History Main / KabukiTheatre

* ''VideoGame/KabukiWarriors'': A 2001 game created for the {{UsefulNotes/Xbox}} console, where characters wear ornate robes, have painted faces, intricate tattoos, and wear long flowing wigs. They fight in theatre stages, each with a different painted backdrop.

During the Genroku period (from mid-17th to mid-19th centuries), most of the tropes in Kabuki theatre had been codified, such as the posing and the makeup. This includes the idea that {{ninja}}s wear all black; the ''kuroko'' stagehands wore all black and would move things around during the performance, but not participate. If they held a bird or leaf, the audience was only supposed to be watching the bird or leaf. When one suddenly stabbed another onstage character, it was a surprise.

One of the three forms of classical Japanese theatre, 歌舞伎 (Kabuki) is written with the characters for for "song", "dance" and "skill", but likely originated as a phonetic spelling of the noun form of ''kabuku'' ("to lean"); i.e. obstreperousness or going outside the norm. It is etymologically linked to the ''kabukimono'', punks of the early Edo era characterized by their defiance of social custom (including [[PimpDuds wearing bright, bold colours]]), and committing violence against their social superiors. Kabuki is known for its stylized drama, for the elaborate white-and-coloured face paint (''kumadori'') worn by some of its performers, and (compared to other Japanese theatre) its ornate stages that include a ''hanamichi''[[note]]Literally "path of flowers"[[/note]] catwalk.

* HistoricalFiction

* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'': One host segment of ''Invasion of the Neptune Men '' has the bots perform Kabuki Theatre for Mike. When Mike comments he prefers Noh Theater (another famous kind of Japanese theater), [[WhosOnFirst this leads to a misunderstanding where the bots think Mike doesn't like theater at all]].

* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'': One host segment of ''Invasion of the Neptune Men '' has the bots perform Kabuki Theatre for Mike. When Mike comments he prefers Noh Theater (another famous kind of Japanese theater), this leads to a misunderstanding where the bots think Mike doesn't like theater at all.

* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'': Kyoshiro Senryo is the Kabuki dancer of the series, present since the first game and using a [[BladeOnAStick naginata]] as his weapon of choice. His movements are Kabuki dances, speaks in KabukiSounds, throws [[PlayingWithFire flamming fans]] and even uses a giant frog in a theatrical way. Also, his stages are usually Kabuki theatres.

* ''TabletopGame/TenraBanshoZero'' is designed for one-shot sessions which emulate the structure of a kabuki play, rapidly progressing through short scenes where players take turns as "actors" or "audience" ([[AudienceParticipation both of whom can influence events]]). While the initial setup for each scene is rather formal (with InMediasRes encouraged, and [=PC=]s' initial reactions to [=NPC=]s being determined by random roll) it is not ''rigid'', with players having many ways to override or derail things in the name of RuleOfCool (including ''multiple'' {{Comeback Mechanic}}s and ways to perform a HeroicSacrifice). Given the fantasy JidaiGeki setting, "Kabukimono" is also a playable class.

* ''TabletopGame/TenraBanshoZero'' is designed for one-shot sessions which emulate the structure of a kabuki play, rapidly progressing through short scenes where players take turns as "actors" or "audience" ([[AudienceParticipation both of whom can influence events]]). Often events will follow a very formal structure, but include many ways for players to override it through RuleOfCool. Given the fantasy JidaiGeki setting, "Kabukimono" is also a playable class.