A Kabuki Lesson for Kabuki Day
Preschool
March 2, 2018
Did you know February 20 is known as Kabuki Day?
The lesson introduced it as a day associated with a performance of kabuki dance about 400 years earlier.
Jungle class (age 3) marked the occasion with a Japanese lesson about kabuki.
When we first showed a photograph of the Kabukiza theater, some children said, “I have been there!” or “I know it!”
As they were practicing plays for the March English Show, explaining kabuki as a traditional Japanese form of theater helped them relate to the idea.
We watched videos and invited children to comment on the costumes, makeup, hairstyles and way of speaking.
The white face makeup caught their attention first. They asked why the faces were white. The lesson explained that, before electric lighting, pale makeup helped audiences see expressions in a dim theater. Children listened with great interest.
Looking at photographs, they could also interpret features of the makeup for themselves, associating red lines with anger and blue lines with an eerie impression.
After exploring the written characters for kabuki and the instruments used, it was time for our own kabuki play.
Wearing white-face masks, children knelt and bowed while introducing themselves in an exaggerated formal style. They also imitated the dramatic mie poses they had seen in the video.
Those playing the audience enjoyed watching too. The lesson was full of laughter!
The lesson introduced it as a day associated with a performance of kabuki dance about 400 years earlier.
Jungle class (age 3) marked the occasion with a Japanese lesson about kabuki.
When we first showed a photograph of the Kabukiza theater, some children said, “I have been there!” or “I know it!”
As they were practicing plays for the March English Show, explaining kabuki as a traditional Japanese form of theater helped them relate to the idea.
We watched videos and invited children to comment on the costumes, makeup, hairstyles and way of speaking.
The white face makeup caught their attention first. They asked why the faces were white. The lesson explained that, before electric lighting, pale makeup helped audiences see expressions in a dim theater. Children listened with great interest.
Looking at photographs, they could also interpret features of the makeup for themselves, associating red lines with anger and blue lines with an eerie impression.
After exploring the written characters for kabuki and the instruments used, it was time for our own kabuki play.
Wearing white-face masks, children knelt and bowed while introducing themselves in an exaggerated formal style. They also imitated the dramatic mie poses they had seen in the video.
Those playing the audience enjoyed watching too. The lesson was full of laughter!
Author Profile
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Saeda Sueki-Au-Yeung - Head of Operations / Parent Support Coordinator (Japan)
Saeda studied education and disability sciences in Japan and experienced winning a US collegiate national championship while studying and playing football in America. She values each child's individuality and the opportunities that come from trying new things. Through school operations and parent support, she helps families and staff work as one team to support children's growth.