Kabuki as Multiple Narrative Structures

Introduction

This chapter aims to survey and analyze kabuki in order to explore and create a “narrative generation-reception model” or a “narrative production-consumption model” of kabuki from the viewpoint of an information system or, in particular, a narrative generation system. A fundamental concept applied to this task is that of “multiplicity” or “multiple narrative structures” in kabuki. In addition, this chapter seeks to bridge a comprehensive survey and analysis of kabuki based on the concept of multiplicity or multiple narrative structures with a more generalized conceptual model, including both narrative generation-reception and production-consumption processes.

The synthesized narrative generation architecture that the author has been designing and developing, i.e., the “Integrated Narrative Generation System: INGS” (Ogata, 2010; Akimoto & Ogata, 2014), forms the background of this study. Moreover, it represents an objective into which the results of this study can be fed. The INGS has been explained in detail in the introductory chapter of this book. It is a basic or fundamental system that has a narrative generation process by a single subject operating on a basis similar to that of an individual human being. However, the ultimate goal of the author’s narrative generation project, including the development of INGS, is to involve one or more INGSs to realize various narrative generation application systems and social distribution mechanisms using automatic narrative generation functions, etc. By social distribution, the author means mechanisms to be linked to a new type of business model for social applications using the WWW for the narrative generation system itself, a content business mechanism using narrative generation functions, etc. This chapter anticipates the relevant concepts and directions for the future social distribution of INGS through exploring and constituting a narrative generation model of kabuki.

In particular, the conceptual model referred to as the “Geino Information System: GIS” (Amino, Kawamura, & Ogata, 2002; Kawamura & Ogata, 1997, 2000, 2002) is associated to INGS in this plan. Although the Japanese word geino carries the meaning of entertainment and amusement, it simultaneously has complex and historical signification that includes elements from Shinto shrine rituals and magical tradition. The GIS is designed to be a system model in which multiple narrative generation and production mechanisms or processes perform a social level task using one or more INGSs. It is a framework in which various levels of narrative generation processes can be driven by the authors, receivers, characters, actors, and actresses included in the system. In short, INGS and GIS are designed, respectively, to correspond to narrative generation-reception and narrative production-consumption as an entire system. A kabuki play is a collection of multiple narratives built around original scenarios, authentic and related histories, and the actors’ private scenes. It is intended for the construction to be connected with plans for a future narrative generation system comprising several other narrative generation systems. This chapter will explore the conceptual design of the “GIS including INGS” by surveying and analyzing kabuki according to the concept of multiplicity and multiple narrative structures.

This study is also related to the “Expanded Literary Theory: ELT” (Ogata, 2002, 2014) that was described in the introductory chapter to this book, which provides some of the background for the author’s research and development project, insofar as this intends to study kabuki as a literary and artistic genre using a computational approach. Although narrative generation studies have generally focused on formal mechanisms, it is anticipated that the contents to be represented or used by such formal mechanism are an important factor of narrative generation research in the future. Additionally, tackling Japan’s unique art genre of kabuki represents a step in a new direction in cultural approaches to narrative generation. Cultural elements will be used to form a characteristic for each narrative generation system. The geino in GIS is strongly associated with a historical flow of artistic tradition in Japanese culture, in which kabuki is rooted as a representative genre.