Butoh Dictionary

A Shadowbody term which is the same as clouding or obscuring, a key butoh concept inspired by Tatsumi Hijikata's writing Ailing Dancer in which resonance with the subconscious or dream world masks literal meaning, allowing movement and expression to emerge beyond straightforward interpretation.

In Shadowbody, the accident or emergency body is one of the human character tropes or butoh in real life that either inspires or resembles butoh.

Example: Those experiencing movement blunders, e.g. slipping on ice for 15 seconds.

In Shadowbody, the aged body is one of the human character tropes or butoh in real life that either inspires or resembles butoh.

Example: Old Russian woman (babushka) eating a plain loaf of bread while crossing the road (real sighting)

Original term for butoh coined by Tatsumi Hijikata. Ankoku means dark.

Also associated with butoh that resembles more of Hijikata's butoh.

A very basic walk in butoh. The Japanese term is hokotai. One walks as if they are a pillar of ash. Any sudden movement, and the ash dissipates.