ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shibai

Shibai is a Japanese word that means "play" or "performance". It is usually used to describe a type of theatre, where actors wear colorful costumes and perform stories on stage.

Imagine you and your friends like to play pretend, where you dress up and act out different roles in a made-up story. That's similar to what shibai is like. But instead of just playing with your friends, they do it in front of an audience on a big stage!

Shibai has a long history in Japan, dating back hundreds of years. It originally started as a way for people to tell stories and entertain themselves. Over time, it became more formalized and included music and dance.

Today, shibai performances can be seen in theaters across Japan. They often tell stories from Japanese folklore or history, and actors use exaggerated movements and expressions to convey their emotions.

So, shibai is like a big play where actors perform on stage and tell stories to entertain their audience.