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Japanese theatre

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday will become the first country in South Asia to watch the performance of world renowned Japanese Kabuki Theatre, here at Pakistan Red Crescent Society's Auditorium at 1900 hours.

"In its 400 years of existence, this classical theatre has come to South Asia for the first time," Tanosuke Sawamura, leader of the theatre told APP.

The 12-member group comprises 4 actors, 3 musicians and 3 technical experts.

He said the art was developed some 400 years ago and has sustained over the generations. Other nationals also want to know about this traditional art and "the Japanese artists feel it is their duty to develop this art."

The theatre was formed by a woman named Okuni, and all its performers were women, he said. Her troupe gained nationwide recognition and her dramas became identified as "Kabuki," a term connoting its "Out-of-the-Ordinary" and "Shocking" character.

But the theatre was banned in 1629, saying it was against the moral values. Later, young men started to work in the theatre, but this performance was also banned and now men perform it.

Tanosuke Sawamura performs the role of a woman in the theatre, and he is the sixth generation of artists in this field. The basic requirement for this role is that the performer should not be tall, he added.

The theatre will perform in Japanese, however, it will be translated in English.-APP