Kabuki is a kind of theater that started in Japan 400 years ago. There are two kinds of Kabuki plays. One kind tells a story. One kind is mostly dance.

Kabuki is different. It is also beautiful. Kabuki actors dress is bright costumes. Kabuki actors wear bright makeup. Kabuki actors wear big wigs.

Kabuki has music. Kabuki has dance. Kabuki means “singing and dancing.”

Kabuki plays are funny. Kabuki plays are loud. Kabuki plays are easy to understand, even if you don’t speak Japanese.

Kabuki actors dance in a special way. They make big movements. They move like clowns when they act. Kabuki actors do funny things.

A woman invented Kabuki. She was an actor. But then Japan made a new law. Women weren’t allowed to act on stage anymore. Only men could act on stage. Men had to start playing the women’s roles.

Since then, all Kabuki actors are men. Some actors only play women. These actors are called onnagata.

Kabuki is a form of art. Kabuki is important to Japan. Kabuki is part of its history.