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Why were young boys later banned from performing Kabuki?
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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 the early 17th century, Kabuki was initially performed by troupes of women. However, the government banned women from the stage in 1629 due to concerns regarding the sensuous nature of the performances and the prostitution of the actors.1
Following this ban, troupes of young boys began performing Kabuki dances. This practice was also suppressed by authorities in 1652, again citing concerns for public morals, as these performers were also involved in prostitution. Following the suppression of these groups, the government required that Kabuki be performed by adult males, leading to the development of the all-male theatrical tradition that continues to the present day.21