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What are jidaimono and sewamono in Kabuki theatre?
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Japanese performing arts
Bugaku, a court dance adapted to Japanese tastes from the dance and music of 8th-century China and Korea.
In Kabuki theatre, plays are primarily categorized into two distinct genres based on their subject matter:
- Jidaimono: These are historical plays. They typically focus on events from the past, often involving samurai, nobility, and significant historical or legendary figures.12
- Sewamono: These are domestic plays that focus on contemporary life. They often depict the lives of commoners, such as merchants and townspeople, and frequently explore themes like love, social scandals, and tragic conflicts between personal passion and societal duty.132
Traditionally, a Kabuki program is structured to present these two types of plays in a specific order, beginning with a jidaimono followed by a sewamono, often interspersed with dance plays (shosagoto). While jidaimono deal with grand historical narratives, sewamono provide a more intimate, realistic commentary on the social conditions and everyday experiences of the people of the time. Both genres are essential to the Kabuki repertoire, reflecting the art form's ability to balance stylized, epic storytelling with relatable human drama.21