Kabuki is a well-loved and famous art form that comes from Japan. It’s a type of performance that dates back to the early 1600s, after it was created by Izumo no Okuni.
This unique performance combines a number of fun and interesting elements, including pantomime, dance, music, and drama.
While this art form was created by a woman, it was soon illegal for women to perform it. From around 1629, women were banned from taking the stage by the Tokugawa Shogunate.
For decades, only men were trained in the art. Now, however, while kabuki is still predominantly performed by men, there are women who also choose to learn the skills.
Learning how to become a kabuki actor is not easy, and it takes a lot of time and practice. However, there are three different routes that people can take today to achieve their dreams!
These include being part of a kabuki actor family, going to university or a training center for it, or training under a kabuki actor.
If you want to find out more about how to become a kabuki actor, keep reading! We will cover everything you need to know about the process.
How To Become A Kabuki Actor
What Are The Requirements To Becoming A Kabuki Actor?
In order to become a kabuki actor, you either need to a) be born into a kabuki acting family and learn from a young age, b) attend The Kabuki Actor Training Center, or c) study full time under a kabuki actor.
Being born into a kabuki actor family is likely to result in a child being taught what they need to know from a very young age. From the traditional dances to voice changes and projection.
However, we will not be covering this method in this article, because it doesn’t serve the majority of readers.
Instead, we will focus on The Kabuki Training Center and training under a kabuki actor. That way, if you are interested in trying out kabuki for yourself, you have something to go on.
The Kabuki Training Center
The Kabuki Training Center was established by the National Theater in 1969. This was done to allow students the opportunity to learn about the art of kabuki without being born into it.
Before this, kabuki actors and the acting technique was passed down in families, allowing no one new to enjoy the art.
At this training center, a handful of students are allowed to join every second year, and eventually graduate as trained kabuki actors.
Two years of training gives students plenty of time to learn what they need to know in order to be a successful kabuki actor!
It’s worth mentioning that the training program at the training center is actually free. This makes it incredibly accessible to anyone who wants to join. In turn, it helps to keep the tradition alive and thriving in the country.
During their time at the center, students will learn a variety of important things. We will briefly go through some of these in the sections below.
Traditional Dances
The nagauta and shamisen dances are both crucial to any kabuki performance. While someone born into a kabuki family will learn these dances from a young age, most people will not.
As such, these dances are key elements of what students are taught while at the training center.
Kabuki Pronunciation
The second important thing that students will learn at The Kabuki Training Center is the necessary pronunciation. We’ve done an article on a breakdown of a kabuki actor’s technique, which highlights just how important the pronunciation is in this field.
Not only pronunciation, but also things like voice projection, are necessary parts of a kabuki performance.
Without learning how to properly speak, a kabuki performance will not be authentic and enjoyable. It also will not get the character across to the audience.
Stunts
Kabuki is full of stunts! As such, students need to learn how to at least do the basic stunts if they want to pass.
A popular move is the tombo stunt(a mid-air somersault), which is done during a tachimawari fight scene. Only when a student can properly land the stunt will they be considered a professional.
Body Language
If you have ever seen a kabuki performance, you will know exactly how important body language is. Every demographic an actor plays will behave differently.
For example, women will always walk with their knees and toes pointed inwards, while a male will walk with his feet pointing outwards.
There are many aspects of body language to consider in this art form, and the training center covers it all.
Cosmetics & Appearance
Finally, students at the training center will learn about kabuki makeup and appearance. Makeup is a huge part of the performance, as are masks and wardrobes. Without the skills, you will not be able to portray a character on stage.
Training Under A Kabuki Actor
The final way to become a kabuki actor is to train under an actor personally. There may be many professional kabuki actors who are willing to do this, but we will be focusing on one in particular in the sections below.
It’s worth noting that every kabuki actor is likely to work differently. So, what we describe below may not be how every actor does things!
Students can learn how to be a kabuki actor by learning alongside Shijurou Tachibana at Kabuki Taro. We’ve added the website for anyone who would like to take a deep dive into everything he offers, because there’s a lot!
In this case, students will train under Kabuki Taro for six months. At the end of their training, they will take to the stage and complete a delightful performance.
During their time here, students will attend weekly lessons led by Shijurou Tachibana, a well-loved kabuki actor. There, they will learn everything they need to know.
Unlike The Kabuki Training Center, students will need to pay for these lessons. However, the cost of the lessons will include wigs, costumes, the lessons themselves, and much more.
The packages offered by Kabuki Taro can range from around ¥100,000 (about US$923) to a maximum of about ¥1,300,000 (roughly $12,000) at the time of writing this.
The price will vary depending on the role you would like to play in the production at the end. For exact prices, those interested will need to get in touch with the institution themselves.
It’s worth noting that Kabuki Taro’s website is constantly updated, and has all the current information that you need to know. This includes the dates and fees, as well as the venue and a place where you can apply.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a kabuki actor is a long and difficult journey, and it takes a lot of work. There are very specific skills that you need to master in order to be considered a professional.
However, the three methods that make this possible are being born into a kabuki acting family, going to The Kabuki Training Center, or studying under a kabuki actor.
For anyone who would like to try training to be a kabuki actor, now you know where to start!
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
