Have you ever heard the word Kabuki?

Kabuki is one of the Japanese traditional dramatic art developed in the 17th century. The roles are all played by male actors; they put on exaggerated makeups. And costumes are kimono, but gorgeous and elaborated. Especially some female roles costumes are breathtakingly beautiful!

But why kabuki can be a workout?

During the play, the actors make the eye-catching action depends on the story; it makes the audiences excited. Their motion looks easy, but once you try it, you will know it’s surprisingly hard. I can say it is muscle training.

Kabuki actor Hashigo Nakamura and Dr. Kagemoto Yuasa, a professor of Chukyo University’s Faculty of Physical Education and a doctor of medicine, proposes an exercise program that incorporates the movement of kabuki to build up your physical strength. That exercise calls “Kabuki Narikiri Taiso” (Look-Like-a-Kabuki-Actor Exercise).

In this video, Hashigo Nakamura funnily introduce that workout 🙂 He shot it in one of the oldest amusement parks in Japan.

If you want to know more about him, he did a kabuki workshop in English last month; you can get more information about him from that event information page. Or check his blog, it is in Japanese.