Kabuki 歌舞伎 is a traditional Japanese performing art. As the quintessential popular theatre, kabuki is meant to be humorous, full of action and unexpected twists.

What makes kabuki particularly distinctive is that it is traditionally performed only by men, with female roles played by specialist male actors (onna-gata 女形), who are trained in this craft from a young age. And it must be said, they are remarkably skilled!

Another hallmark of kabuki is the way stage sets change: at the end of an act, the stage itself rotates, carrying the actors with it, before revealing an entirely new scene.

The atmosphere at a kabuki performance is truly unique: while Japanese audiences are generally reserved, the crowd reacts with seemingly incomprehensible cries to applaud an actor's performance or to express disapproval… The main drawback of kabuki is that a complete performance lasts several hours, and the dialogue is in classical Japanese, difficult to understand even for native speakers. Fortunately, there are options to watch only select acts at a reduced price. And at the entrance, you'll receive a programme explaining the plot's essential points so that even a newcomer can follow along.

If the experience appeals to you, I invite you to attend a kabuki performance during your trip to Japon: it can be thoroughly entertaining!