Kabuki (歌舞伎), meaning song or dance, is a traditional form of Japanese theatre. It was founded in 1603 by
Okuni[?], a attendant from
Izumo Shrine[?], who introduced her style of dance in the dry river beds of
Kyoto; the style was instantly popular. Initially kabuki was ensemble dancing performed by women. But when the government banned women from the stage to protect public morals in 1629, then banned young men from the stage in 1652, Kabuki developed into a sophisticated, highly stylized and all-male form called
yaro kabuki. The men who play the roles of women are referred to as
onnagata. Its development was pioneered by Ichikawa Danjuro (1660-1704) in Edo and Sakata Tojuro (1647-1709) in the Kyoto-Osaka area.
Plays are divided into three categories: jidai-mono (historical), sewa-mono (domestic), and shosagoto (dance pieces).