Nihon Buyô 日本舞踊

Japanese dance

Traditional Japanese dance (nihonbuyô) is characterised by an enormous diversity. It ranges from the courtly bugaku dance and the religious dances in kagura (priests dance here with a cleansing stick) to the ritual dance drama in nô and the theatrical kabuki dance. Geisha and maiko also perform some kind of nihonbuyô. A kimono or yukata is worn for this expressive dance, which usually tells a story. The dancers, who wear white make-up, use fans, umbrellas or scarves.