Japanese Literature:

Noh, Kabuki, and Haiku

 Japanese Literature

Theater:
Noh
Kabuki
Poetry:
Haiku
Noh
Oldest (formalized
by 1400’s)
Stories are spiritual
in nature (ghosts,
demons,
possessions)
Masks are worn
Audience is
aristocratic / upper
class
elegant, refined
Noh
Simple sets, little or
no props
Stage has three
sides for audience,
connects to
dressing room
(separated by
curtain)
Accompanied by
music / “chorus”
A Traditional Noh Theater
Kabuki
Developed around
1600’s
Stories based on
folklore, history
Highly stylized
makeup
Appeals to middle
class audience that
often yells during
performance
lavish, exaggerated
Kabuki
Elaborate sets, often
using special effects
Extensive use of
props, especially the
fan
Stage has one side
(long proscenium),
walkway connects to
rear of theater
Accompanied by
music / “chorus”
omnagata: males
performing as
females
Only men play female parts
Human characters interact with
supernatural people / forces (fairies)
Use of songs
Exaggeration, especially for humor
Love of special effects (Globe
Theater: trap doors, galleries,
cannons)
Contemporary Influence of
Kabuki & Noh
Japanese anime
(cartoons) and
manga (comic
books)
Costume / makeup
design for modern
movies (such as
Star Wars)
 Haiku
A form of minimalist Japanese poetry
Traditionally, the subject is nature or the
seasons
Attempts to be profound, or compare two
unlike things
Consists of three lines and a certain number of
syllables per line
Traditionally, haiku is 5-7-5.
Because of language differences, Japanese
haiku that is translated into English may not
fall into this syllabic structure.
 Haiku
These brief poems symbolize a
sensation of the past, and brings
about related thoughts in the mind of
the listener or reader.
Haiku describes bits of life, beautiful
scenery, or lovely things that appeal
to the senses.
Haiku is condensed. The poet leaves
out all unnecessary words.
Haiku depends on imagery and relies
heavily on the power of suggestion.
 Japanese Haiku
the first cold shower
even the monkey seems to want
a little coat of straw.

old pond (fu/ru/i/ke ya)

a frog jumps (ka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/mu)
the sound of water (mi/zu no o/to)

--both by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

 English Haiku

A leaf falls forward –

A tumbling red-gold toddler
Meets the ground surprised.

Moist snowflake gleams, perched

At the end of my own nose
Before it melts, like lost tears.