Kabuki Kool - Season 2 / Year 2014
Season 2 / Year 2014
Episodes
Enjoying Kabuki with Ichikawa Somegoro VII
In the first program, we will watch entertaining short clips from great classics of kabuki as an easy key to enjoying the dazzling variety of kabuki. Also, Somegoro will explain why and how he became a kabuki actor and what it means to become part of a long acting tradition.
The Beauty of Onnagata
This time we will look at one of the truly unique features of kabuki. There are no female actresses in kabuki and all female roles are played by male actors called "onnagata." Where did this tradition come from? What is the beauty of acting that can only be performed by onnagata? Join us as we explore the fascinating world of onnagata.
Unique Kabuki Stage Structures
This time we're looking at the unique stage devices used in kabuki performance -- amazing, ground-breaking mechanisms that have been used for over 250 years.
Larger-Than-Life Heroes
Heroes with superhuman powers take the stage in aragoto plays which have stayed popular for over 300 years. Learn about its unique make-up and mie poses that gets the audience excited.
Kabuki's Leading Male Roles
Kabuki's leading male roles. There are so many different types, and even villains take the lead! But all of them are irresistibly attractive. Learn about their lives and tragic fates.
Chushingura: The Treasury of Loyal Retainers
Chushingura is a particularly important kabuki play, and has been hugely popular since its premiere over 200 years ago. Find out why, and the history behind this dramatic story about loyal samurai.
The Shakespeare of Japan: Chikamatsu Monzaemon
Explore the world of Chikamatsu Monzaemon, one of Japan's greatest playwrights. His vivid depictions of raw human drama are still hugely popular today. He is nicknamed the "Japanese Shakespeare."
Unique Kabuki Props
Swords and pipes, fantastic objects and things from daily life — kabuki uses a variety of stage props, most of which have not changed since hundreds of years ago. Find out how kabuki actors make use of them to great effect.
Wagoto: Ladies' Man as Hero
The heroes of wagoto style of kabuki aren't very strong or dependable. They are soft and romantic, and can also be comical at times. See Ichikawa Somegoro's delightful performance as a ladies' man.
Charming Villains
The more attractive a villain is the more enjoyable kabuki becomes. From a murderous criminal to a scoundrel on the street, see the charming villains of kabuki take center stage.
Recently Updated Shows
The Thundermans: Undercover
Phoebe and Max are assigned a mission in their new hi-tech beach home base, where their superhero identities remain a secret. They bring Chloe along to help her have a normal life, but the trio must stop the threats of Secret Shores and the true supervillain known as the Mastermind.
The Answers
Based on Catherine Lacey's novel of the same name, The Answers is set in the near future, where a heartbroken young woman joins an enigmatic experiment that promises to hack love, but after moving into an idyllic, secluded location with her fellow female participants, she and the other women start questioning what's really happening in the experiment, and why they've all been tasked with dating the same mysterious man.
Cops
COPS follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and various police activities by embedding camera crews with their units. The show's formula adheres to a classic cinéma vérité ethos. With no narration or scripted dialog, it depends entirely on the commentary of the officers and on the actions of the people with whom they come into contact.
The Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal follows an unrivaled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.