History
Long ago in 17th century, Okuni became famous for parodying Buddhist prayers. She created the first Kabuki which provided dramatic entertainment for the Japanese. In 1629, women were banned for performing for they were portraying prostitution and too much disturbance. After they were banned, little boys took their roles. Again in 1652, young boys pretending to be women in Kabuki were again banned for they were thought to be against morality. After the ban of the boys, older men then took the roles, which is still the form of male-entertainment in Kabuki today. As time went on, Kabuki continued to grow in sophistication along with more subtle acting. In the early 18th century "Kabuki had become an established art form that was capable of the serious, dramatic presentation of genuinely moving situations”. Commoners and merchants rose on the economic and social scale. Kabuki portrayed vivid commentary on contemporary society as the people’s theater​
Important events
In the 17th century joruri was invented. It was puppet theater formed after the 1652 ban. It was created by parodying kyogen (comics).
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​In 1748, Chūshingura was performed. A group of 47 ronin (samurai without a master) gained revenge, after waiting 2 years, on man who forced the suicide of their master. This was the plot of one of the most famous Kabuki plays, but it happened in real life.
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WHy was kabuki not banned completely, but oppressed?
The shogunate thought kabuki was an essential part of society because it was a “necessary outlet for the more elemental drives of the masses” (Varling).
It could never really be extirpated (like prostitution in Japan) but it still had to be held accountable. During the third Tokugawan shogun, Iemitsu was fond of the young men that acted, so he didn’t want to ban them.
Okuni