Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
Buy Used
$1.48
+ $3.99 shipping
Used: Acceptable | Details
Sold by Sierra Nevada Books
Condition: Used: Acceptable
Comment: Biggest little used bookstore in the world.

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See this image

Kabuki a Pocket Guide Paperback – May 15, 1993

by Ronald Cavaye (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 5 customer reviews
See all 2 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$3.59
— —
Paperback
"Please retry"
—
$24.59 $1.48
Best Books of the Month
See the Best Books of the Month
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Product Details

  • Paperback: 184 pages
  • Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Original edition (May 15, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0804817308
  • ISBN-13: 978-0804817301
  • Product Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,095,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsFrom a beginners perspective - a fantastic map into the art
By A. J. KITCHEN on July 3, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
As a student at a college, I chose to do a presentation on Kabuki Theater primarily because I knew nothing about it. The other scholastic references were either myopic (single element reviews) or so general as to be useless. This book put everything that I read from these other sources into perspective. Just like the movie "A Knight's Tale" showed how jousting was the contemporary life affirming event of the time, Kabuki was the same thing for Japanese theater. The royalty of the 1300s decided that the Noh theater was theirs and so they killed it as entertainment for regular people. So, Kabuki Theater was born as the masses response to being left out of the entertainment. It became so wildly popular that even the upper elements of their society came to see it. Japan as a culture is trying to reach back to its roots and reinvigorate the art. Unfortunately, they didn't learn their lesson from the Edo period and so they have a state theater that re-enacts "traditional" Kabuki in a contemporary theater where every one is on tiered seating. Then you have the other theaters which are trying to keep the spirit of Kabuki alive, by presenting it as it would have been 700 years ago. With the audience sitting on mats all at the same level, seeing the stage can be a little problematic, unless you bring binoculars and manage to sit somewhere that has a clear shot at the stage. Part of the experience is being part of the audience. The other problem that Kabuki is running into is that the other forms of entertainment available removes some of the vitality of a singular feature available to the masses (as it used to be). This book detailed the different elements of the theater in such a way as to make the experience come alive for me. Just the same as going to a Shakespearean festival would have some of its appeal from having survived since the 1600's, Kabuki's lineage from the 1300's makes it an event well worth seeing and experiencing. This book brought that home for me.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect for beginners!
By lobohombreriera on January 30, 2003
Format: Paperback
You can see it on the title. This book by no means tries to be an extended, in-sight investigation of the complex world of the traditional Japanese theatre called "Kabuki". Instead, this pocket guide is more intended for those who, like me, want to make a first approach into the world of Japanese folk theatre. If that is the case, then this is a perfect introduction. It provides the reader not only with a wide view of the history of Kabuki, but actually shares some of the details regarding the minutia of the performance, like rehearsal, acting houses, the stage, the wardrobe and the makeup. Did you know, for example, that acting in Kabuki is not a job you just take, but a skill passed from father to son? Did you know that the Kabuki actor's "autograph" is actually an imprint of his own face? Did you know that Kabuki was originally an all-women discipline and then it turned into an all-men art through the centuries? I didn't know those things! I learned them all here, and that got me hooked up and made me go and look other things about Kabuki.
To round up, if you are already a connoisseur of Kabuki, you may want to skip this book, but if you want to really know the basics and get off to a good start, then look no further.
Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Book, Wish it was longer.
By Michael Zebrowski on January 31, 2000
Format: Paperback
I picked up this book a week before going to the Kabuki-za and it greatly added to my enjoyment of the performance. It provides an excellent overview of Kabuki as well as many tiny tidbits that make the reader crave for more without coming across as a dry text book. My only complaint is that it was too short. By the time I was finished with the book, not only did I want to see Kabuki, but I wanted to read more about it!
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat
By Anvin on June 21, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Great explanations of concepts and background of Kabuki.

If you are studying Kabuki or going to attend a performance, get this book first.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsShould have been 4 stars, if not for the typos
By Trang on September 14, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book is a great introduction to Kabuki with clear, concise explanation of the art. As a newbie to Kabuki, I find it enjoyable and it helped me understand this exotic, mesmerizing form of theater better. However, there are way TOO MANY typos! For example, Iemon (i-e-mon) was spelled "lemon" (lemon as the fruit) and at first I was flabbergasted how lemon could murder people. This happens to a lot of Japanese names and quickly becomes very annoying.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.