In Praise of Shadows

Kabuki is a form of classical Japanese theater that emerged in the early 17th century, about 300 years after Noh theater. It is highly stylized and often includes actors in incredibly bright costumes and heavy white makeup. Though women originally participated in Kabuki performances, they were quickly banned, making this an all-male theater form. Tanizaki feels that a sense of reality and connection to Japan’s past is lost due to the visible masculine qualities of the actors who play women in Kabuki theater. The use of electric lights further highlights the male actors’ gender.

Lacquerware refers to objects, typically made of wood, that are coated with lacquer to produce a hard, shiny coating, which is then often intricately decorated via painting or carving. One example that Tanizaki highlights is tableware. Lacquerware objects produce a singular aesthetic experience in settings that are dimly lit, such as when eating by candlelight. The author is particularly fascinated by the reflective quality of the gold decorations on lacquerware, which cannot be experienced under bright, electric lights.

Noh, also romanized as Nō, is a type of Japanese theater in which masked actors often play out stories from classic Japanese literature. Tanizaki is particularly interested in Noh theater for its history of being performed in relatively dark light. This reflects his emphasis on the role of darkness in shaping Japanese aesthetics; he notes that limited lighting brings out a beautiful complementarity among the skin of the actors’ hands, the deep-colored costumes they wear, and the red blush on their cheeks. He also finds that much of the beauty of this theatrical form was lost when electric lights were introduced to Noh stages. Noh theater developed in the 14th century.