Every actor in kabuki relies on one final, essential element to fully inhabit their role: the wig.
Ahead of a show at the famed Kabukiza theater in central Tokyo, wig master Tadashi Kamoji carefully places a topknot creation on a young performer in a flamboyant kimono costume.
¡°A kabuki actor can¡¯t just walk onto the stage as he is ¡ it¡¯s only when he puts on a wig that he truly becomes a kabuki performer,¡± says Kamoji, 60.?¡°So we must take pride in our job with a sense of very heavy responsibility.¡±
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.