In most undergraduate theater studies, the focus of history remains primarily on Western theater and family cultures. In Eastern studies, the culture is so incredibly different from our Western world that it takes a tremendous amount of study to even begin to understand their theater. Kabuki theater in Japan is one of the most complex and historically rich types of theater in the Eastern world, with perhaps the most controversial and interesting beginning. Walking into a modern kabuki production, the atmosphere is completely different to anything Western-produced, with symbolism prevalent in everything from costumes to makeup to music. Stock characters are a familiar tool, but these characters don't resemble the typical archetypes we see in movies or stage productions. The theater that hosts the entire production is nothing like the proscenium stages we see today, and even the actors themselves appear larger than life. Although these kabuki productions may seem like high-class entertainment for educated and wealthy people, the origins of kabuki theater were anything but classy. (Lecture notes by Claire McDonald) Ironically, the first performance of kabuki theater is credited to a woman named Okuni, a maiden from the Izumo Shrine. He performed in the summer of 1603 on the dry riverbeds of ancient Kyoto, which was a popular destination for many other kawara-kojiki, or "riverbank beggars." (Wood, Bethany and Hamilton, Tim) Okuni was not a beggar, but a priestess. He moved and danced with prayerful and reverent intent, performing religious shows for passers-by. Although Okuni had traveled to Kyoto to perform and collect donations for the Izumo Shrine, spectators were more intrigued by her physical beauty and gre...... half of paper ...... or today if not had it been because of government interference with the prostitution problem from the beginning. Works Cited “About Kabuki.” Web-Japan.org. Web Japan and Web. 04 December 2013.Grieg, David. "Theatre and prostitution". Strange behavior. Suspicious Culture and the Web. December 04, 2013.Lombard, Frank. "Kabuki: A Story." TheatreHistory.com. A Summary History of Japanese Drama, nd Web. 04 December 2013.Johnson, Matteo. "Kabuki: A Brief History." Kabuki for everyone. Fix Inc., nd Web. 04 December 2013.Ohno, Mary. "Get dressed." Kabuki Academy. Np, nd Web. December 04, 2013. Ohno, Mary M. “Stage Makeup.” Kabuki Academy. Np, nd Web. 04 December 2013. Pappas, Stephanie. “Why men buy sex.” WordsSideKick.com. Tech Media Network, April 27, 2012. Web. December 4, 2013. Wood, Betania and Tim Hamilton. "Kabuki Theater." UTNarukami. University of Wisconsin, ndWeb. 04 December. 2013.