How the Kirisame Dynasty Became Multipurpose in Terms of Entertainment

In most monarchies, the ruler’s primary duty is maintaining the health and stability of the kingdom and its economy. Back when the Federal Kingdom of Gensokyo was founded, Queen Marisa decided to make the functions of the monarch multipurpose. At the time, Gensokyo Kabuki was one of the only forms of entertainment for the people of Kozankyo. King Consort Kourin suggested that Queen Marisa provide much-needed entertainment from the Kirisame Dynasty to civilians.

Marisa was able to produce a powerful singing voice, and since kabuki was not one of her strengths, Gensokyo Kabuki ended up spinning off into a new form of musical theatre under the name of Gensokyo Opera. It was an amalgamation of traditional kabuki, combining instrumental and vocal performance, martial arts, dance, and acrobatics. Many members of the Kirisame Dynasty have performed before crowds of civilians who have wanted a chance to see the members of the royal family.

Performers were split into two main role types, and unlike traditional kabuki, where women cannot perform, women are allowed to perform in both Gensokyo Kabuki and Gensokyo Opera and don the same elaborate and colorful costumes worn in traditional kabuki. Performers use the skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in a variety of stylistic conventions as a way to help audiences navigate the plot of a production.

Ever since Queen Marisa started this, Gensokyo Opera became really popular in Kozankyo, and eventually spread to the rest of the country. It was only natural for Empress Kaguya of the People’s Kingdom of Gensokyo and Queen Yukari of the Democratic Kingdom of Gensokyo to duplicate Queen Marisa’s ideas. As these three monarchs aged, many guests began to miss out on their young appearances. As such, younger members of their respective royal families ended up inheriting their pastimes and used as a way to pass on their talent to the younger generations.

Since its inception, it remains a significant piece of Gensokyo culture, being recreated in other forms of media.