Kabuki

Kabuki is one of the most common forms of theater in Rokugan, and focuses on lively and almost violent action, dancing and tension. Singers and orchestra often provide the backdrop for the actors and key information about the setting. The name Kabuki comes from the word kabuki-odori which means "stylish and shocking dances". The plays make use of elaborate costumes, makeup, sets and special effects to accompany the story, and the actors move in special stylized patterns known as kata. The set is changed by stagehands dressed entirely in black during the show, and the stage contains many trapdoors and rotating platforms to aid in this endeavor. There are two major types of Kabuki plays; the jidaimono, or "rough stuff style", and the sewamono, the "talk of the town". (Crane p. 64)