What is the modern significance of the four classical Japanese plays

Kyogen (Japanese: きょうげん) is a genre of Japanese theater. Along with noh theater, it evolved from Sarugaku, and kyogen belongs to one of the four major classical plays of Japan, along with noh theater.

Kyogen is usually interspersed between noh plays. Unlike Noh theater, kyogen is a simple and improvisational comedy. In terms of language, kyogen utilizes a lot of folk slang. The content of the kyogen is usually based on folkloric themes and uses satire to attack the samurai or the nobility. Because of this, kyogen was more popular with the common people than noh theater, and gradually developed into one of the most typical forms of folk art.

In the early days of kyogen, there were no scripts, but over the long period of time that followed, written kyogen scripts gradually appeared. More than 260 scripts have been preserved.

Actors who perform rants are called ranters. In modern times, one of the most famous kyogenists is Nomura Manzai.

Kabuki is a type of theater unique to Japan, and is one of the country's traditional performing arts. It is classified as an important intangible cultural asset in Japan, and in 2005 it was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Modern Kabuki is characterized by elaborate sets, complex stage machinery, gorgeous costumes and make-up, and an all-male cast.