For parents of young children, a night at the theater in Japan can come with an important calculation: Will my child sit still ¡ª and what happens if they don¡¯t?

Many Japanese cultural institutions, however, are working to ease that tension, welcoming children and emphasizing the need to cultivate audiences early.

¡°Expanding the base of supporters is essential to preserving traditional culture,¡± says Manabu Senda, general manager of Tokyo¡¯s Kabukiza theater.