|Okuni as a samurai|
She became known for her performance of the Nambusu, originally a sacred dance from 10th-century Pure Land Buddhism but by then a folk dance and as Okuni performed it, a dance of sexual suggestion. She also did skits about lovers and about prostitutes. She began to draw large crowds. She was summoned back to the Shrine but did not obey.
|Statue of Okuni erected in 2002 on the banks of the Kamo|
She retired and disappeared around 1610.
In 1629 the Shogunate forbad women from performing using the excuse of morality. A new kabuki using young men in both male and female roles arose quickly but was in turn banned because of suggestions of prostitution. A third kabuki performed by older men only was left, and has continued to the present time.
- "Okuni (b. c. 1572) - Kabuki (1603) - Edo Period". Music History, Jan 15th, 8572. http://markalburgermusichistory.blogspot.com/2008/05/okuni-b-c-1572-kabuki-1603.html.
- “Izumo no Okuni”. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo_no_Okuni.
- "Izumo no Okuni 出雲の阿国 ". JAANUS. www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/i/izumonookuni.htm.