{"id":188434,"date":"2023-12-10T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T18:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=188434"},"modified":"2023-12-11T13:49:34","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T23:49:34","slug":"100-years-of-hawaii-kabuki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/10\/100-years-of-hawaii-kabuki\/","title":{"rendered":"100 years of Hawai\u02bbi Kabuki in English: Masters from Japan train <abbr>UH<\/abbr> actors"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_87466\"  width=\"620\" height=\"465\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JiAxGcnrVc0?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"100 years of Hawai\u02bbi Kabuki in English: Masters from Japan train Â鶹´«Ã½actors\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p><span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s long history with kabuki stretches back to the 19th century when crowds flocked to watch traveling troupes perform the traditional Japanese theatre art form known for its ornately decorated costumes and eye-catching makeup. 2024 marks the centennial anniversary of the first known English-language kabuki ever performed in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, which started at the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_188261\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-188261\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-2-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Actors in kabuki costume and make up\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-188261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-2-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-2.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-188261\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Karese Kaw-uh as Benten Koz\u014d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The very first on-campus production debuted in November 1924, and to mark the milestone, master kabuki artists from Japan are mentoring <abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa students for the premiere of <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/liveonstage\/benten\/\"><em>The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves<\/em><\/a> next April at <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/liveonstage\/kennedy-theatre\/current-season\/\">Kennedy Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They are the masters, so it is absolutely critical that students learn directly from the source rather than through videos and secondhand information,&rdquo; said Julie Iezzi, a theatre professor at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa who is overseeing the upcoming production. &ldquo;We\u2019re really fortunate that actors are willing to come here and work so diligently and for so long with our students.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Master class<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_188260\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-188260\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-1-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Actors in kabuki costume and make up\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-188260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-1-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-1.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-188260\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left: Jane Traynor, Isabella O\u2019Keeffe and Ty Kanemori<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This spring, the <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/liveonstage\/\">Department of Theatre and Dance<\/a> invited award-winning kabuki actor Monnosuke Ichikawa <abbr title=\"the eighth\">VIII<\/abbr> and his two apprentices, Utaki Ichikawa and Takish\u014d Ichikawa (all three are apart of the same &lsquo;acting family&rsquo;) to train <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa students on-campus. Born into one of the oldest acting lineages in kabuki theatre, Monnosuke Ichikawa is an eighth-generation actor within a familial line that can trace its Japanese kabuki roots to 1713.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Something that I would like students to learn from this kabuki project is, first of all, the charm and appeal of kabuki as an artform. It is often said that meaningful experiences nurture budding aspirations, so I want them to get that from this process,&rdquo; Ichikawa expressed through an interpreter.<\/p>\n<h2>Kabuki: <em>The Five Bandits<\/em><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_188262\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-188262\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-3-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Actor in kabuki costume and make up\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-188262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-3-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-3-93x130.jpg 93w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-2023-3.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-188262\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kaw-uh as Benten Koz\u014d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The upcoming <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa production, also commonly known as <em>Benten Koz\u014d<\/em>, depicts five distinctive thieves with a mastery of masquerade and captures schemes and back stories that lead to shocking revelations, surprising reunions and startling twists. The 40-member cast will perform the play in English, however Ichikawa tasked them with learning it in Japanese first in an effort to grasp the proper tone and rhythm customarily heard in kabuki theatre.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hawaiiathletics.evenue.net\/cgi-bin\/ncommerce3\/SEGetEventList?groupCode=KT2&#038;linkID=hawaii&#038;shopperContext=&#038;caller=&#038;appCode=\">Ticket prices<\/a> range $8&#8211;$25 for the production set to open April 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>Audiences will see <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa actress Karese Kaw-uh on stage; the <abbr>MFA<\/abbr> <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/liveonstage\/theatre\/theatre-for-young-audiences\/\">theatre for youth<\/a> student garnered one of the play\u2019s starring roles. The 27-year-old is grateful for the opportunity to study her craft alongside respected actors from Japan.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To be able to learn from them in this capacity, it\u2019s nothing like I would have ever experienced elsewhere before. It\u2019s a little nerve racking but also more than that, it\u2019s just this chance to grow,&rdquo; said Kaw-uh who made the move to <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> after learning about <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s internationally recognized <a href=\"https:\/\/manoa.hawaii.edu\/liveonstage\/theatre\/asian-theatre\/\">Asian theatre program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Lessons on and off-stage<\/h2>\n<p>In preparation for this production, which was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre and dance department has provided opportunities for students since 2019 to work with other specialists from Japan and <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> who focused on a wide-range of facets related to kabuki from costume, makeup, wig styling, set design and music accompaniment.<\/p>\n<p>Guest artist Kineya Sakio, an accomplished Honolulu-born shamisen (traditional Japanese three-stringed-instrument) musician, is working with students and faculty from <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa who will play in the kabuki production\u2019s live ensemble.<\/p>\n<h2>Full-circle<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-1963-7-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white image of Kabuki set and actors\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-188253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-1963-7-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-1963-7-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/manoa-theatre-kabuki-1963-7.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><em>Benten Koz\u014d<\/em> is especially nostalgic for Kennedy Theatre, which is celebrating its 60th season. It\u2019s the same kabuki play that opened the theatre\u2019s doors on December 4, 1963. The 619-seat mainstage theatre at <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa is the only theatre in the U.S. designed with removable seats to accommodate a <em>hanamichi<\/em>, a stage extension kabuki actors use for notable entrances and exits during performances.<\/p>\n<p>In January, Iezzi will unveil a historical exhibit, Kabuki in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>: Through Time and Space, at the East-West Center Gallery. Spectators will be transported on a visual and auditory journey through 130 years of kabuki in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. According to records, the first known documented kabuki performance in the islands was as early as 1893.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=&#8221;3&#8243; grid_id=&#8221;vc_gid:1702096316829-f8c9790f-4ebb-5&#8243; include=&#8221;188248,188262,188254,188251,188253,188250,188247,188249,188261,188260&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To commemorate the anniversary, <abbr>UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa students will star in <em>The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves<\/em> next April at Kennedy Theatre. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,12],"tags":[777,1022,131,1466,76,9,56],"class_list":["post-188434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-video","tag-asian-studies","tag-japanese","tag-kennedy-theatre","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-theatre-and-dance","tag-uh-manoa","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188434"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188442,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188434\/revisions\/188442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}