Even if you’re an extremely talented actor, that’s still not enough to become a kabuki performer in Japan. First of all, you have to be a man. Lineage is also vital in the kabuki world, and most kabuki actors come from a long line of past performers.

But even though most of us can’t live a life as a professional kabuki actor, theatrical organization Kabuki Taro in Tokyo will give you the opportunity to take part in professional lessons for 6 months, ultimately sending you to a performance hall to show off the fruits of your labor.

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Source: atpress

Kabuki Taro will begin the call for their first group of actors on April 1st. You can be male, female, young, old — you don’t even have to have any acting experience or special knowledge. All you need is a strong passion for the performing arts, and the commitment to see it all through to the end.

Lessons will be conducted by Shijurou Tachibana, a graduate of The Kabuki Actor Training Center established by the National Theater of Japan. You’ll be able to get a taste of the real thing, from your first kabuki class, the professional costumes, to your final moments on the stage.

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Source: Kabuki Taro

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Source: atpress

Potential performers can apply for any role of their choice through the website. Their first call starting April 1st will be for Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy, a famous play based on the life of scholar Sugawara no Michizane. Selected actors will train until their final performance, currently set for February 4th, 2017.

The entire course will cost somewhere between 100,000 yen (890 USD) and 1,300,000 yen (11,570 USD), depending on the role. It’s certainly not cheap, but for an opportunity this rare, there are bound to be quite a lot of hopeful applicants.

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Source: atpress


By - grape Japan editorial staff.