歌舞伎

• Reading: かぶき
• Romaji: kabuki
• Kanji breakdown: 歌 (ka/uta) — song; 舞 (bu/mai) — dance; 伎 (gi) — skill, performance
• Pronunciation: /ka.bɯ.ki/

Meaning

Kabuki; a traditional form of Japanese theatre featuring elaborate costumes, stylised performances, and distinctive kumadori makeup.

One of Japan's three major classical performing arts (alongside Noh and Bunraku). Kabuki emerged in the Edo period and features all-male casts, spectacular stage effects, and highly codified acting techniques. Designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, kabuki plays dramatise historical events, domestic conflicts, and moral dilemmas. The word may derive from 傾く (kabuku), meaning to lean or act outrageously.

Examples

1. 歌舞伎座で初めて歌舞伎を観て、その迫力に圧倒された。 I was overwhelmed by the power of kabuki when I saw it for the first time at the Kabuki-za theater.
2. 歌舞伎は江戸時代に庶民の娯楽として発展した。 Kabuki developed as popular entertainment during the Edo period.
3. 歌舞伎の女形の演技は独特の様式美を持つ。 The performance of kabuki's onnagata female roles possesses a unique stylistic beauty.

Usage Guide

Context: traditional theatre, Japanese culture, performing arts

Tone: cultural

Origin & History

From 歌 (song) + 舞 (dance) + 伎 (skill, performance). The three kanji together evoke the combination of music, dance, and skilled performance that defines the art form.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal