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A short primer on Japanese dance, and why Asakusa
Three words that help you watch, and what Asakusa has long meant to Tokyo's stages.
Reserve your Kaguwa seats ↗Words for watching
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Mai | Static, abstract movement with a ritual feel |
| Odori | Dynamic, rhythmic movement |
| Furi | Figurative gestures drawn from everyday life |
| Buyō | A modern word for dance, built from mai and odori |
Nihon-buyō
Nihon-buyō refers to the classical Japanese performing art of dance, a refined style meant as entertainment on a public stage. Use these terms as vocabulary for watching, not as a programme note for Kaguwa, whose show sets traditional culture to contemporary music.
Mai
Mai is static and abstract, with an emphasis on ritual.
Odori
Odori is dynamic and rhythmic movement.
Furi
Furi is theatrical, figurative body language, such as writing a letter or drinking sake, drawn from everyday life.
The word buyō
The term buyō is modern. It was coined in the Meiji period, between 1868 and 1911, by combining mai and odori.
Asakusa and the stage
Asakusa grew into an entertainment district in the Edo period, and theatres sprang up there. For most of the 20th century it stayed a major entertainment district, with a theatre quarter known as Rokku.