Kabukiza

Performances of the traditional Japanese theater known as Kabuki take place year-round at the Kabukiza theater, located in Tokyo's Ginza district. The traditional Japanese architecture of the theater stands out amid Ginza's forest of modern buildings. Among the plays typically performed on the Kabuki stage are the tragedies of Chikamatsu Monzaemon, the Edo-period playwright known as the "Shakespeare of Japan." Like Shakespearean plays, Chikamatsu's works have a timeless appeal. Audience members need not understand Japanese to appreciate a performance at Kabukiza; headsets providing running commentary in English are available. Kabuki performances can also be seen at the National Theater. index | previous | next