Izumo no Okuni

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/izumo-no-okuni

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Izumo no Okuni born?Circa 1571
2. Where was Izumo no Okuni born?Izumo Province, Japan
3. When did Izumo no Okuni die?Unknown, but active into the early 17th century
4. What is the career?Shrine maiden, dancer, actress, and theatrical innovator
5. Who was Izumo no Okuni?Izumo no Okuni was a woman born around 1571 in Izumo, Japan. She started as a shrine maiden dancer and later invented the theater style known as Kabuki.
6. What is Kabuki and how did Okuni create it?Kabuki is a lively Japanese theater that mixes dancing, acting, jokes, and storytelling. Okuni created it by combining folk dances, funny scenes, and dramatic stories, and she even played male roles in her shows.

Kabuki: A classical Japanese dance-drama known for its highly stylized performances, elaborate costumes, and dramatic makeup.
Onna-gata: Male actors in Kabuki who specialize in playing female roles, a tradition influenced by Okuni's own performances.
Shinto Shrine: A place of worship dedicated to kami (spirits or deities) in Japan's indigenous religion.
Theatrical Innovation: The introduction of new ideas, techniques, or styles in the creation and performance of plays and shows.