Izumo No Okuni
You are about to learn about Izumo No Okuni who was a famous Japanese woman who made up a dance called the Kabuki! She was born in 1571 in Kyoto. Okuni did not go to college because she was poor and, she was a woman, but back then women could not go to school. Her father was a blacksmith.. When she was young, she was sent to Kyoto to perform sacred dances and songs because she was a beautiful and talented dancer. In Kyoto she became known for her beautiful innovation dance to honor the Amida Buddha. Kabuki was a sort of line dance, and with no plot.
Around 1603, Okuni set up a beautiful, amazing theater near a river called Kamo. Later in 1610, Okuni retired at the Kabuki theater. And after that 25 years she retired Okuni disappeared. Several years later in 2003, her statue was erected in her honor.
Okuni is also in a high rated video game called Warriors Orochi.
image courtesy of Wikipedia
for more information:
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/okuni.html
http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/i/izumonookuni.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/izumo-no-okuni?cat=entertainmentby Landy & Christian, fourth grade, 2008
last edited 04/29/2008
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