It's a traditional performing art with a rich history.

It draws a million theater-goers per year...

It's kabuki.

Explore this art with popular kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke on KABUKI KOOL!

Kabuki features male actors called "onnagata" who specialize in female roles.

"Onnagata" actor Nakamura Kazutaro will guide us through famous roles showing women in love.

Let's open the curtain!

Hi, I'm Sara Àlainn.

In kabuki, female roles are all played by male actors called "onnagata."

Today, our guide kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke will who show us the beauty of these "onnagata" playing women in love.

Hello.

Hello.

Ainosuke-san, the female roles played by "onnagata" are extremely beautiful!

Well, that's good to hear.

And the romantic scenes even make me blush!

Really? How nice.

I'd love to know more about their staging.

Well let's ask someone who's often my partner in those scenes.

OK, kabuki actor Nakamura Kazutaro-san!

Please join us!

Hello!

Welcome.

Hello.

I'm kabuki actor Nakamura Kazutaro.

Let's start with a basic question.

This is from Omar Juvera in the US.

He asks why there are no female kabuki actors?

Although there are only male actors today, kabuki was actually started by a woman.

This was centuries ago, and the government at the time banned their performances for indecency.

After that, men began to play female roles in kabuki.

And they're known as "onnagata."

That's right.

And "onnagata" must play women of different ages, ranks, and professions.

Let's take a look at some of the different kinds of women that they must play.

How beautiful!

Right?

Are these both Kazutaro-san?

Yes, that's me in two different roles.

This one is Yugiri.

She's a "keisei," the top rank of courtesan.

She has an incredible costume and her wig is humungous!

That's right.

A lot of ornaments in her hair, and heavily embroidered clothing.

It's extremely heavy!

I bet.

And this is Princess Taema from the play "Narukami."

Her tiara is very sparkly!

Yes, it is!

You're right, that tiara is a very ornate hairpin reserved for princess roles.

Mm, I see.

Princesses in kabuki are often very passionate women.

This one too?

Yes!

She is.

The whole play is actually about her seduction of a priest.

Yes.

- Can't wait to know more!
- Well let's watch.

Beautiful Princess Taema travels to a waterfall deep in the mountains.

Narukami has his hermitage there

and he has imprisoned the dragon god that brings rain in the waterfall, causing a terrible drought.

Falling in love...

...can lead to dark and
unexpected paths!

She's so beautiful and alluring!

Ainosuke-san, that's you as Narukami!

Yes.

Narukami seems fascinated by her.

Since Narukami is a priest, it seems that he's never talked to a woman before.

He just fell from his altar!

One touch of my fingers will
cure your cramps instantly!

How does that feel?

Hang on!

He has his hand inside her kimono!

Is that OK for a priest?

No, it isn't.

The princess felt sick, so he is trying to cure her with massage.

That's what he is doing.

But actually, he's fallen into the princess's trap.

Oh!!

What's wrong?

I felt something strange!

Those are my breasts!

He touched her breasts.

This is a little embarrassing to watch.

Since Narukami has never touched a woman's body, he has no defenses.

He falls for her totally and wants to get married.

Well, at least he's serious.

Yes.

Narukami, please forgive me
for what I must do.

In fact, all of this is a kind of honey trap.

She has been sent with the mission of seducing Narukami and throwing him off guard,

so that she can release the dragon god.

The people were suffering terribly from the drought.

That's right.

While Narukami is sleeping, Princess Taema cuts the sacred rope to release the dragon god.

The dragon god flew away!

Then the rain falls.

As she leaves, the princess laments what she has had to do to Narukami.

Princess Taema is there to seduce Narukami.

But how do you perform this role?

Well, of course, she has to be seductive,

but at the same time, she must be performed as a princess,

so that she must still be refined and elegant.

But even so, she must still be alluring enough to attract Narukami.

In a lavish party room in the pleasure quarters, we see a "keisei," the very top rank of courtesan.

Kazutaro-san, you look fabulous as the "keisei" Yugiri.

Yugiri has long been the lover of Izaemon, who comes from a very wealthy family,

but because of their relationship, he has been disowned by his family.

They haven't been able to meet for a very long time,

but then Izaemon comes to visit and she rushes to see him.

But Izaemon is petulant and pretends to be asleep.

Izaemon, please wake up!

All of Yugiri's movements are so elegant.

The key to playing a "keisei" role is that every movement must be languid and elegant.

Also, I always keep in mind Yugiri's strong love for Izaemon.

"He pushes her away."

Woman, let me sleep!

How can I ever have angered you?

But are the two fighting?

I think because Izaemon is throwing a tantrum, she is trying as hard as possible to make him happy.

Then, just as the two are reconciled,

word comes from Izaemon's family that he is reinstated and Yugiri will be his wife.

So, it ends happily!

Yes.

And this especially lavish "uchikake" overrobe is sent to the couple to celebrate.

In other words, it's like this overrobe embodies this happy ending.

How wonderful!

And now...

Here's the actual "uchikake!"

Yes.

The real thing.

So elaborate.

This was made for my grandfather, Sakata Tojuro.

And I had the honor of wearing it too.

The "uchikake" worn by top courtesans are thicker than those worn by noblewomen and other high-ranking women.

You see the hem?

The extra padding makes it extremely heavy.

How do you wear it?

Let me put it on to show you.

"Narikomaya!"

This is my entrance.

Beautiful!

But to deal with the weight, I need to keep my knees bent as I walk.

And it's so long as well!

How on earth do you turn to the side?

With great difficulty!

For example...

Yes.

I enter, then sweep the fabric like this.

Like this.

And so you get the pose...

we saw... earlier.

This twist also makes the "onnagata" look more delicate and draws attention to their beauty.

The twist.

Would you like to try it on, Sarah-san?

Yay!

Please.

Now that it's on, hold these tissues in your right hand.

Right. OK.

And use it to hide your face.

But it looks better if you hold it at an angle.

Oh. I see.

And close your fingers, that's it.

Let's walk.

Slowly?

Yes, you're a little embarrassed at going to meet a lover.

Slide, slide.

Then stop with your right foot.

And kick the hem.

Twist as you kick, yes!

Very good.

And lean, tilt right back.

Further! Yes, more!

That's it!

Ouch!

That's it!

Very good! You nailed it, Sarah-san!

I feel like a "keisei."

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

Are there any particular techniques "onnagata" use for romantic scenes?

How about When holding hands, for example?

Huh, well let's see.

The man's hand goes on top, like this.

The woman's hand below.

Gaze at each other.

Then...

If we're nestling together...

Then we stand like this.

You see it?

This is the usual pose.

How charming!

Glad to hear it!

The "onnagata" has to stand so that he is gazing at his partner from below.

It makes the pose beautiful if the woman is slightly below the man.

The woman's always one step behind is very Japanese, I think.

Definitely.

There are many women in kabuki utterly devoted to their husbands or families.

Yes.

In "The Village School," Tonami runs a small school together with her husband.

They both once served Kan Shojo, who was the Minister of the Right,

the second most important official in the government.

But then he was exiled, and they are still loyal to him.

Now they are protecting his son, Kan Shusai.

Tonami's so cute!

I think that she's a wife, but she's still quite young,

so I emphasize that she's cheerful and bright with the children.

There on the upper level is Kan Shusai.

A very elegant woman comes to enroll her son at the school.

Tonami is happy to welcome them.

Is this the home of Genzo, the school master?

Indeed, it is! Please come in!

Her son Kotaro becomes a student at the school.

His name is "Kotaro."

"Kotaro?" What a nice name!

Tonami's husband Genzo returns full of anguish.

Word has gotten out that they are protecting Kan Shusai here and he has been ordered to cut off the boy's head.

Genzo is desperate to find a way to stay loyal to Kan Shojo.

Teacher, welcome home!

I am your new student.

When he sees the new student, the desperate Genzo decides that his only hope is to kill him to save Kan Shusai

and he tells Tonami what he plans to do.

The new student looks enough like
Kan Shusai to die in his place!

I may have to kill the mother too!

Oh no!

It's the only possible way to
save the life of the young lord!!

He's going to kill someone else's son?

Yes. It's cruel, but the couple decide they must do this terrible thing.

It's a very sad scene.

How agonizing!

We cannot weaken now!
To save him, we must be demons!!

This scene really shows the couple's feelings.

Tonami is really an admirable wife.

However painful or terrible it will be, she believes she must trust Genzo's judgement.

She reaffirms her determination as his wife.

Yes, she does.

What do you think of Tonami?

She's incredibly dedicated, isn't she?

Her utter devotion to her master and her husband, it's very painful to watch,

but the devotion is very admirable.

Yes.

This kind of woman was very much admired during the Edo period.

But I can't imagine how painful it would be to actually have to make such a decision.

Tonami must be torn up inside with all kinds of feelings.

Now let's look at two women who are young and not yet married.

Yes.

Here they are.

This is Ohan, a merchant's daughter, and this is Kasane, who is a samurai lady-in-waiting.

Ohan looks very cute.

Yes, she's a wealthy man's daughter so she has lovely clothes.

Ohan is about 14 years old in this play.

But she's deeply in love with Choemon, the man who runs the shop next door.

But he's 38.

Whoa, that's a very big age gap!

It is. And these plays are is actually based on real-life events.

I see.

And the other is from a samurai family?

Kasane works for a samurai family as a maid, or lady in waiting.

You notice her clothes are more somber.

She's also secretly in love.

Ohan, the daughter of the Shinanoya, is in love with Choemon, the master of the "obi" shop next door.

Dear brother! You can't slip
your way out with a lie!

Choemon's stepbrother has a letter from Ohan and is using it to pressure Choemon.

"I will never forget the bed we shared
on the return trip from the Ise."

What a slut! And you made her that way!

That's you, Ainosuke-san!

Yes, I get to play the nasty stepbrother.

Things quiet down and as Choemon is taking a nap, Ohan slips in to visit.

Ohan is pregnant with Choemon's child and has secretly decided to die.

She comes to see him one last time.

Ohan is so cute, but she looks sad!

I have to make you feel that she is an innocent little 14-year-old.

So, I hold my body in very closely and bend my knees very deeply.

Ohan doesn't tell Choemon that she's pregnant and only comes to say farewell forever.

She's trying so hard to be strong.

I think that is what makes it so sad.

Why, it's Ohan!

Since we can't meet again, let me
get a good look at your face.

"They embrace a final farewell."

I had to thank you for
taking such good care of me.

Ohan knows that she cannot depend on anyone now and in despair, leaves her final letter and goes.

Poor Ohan!

What's important to you when playing Ohan?

Well, she's on stage very briefly.

But during that time, the challenge is how to show how much she loves Choemon.

This is the secret love of Kasane, a samurai lady-in-waiting.

Her lover Yoemon is a samurai serving the same lord,

but relationships in the workplace were forbidden and moreover, she's pregnant.

Originally Kasane and Yoemon promised each other to die in a love suicide,

but suddenly he said he wouldn't do it.

He broke his promise?

What a horrible man!

Yes.

But Kasane still loves him totally and here, she recalls all the things that have happened.

All your acting must be expressed in dance, too.

The dance uses Kiyomoto music to show her feelings.

This shows her deep love for Yoemon.

What's that floating in the river?

That's a grave marker and a skull with a sickle stuck in the eye.

This is actually the skull of Kasane's father.

What?

In life his name was...
"Suke!"

What...?

The pain! Oh, my leg!

So now he's a vengeful ghost!

When Yoemon takes the sickle from the skull, Kasane is attacked by her father's vengeful ghost.

Yoemon actually killed Kasane's father and he was also the secret lover of Kasane's mother.

The karma of Kasane falling in love with Yoemon causes her face to be disfigured.

You lied to me!

No, I'm killing you!
Look in this mirror to see why!

How could my face change so horribly?

Now Yoemon tries to kill Kasane.

Oh no!

Kasane is tormented by the conflict between her love for Yoemon and the evil that he has done to her family.

This section shows how her love gradually changes to anger

and she changes from a beautiful woman in love into a veritable demon.

"She has transformed into a living demon!"

It's such a violent fight, but the movements are so beautiful!

Yes, this is are possible because it's a dance, instead of a straight play.

That's right.

So inside, there's very violent anger and of course that is expressed,

but it always has to be shown within the forms of dance.

That's the attraction of a dance play.

Kasane fights back, but finally she is killed.

"Her life fades like a delicate flower."

But being betrayed and killed by the man she loves makes Kasane into a vengeful ghost.

Strong love can turn turns into hatred.

That's right.

Kasane has poor taste in men!

Not that I can talk!

Really?

I mean, I see Yoemon's appeal.

I see.

And it's because she loves him so much that her resentment goes so deep.

- Right.
- That's the tragedy for women!

It is.

And the actors always visit her grave before appearing in this play.

Really?

Yes.

Her bitterness runs so deep that the actors for Yoemon and Kasane visit her grave separately.

That's how seriously we take this story.

Kazutaro-san, what is most important in "onnagata" acting?

Well, I still have a lot to learn, but with an "onnagata" role,

usually there is the object of their love, played by an actor of male roles.

So it is important to watch your partner on stage closely and make your performance work with his.

Mm, I look forward to seeing you in many more roles in the future.

Thank you very much.

Thank you to all our viewers for the many comments and questions you send us!

This is from Mark Diaz of Los Angeles, in the US.

"I am studying kabuki theatre in America at Pomona College with Professor Pronko."

"I've attached a picture of us in costume for Narukami Thunder God."

- Oh wow!
- Wow!

What an incredible Narukami!

It really is!

Just like the real thing.

Princess Taema too.

Oh yes.

Amazing costumes.

They've really captured the feel of the play.

And now, it's now time for our usual ending.

Well, we have Kazutaro-san with us today.

So let's try to strike a pose with all three of us!

Thank you!

Ready?

Yes!

Hear ye!

That's all for today!