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What is Okinawa Shibai (Okinawan Play)?
Classification according to Emotional Content
Classification according to Scenes
Classification according to Styles
Classification according to Historical Background
Classification according to Local Background
Classification according to Performers
The Archives of Performances
The History of Okinawan Plays
The Modern Entertainment Play in Okinawa (Okinawa shibai)

Clacssfication according to Local Background
Okinawa Island

Description
In 1882 (15 years after the abolition of clans and the establishment of prefectures), Okinawa prefecture issued a regulation called "Yugeki Torishimari Rei" to oblige theatres to report about all the performances theatres would produce within the prefecture in advance to get approval from the governor. After it became charged, Ukanshin Geino (court performances of the Ryukyu Dynasty to entertain messengers from China called "sappo-shi", who came to Okinawa (then Ryukyu) every time soon after the death of a king of Ryukyus, to convey condolences from the Chinese emperor and to designate a new king), transformed from special performances only for high officials into public ones. At the beginning, kumiudui (Okinawan traditional verse drama with music and dance) was mainly staged, and gradually it was modernized and new types of performances derived; for example, "wandotari" characterized by the peculiar opening speeches; simple short comics, and moral plays. Performers have written original scripts while touring around Okinawa by borrowing local folk stories or legends as motifs.

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A typical type of Okinawan play
A Rock To Find the Husband A Rock To Find the Husband Nakagusuku Love Story Nakagusuku Love Story Yaramuruchi Yaramuruchi
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