ABSTRACT
IN NO phase of Japanese life is the social distinction more apparent than in the tastes for theatrical performance. The one word theater covers all phases of drama and comedy with us, but in Japan the types of plays differ according to the audience and the actors. In the history of Japan the aristocracy has manifested a reserve which forbade any recognition of popular theatrical performances. They had their own form of amusements limited to their class. The life of an aristocrat was extremely dull and did not even include social intercourse with women in the home.
