Kabuki: Aragoto, Wagoto and Kumadori

Aragoto (荒事^?), or rough style, is a style of kabuki acting that uses exaggerated, dynamic kata (forms or movements) and speech.

Often, aragoto actors wear bold red or blue makeup (kumadori), and have costumes that are padded and enlarged. The term aragoto is an abbreviation of the term aramushagoto, which literally means reckless warrior matter.

The style was created and pioneered by Ichikawa Danjūrō I, an actor in the Edo region, and has come to be epitomized by his successors in the Ichikawa Danjūrō line.

Aragoto is often contrasted with wagoto (soft) style, which emerged around the same time but focuses on more naturalistic drama.

Wagoto (和事^?), or soft style, is a style of kabuki acting that emphasizes realistic speech and gestures.

Wagoto actors typically do not employ the exaggerated makeup and costuming common to the more exaggerated aragoto (rough) style.

Wagoto was pioneered by Sakata Tōjūrō I, an actor in the Kamigata (Osaka-Kyoto) region. Plays that emphasize wagoto roles are typically tragic romances.

Wagotoshi refers to Kabuki actors who specialize in wagoto roles. Notable wagotoshi include Bandō Kakitsu I and Matsumoto Kōshirō VII.

Kumadori (隈取^?) is stage makeup worn by kabuki actors, particularly when performing in the bold and bombastic aragoto style. Kumadori makeup generally consists of brightly colored stripes or patterns over a white foundation, the colors and patterns symbolizing aspects of the actor's character. Bright red stripes indicate a powerful hero role.