With the recent surge of interest in Kabuki sparked by the hit film Kokuhō, we hosted our very first Kabuki Makeup Experience!

The event welcomed a wonderfully international group of participants, including teachers and students from international schools as well as Japanese guests interested in traditional performing arts.

We were honored to have Mr. Tsuneo Tachiki as our instructor, who guided participants through the fascinating world of Kabuki and its unique makeup.

It was a lively and memorable event, bringing people together to experience the beauty and artistry of Japanese culture.

About the Instructor – Tsuneo Tachiki

Mr. Tsuneo Tachiki was involved in Kabuki for over 25 years as a sales representative at the historic Misonoza Theater in Nagoya, one of Japan’s renowned Kabuki theaters.

In 2014, he founded the Kabuki School, where he introduces the history, stories, and artistic beauty of Kabuki.

Through his activities, he shares the charm of this traditional Japanese performing art with people around the world and works to preserve it for future generations.

The first part of the event featured a fascinating talk on Kabuki by Mr. Tsuneo Tachiki.

He explained the unique world of Kabuki in a clear and engaging way, making this traditional art form easy to understand even for beginners.

Participants learned about the history of Kabuki, from its origins in the Edo period to how it developed into the form we see today, as well as the clever stage mechanisms used in performances.
Surprisingly, many everyday Japanese expressions also originated from Kabuki!

Mr. Tachiki shared many behind-the-scenes stories that audiences rarely get to hear, making the talk both insightful and entertaining. Everyone listened with great curiosity.

Once you understand the meaning and background behind Kabuki, watching a performance becomes even more fascinating.

The second half of the event was the highlight

the Kabuki Makeup Experience!

Participants tried Kumadori, the bold and dramatic makeup style of Kabuki, and created their own original masks.

What kind of designs would appear?

Each mask became a one-of-a-kind creation!

In Kumadori makeup, each color carries a special meaning.
For example, red represents a heroic character, while blue often symbolizes a cold or villainous role.

There are also different patterns and expressions depending on the character being portrayed.

With these explanations as inspiration, participants challenged themselves to create their own Kabuki-style makeup!

Carefully considering the overall balance, everyone worked quietly and thoughtfully, shaping the expressions to match their own ideas and creativity.

Some brave participants even took on the bold challenge of applying the Kabuki makeup directly to their faces!

Their expressions even started to resemble those of real Kabuki actors!

Each participant completed a one-of-a-kind Kabuki mask, full of personality and creativity!

Through the experience of Kumadori makeup, it became a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the unique beauty and artistry of Kabuki.

We hope this experience inspires participants to visit a real Kabuki performance and deepen their appreciation of this traditional art.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Mr. Tsuneo Tachiki for sharing his knowledge and passion!