2021 Volume 97 Issue 1 Pages 15-25
Background: Kabuki is a Japanese traditional performing art and is registered by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Of great importance but scarcely assessed is the occupational safety and health of kabuki actors who are engaged in this artistry succession. The basic performance schedule of kabuki actors covers 25 consecutive days of stage shows without a closing day, after four or five days of rehearsal. Over the last decade, three important kabuki actors have died while still in their middle age. Moreover, young main actors have been injured while performing.
Objective: Kabuki actors and their successive generations are the centerpiece of artistry succession of the traditional Kabuki entertainment in Japan. The continuous succession of kabuki actors is very important to maintain this unique culture. This succession is affected by various factors, one of which is their occupational safety and health. The aim of this study was to examine their health of men who inherit being kabuki actors.
Methods: Semistructured, audio-recorded interviews were conducted with three men who inherited being kabuki actors. Their responses were comprehensively analyzed using a qualitative descriptive method.
Results: Five main categories associated with their health were extracted from the responses: “assessing unconsciously one’s health condition while standing on the stage”, “entertaining the audience on the stage with one’s health condition at that time”, “keeping as a kabuki actor from birth to death”, “preparing oneself for the kabuki stage”, and “ensuring overall health by self-management”. The main category associated with the health of the men who inherited being kabuki actors was “standing on the stage”, with the intent of continuing to perform on the stage as a kabuki actor. Mutual or organized health support was hardly sought. Staying on the stage was the top priority.
Discussion: The health aspects of kabuki actors are assessed in this study. The results suggest the necessity of more extensively clarifying the health discourse of kabuki actors. More importantly, there is a need to find ways on how to make the occupational safety and health of kabuki actors an acceptable concern.
