Sayuri Nakajima

Student, 24 (Japanese)?

I think it would have to be Takarazuka, as kabuki and noh are from so long ago, and are a lot more traditional, while Takarazuka is better advertised, so more people have heard of it. I¡¯ve never seen kabuki or noh as the level is too high, but I¡¯ve been to Takarazuka.

K. Sato

Translator, 39 (Japanese)

I would have to say that Takarazuka best represents modern Japan. It¡¯s an all-female form of theater with a 100-year history, which now makes kabuki, as an all-male theater form, look old-fashioned and obsolete.

Nicole Bauer

Japan Tourist Regional Partner, 41 (German)

To be honest, I only know kabuki. In general, I wouldn¡¯t associate Japanese theater with modern Japanese culture at all. I went to a kyogen performance once ¡ª great fun to watch, but modern? Not really.

Lee Prescott

Teacher/writer, 31 (English)

I used an English audio guide at kabuki and understood more than my Japanese friend because of the archaic language, so I wouldn¡¯t say kabuki represents modern Japan. And noh is old, stylized and all about Zen. As it is different from traditional images of Japan, I¡¯d say Takarazuka by default.

Kyoko Watanabe

Sales assistant, 36 (Japanese)

I am not sure any of them really represents modern Japan. Perhaps kabuki is reaching out to younger fans though with their ¡°Super Kabuki¡± with its flying and more acrobatic-style performances. The answer could not be Takarazuka though, as too much sexism still exists in Japan.

Paul Purvis

North Asia political watcher, 35 (American)

I am going to have to go with Takarazuka as being the most representative, as they show women to be true members of society worthy of a respected place in the modern world, unlike before ¡ª at least in Japan, anyways.

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