The Authors and the Actors

Playwrights during the Tokugawa Shogunate period in Japan were much different than other popular authors around this time, such as Shakespeare. They usually only wrote a basic outline of a play instead of one with lines and stage directions. The authors also wrote plays for specific actors. A famous example of a playwright who did this was the Great Chikamatsu who wrote his plays based on his leading actor Sakata Tojoru. The actors would then take this baseline and “fill it in” based on his personality. Authors also multitasked a lot. They sometimes wrote multiple plays at the same time. Sometimes actors even wrote their own plays for themselves. People today still write Kabuki and if you travel to Japan you might be able to see a show. A more recent playwright was Kawate Mokuami who is famous for his play sewamono.

 

But Kabuki was centered around the actors, they didn’t pay much attention to the authors. The actors looked extravagant when they were dressed in their costumes and full makeup. Sometimes the court would travel to see the plays. Commoners would even buy homemade posters of their favorite actors. Even though Kabuki was founded by a woman, only men are can be the performers of Kabuki plays. Many actors would only specialize in a specific type of role. For example some actors were just Onnagatas or men who specialized in playing female roles. Throughout the plays the Kabuki performers would interact with the audience during the play. They walk down the Hanamichi which is a long footbridge/corridor off the stage. Actors speak in monotone voices accompanied by several instruments. During performances they would stand in a mie pose, which is when an actor holds a certain pose to establish his character.

 

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