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Amusements at a Kabuki Theater

17th century (Edo period)

Sakai City Museum
Sakai-shi, Osaka, Japan

This is a genre picture focusing on a kabuki theater, started by Izumo no Okuni in the Momoyama period.
On the stage, in front of the musicians, is played the scene of the spree at a teahouse. The star actress of the theater troupe in the male guise of a kabukimono visits the teahouse accompanied by a Saruwaka clown, and has fun with the mistress, performed by a male actor as a woman.
The square stage has a bridgeway on its left and a railed deck on its right; the entrance gate of the theater has a curtain with crests of drooping wisteria, the symbol of the Okuni Kabuki. The audience is filled with energy; some are gazing at the play on the stage, while others having a party and pay no attention to the stage. It is interesting that the backstage is also depicted. You can also see the people about to enter the theater, an open air sumo match, a group of women with a head shawl who appear to be prostitutes; and a fight is always there.

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  • Title: Amusements at a Kabuki Theater
  • Date Created: 17th century (Edo period)
  • Original Source: Sakai City Museum
  • Medium: six-panel folding screen / color on gold-leafed paper

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