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 The beginning of Okinawa Shibai goes back to 1875, the period of abolishing (Ryukyu)Han and establishing (Okinawa)Ken(prefecture). The royal entertainers belonging to the government who entertained Sapposhi (missions from China) by Ukanshinudui(dances and plays performed before the chinese missions) lost their status. It was in 1882 that these royal entertainers left the government and opened a theater for an admission charge from the general people, which was an open-air theater called "Kamaji Shibai". Uchinaguchi Shibai (Okinawan dialect plays ) have been performed for more than 100 years since then. Few examples of dialect-used plays are perhaps seen in Japan and Okinawa is the only prefecture where the local plays still exist as a public entertainment. Okinawa Shibai can roughly be classified into two kinds, "Serifu geki"(which literally means "a play performed in words" )(a general play) and "Kageki"(the so-called Okinawan opera). "Serifu geki" based on Kumiodori(a sort of dance-drama) appeared first. Then, Kageki which was improvised freely was established as a public entertainment. An Okinawan "Kageki", which is different from foreign or Takarazuka operas has its own typical feature, describes the story in folk songs and links classical music or dances. In order to hand it down to the actors of the next generation, they took a method of "kuchitate" in which an actor thought of an effective performance and passed it orally to younger actors. "Kuchitate" was the best method, because it is hard to write a drama in Okinawan dialect and it was prohibited to use by the authorities concerned. On the contrary, it helped Okinawa Shibai develop into its peculiarity. Okinawa Shibai adapted itself to the hardships caused by the prosperity of the film industry or the invasion of the new entertainments from the mainland. It has produced new dramas in which Okinawan manners and customs are taken and it has been improved as a traditional culture. Okinawa Shibai which has "music", "dance" and "words" as important factors is loved by the public as an identity of the people of Okinawa Prefecture. |
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