Kabuki History

By serra2012

  • The First Kabuki Preformance

    (Date is unknown) The first Kabuki preformance was by a woman named Okuni, on the banks of the Kamo river in Kyto.

  • Woman Kabuki is banned

    (Date is unkown) Onna Kabuki (Woman Kabuki) preformance is forbidden by Shogunal authorities.

  • No silk costumes

    (Date unkown) The use of silk to make Kabuki theature is forbidden by Shogunal.

  • No Boy Kabuki

    (Actually day is unkown) Wakashu Kabuki (Boy Kabuki) preformance is forbidden by Shogunal authorites.

  • O.K with Adult Kabuki

    (Actually day is unkown) Yaro Kabuki (Adult Kabuki) is aurthoize by Shogunal authorities.

  • No Shimabara dramas

    (Actually date unknown) The Shimabara dramas (dramas using Shimabara as the scene of the play) are forbidden by the Shogunal authorities. Shimabara is a famous pleasure quarter in Kyto.

  • Authorized Kabuki theaters

    The number of Kabuki theaters in the city of Edo is set to 4 by the authorities. The authorized theaters are the Nakamuraza (in the district of Sakai-ch), the Ichimuraza (Fukiya-ch), Moritaza (Kobiki-ch) and the Yamamuraza (Kobiki-ch).

  • The start of kumadori make-up

    the first time in Kabuki that an actor uses a kumadori make-up, made up of black and red lines.

  • Genroku Jishin Kaji

    An earthquake hits Edo and the resulting fires destroy the city. The 4 main theaters, the Nakamuraza, the Ichimuraza, the Moritaza and the Yamamuraza, are burnt to ashes. This catastrophe is nicknamed "Genroku Jishin Kaji" ("Genroku Earthquake and Fire").

  • Earthquake destorys Osaka

    A powerful earthquake destroys Osaka.

  • Typhoon hits Edo

    7~9 A violent typhoon hits Edo, causing floods in the city; the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza have to stop their performances for a while.

  • The Sumptuary laws effects Kabuki theater

    (Actual date unkown) Beginning of the Tenp reforms led by Mizuno Tadakuni; sumptuary laws are enforced and the Kabuki world is targeted: the theaters have to move to the remote district of Saruwaka-ch, performances within the precincts of temples or shrines are forbidden, actors prints are temporarily proscribed.

  • Ansei Daijishin

    The Ansei earthquake (Ansei Daijishin) destoryed Edo, killing many people and tearing down all the theatures.

  • Kanto Dayishin

    Tokyo was destroyed by a powerful earthquake at 11:58 am called Kanto Dayishin, which killed more than 200,000 people and destroyed all the Kabuki theatures.

  • U.S bombs Tky

    344 US Army B29 bombers drops 2,000 tons of bombs on Tky, killing more than 120,000 people and destroying almost everything.

  • The first Kabuki Preformance in the U.S.A

    First Kabuki tour in the USA, in New York at the City Center (2~22 June), in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre (27 June~10 July) and in San Francisco at the War Memorial Opera House (12~16 July)