kabuki

American  

[kah-boo-kee, kuh-, kah-boo-kee] / kɑˈbu ki, kə-, ˈkɑ bu ki /

noun

1. popular drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 17th century, characterized by elaborate costuming, rhythmic dialogue, stylized acting, music, and dancing, and the performance of both male and female roles by male actors.

2. Also called Grand Kabuki.  Kabuki. public performances of this type of drama.

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kabuki British  

/ kæˈbuːkɪ /

noun

1. a form of Japanese drama based on popular legends and characterized by elaborate costumes, stylized acting, and the use of male actors for all roles See also No 1

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Usage

What does Kabuki mean? Kabuki is a form of classical theater in Japan known for its elaborate costumes and dynamic acting. The phrases Kabuki theater, kabuki dance, or kabuki play are sometimes used in political discourse to describe an event characterized more by showmanship than by content.

Etymology

Origin of kabuki

1895–1900; < Japanese: originally, as v., to act dissolutely; usually written with phonograms that carry the meanings “song-dance-skill”

Example Sentences

And so the famed Fujima Kansuma, master kabuki dancer who entertained generations of Japanese Americans, embraced the art because it allowed her to take on male roles as a way of fulfilling her dad’s wish.

From Los Angeles Times

His legacy is the degradation of political discourse to the monosyllabic tirades of Shakespeare's Caliban, which simultaneously scandalize and energize the kabuki theater that passes for government.

From Salon

He began studying kabuki dance with renowned teacher Madame Fujima Kansuma when he was 50, and he still attends class on Saturdays.

From Los Angeles Times

So the bottom line here is "kabuki theater," as one reporter termed it.

From Salon

Over the nearly three-century existence of rakugo, the slapstick cousin of Japanese stage arts like kabuki and noh, most of its performers have been men who portray multiple characters of both genders.

From New York Times