Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Kabuki theatre is a highly stylised form of dance-drama that came to prominence during Japan’s isolationist Edo period (1603-1867). At the height of its popularity in the mid-18th century, skilled kabuki performers became celebrities, with their likenesses carved into colour woodblock prints and sold as mementos. Commissioned by the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, this film from 1964 showcases vivid scenes from a kabuki theatre in Tokyo, where masters of the form still perform for eager audiences today. A colourful melding of ‘pure entertainment’ and artistry, it’s easy to become engrossed in kabuki’s hallmark eccentricities – especially the characters’ exaggerated make-up, costumes, movements and intonations. Aspects of the form captured in the film – including its post-feudal themes and use of male actors in both masculine and feminine roles – also provide small glimpses into the mores and values of the Edo period.
Via Open Culture
Video by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

video
The ancient world
What wine vessels reveal about politics and luxury in ancient Athens and Persia
16 minutes

video
Art
David Goldblatt captured the contradictions of apartheid in stark black and white
15 minutes

video
Philosophy of mind
Do we have good reasons to believe in beliefs? A radical philosophy of mind says no
5 minutes

video
Philosophy of religion
How a devout Catholic philosopher approaches the problem of evil
8 minutes

video
Love and friendship
When drawing your muse hundreds of times becomes an exercise in love
7 minutes

video
Thinkers and theories
Is simulation theory a way to shirk responsibility for the world we’ve created?
13 minutes

video
Biology
A dazzling slice-by-slice exploration of wood exposes hidden patterns and hues
2 minutes

video
Family life
In Rwanda, Sébastien finds traces of personal history in the wake of national tragedy
21 minutes

video
Dance and theatre
Leaf through Shakespeare’s First Folio for a riveting journey into theatre history
13 minutes