a form of Japanese drama dating from the 17th cent.: it is based on popular themes, with male and female roles performed by men only, chiefly in formalized pantomime, dance, and song
See Kabuki in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kə-bo͞oˈkē)
noun
A type of popular Japanese drama, evolved from the older No theater, in which elaborately costumed performers, nowadays men only, use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies.