult was perfected by Rikyu Sen in the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the latter half of the fifteenth century.

In the tea ceremony, tea is made by putting powdered tea leaves into a cup and then adding hot water. It is then stirred till foamy with a tea whisk and drunk.

The “etiquette” of the tea ceremony concerns the manner in which the host serves the guests fine aromatic tea in a traditional tea cup of exquisite beauty and the manner in which guests show their appreciation to the host in the way they accept the tea.

The tea ceremony etiquette has been influenced by the etiquette observed by the samurai classes as well as by the form of noh dances. In turn, the tea cult has greatly influenced traditional Japanese and manners. Inner spirit is considered more important than the ritual form in the tea cult, and the heart of the ceremony lies in the “selfless manner” In which the host serves tea to the guests.

In inviting the guests to a ceremony, the host always takes utmost care in the preparation of his tea room, the adjacent garden, tea utensils and the provision of simple dishes for the guests in the tea room. Although a person invited to a tea ceremony for the first time is well advised to acquire some knowledge about the cult beforehand, still he should remember that the most important thing is the way guests express their sense of gratitude for the hospitality shown them by the host.

The study of the tea ceremony has become very popular among young Japanese both as a pastime and as an accomplishment to be mastered before marriage.

【茶道】
茶　道
「茶道」は一定の作法にしたがって、主人と客が心の共感をもってお茶を飲む日本伝統のもので、安土桃山時代（１５世紀後半）に千利休によって大成された。
茶道では、抹茶という粉末状の精製された茶の葉を茶碗に入れて湯を注ぎ，茶筅（ちゃせん）（竹の拡販具）でかきまわして泡立てて飲む。
茶道の礼法は、そのためにつくられた観賞価値のある独特の茶碗に、香り高い茶をたてて客にすすめる方法や、客がこれをいただく心得がからなる。
茶道の礼法には、武士の礼法や能の影響がみられ、これは日本の伝統的な礼儀作法に強い影響を与えた。形よりも心を重んじ、おのれをむなしうして客をもてなすのが茶道の心といわれている。
茶室（茶をたてるためにつくられた専門の部屋）、露地（茶室の庭）、会席料理（茶席で出す簡単な料理）、茶道具の取り合わせなど、すべてに客を迎える主人の細心の注意が払われる。茶会の客に初めて招かれた場合、茶道の礼法を知っているのにこしたことはないが、客として最も大切なのは主人の心づかいに対する感謝の気持ちである。
現在日本では、茶道は女性が結婚前の嗜みや趣味として習うことが広く流行している