Arts & Culture
Kabuki Theater's Elaborate Makeup and Costumes
Quick fact
Before the 1870s, kabuki performances were lit only by candles and oil lamps, forcing actors to use extreme makeup not just for style but so their facial expressions could be seen from the back of the large hall.
Why this is interesting
You've probably seen images of kabuki actors with ghost-white faces, jagged red lines, and layers of silk robes—but did you know every brushstroke and fold carries a character's entire identity?