 Kabuki
Development
|
|
After Izumo Okuni began the art of Kabuki, its popularity grew very
fast due to its spirit of freshness, and the daring, unusual actions of
the actresses and actors themselves. Many other performing groups copied
Okuni's ideas. Most performing groups were sponsored by some group, and
performances were attended by the court nobility, and high class families.
|
|
Some groups of entertainers began to give the art of Kabuki a bad name
because they granted special favors to rich and powerful members of the
audience. The government thought that those actions corrupted the morals
of the people, so, in 1629, the Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited women from
acting on the stage. The decline of morals didn't change for the better
as the government had expected. Okuni retired to her home in Taisha.
|
|
Today, all Kabuki actors are still men. In fact, the fault for this
trouble was due to a few people who cared only for money. Most of the
Kabuki troupes were controlled by a shrine or temple, and I feel sure
that they were careful about how their members acted. It is often the
case where the actions of a very few, can cause much trouble for a lot
of people! I'm sure you can think of many such incidents.
|
|
The records concerning Okuni herself, are very scattered and confusing.
However, we do know her tomb is in the town of Taisha, Shimane Prefecture.
Okuni was supposed to have been in love with a samurai named Nagoya Sanzaburo,
but everybody needs love, and I hope she was very happy all her life.
She gave the people of her time the type of entertainment they wanted,
and was a very aggressive young lady. I think the story of Okuni would
make a great movie! She was a dramatic person!
|
