page_title: Kabuki
section_title: Actors
hierarchical_section_title: Kabuki / History / Actors
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 七代目松本幸四郎の弁慶、『勧進帳』昭和十八年歌舞伎座 English: Kōshirō Matsumoto VII (1870–1949) as Benkei, in the 1943 production of Kanjinchō at Tokyo Kabukiza
context_page_description: Kabuki is the traditional Japanese classical drama which started about 400 years ago. It is known for its very stylized acting and the elaborate makeup worn by the actors. The word kabuki means "singing and dancing". It also means strange and different, to be outside what is normal. Kabuki is not meant to look like real life. People from around the world are now interested in Kabuki. It was recognized by UNESCO in 2006 as an important part of Japan's cultural history.
context_section_description: Woman kabuki actors are rare though there was onnakabuki. The onnakabuki is woman’s kabuki. Now the men play both male and female roles.
  There are famous kabuki actors in Japan such as Danjuro Ichikawa, Ebizo Ichikawa and Koshiro Matsumoto. Danjuro Ichikawa is an especially famous kabuki actor. He started aragoto at the age only of 14. The aragoto is a kabuki genre dealing with a brave warrior, a fierce god, or a demon. He also wrote kabuki plays under the name of Hyogo Mimasuya.
  The name of a kabuki actor usually is passed on from one generation to the next. Therefore the name of an actor is passes to the next generation. Kabuki actors do not perform only kabuki but also act in TV drama and movies. Koshiro Matsumoto often appears on TV.
caption: Kōshirō Matsumoto VII (1870—1949) as Benkei
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