The Aragoto Masterpiece EXPLAINED・Shibaraku (1697)

The kabuki play Shibaraku ("Wait a Moment!") was first staged by Ichikawa Danjūrō I at the Nakamura-za theatre in Edo, and represents the greatest surviving example of aragoto drama. Let's have a look at its plot and some of the main elements!

Since the beginning of the Heisei period in 1989, there has been only 14 performances of Shibaraku, 4 by Ichikawa Danjūrō XII, 6 by his son, Ichikawa Ebizō XI, 2 by Onoe Shōroku IV (as part of productions of Gohiiki Kanjinchō), 1 by Ichikawa Uzaemon XVII (in 1993) and 1 by Matsumoto Kōshirō IX (in 1991).

You can read an english translation of this play in the book "Kabuki Plays on Stage Vol 1: Brilliance and Bravado", and find more information in kabuki21: https://www.kabuki21.com/shibaraku.php

If you have any question, correction or suggestion you can contact me at: [email protected]

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