What does “playing the usual kabuki” mean?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{
margin-bottom:0;
}
What does "playing the usual kabuki" mean in the following excerpt from the Japan Times of May 24? And is this a common expression?
Japan can score big in the eyes of Trump if it quickly provides an “easy win” to Trump without having trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to protect the domestic market until the very end.
expressions
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
add a comment
|
What does "playing the usual kabuki" mean in the following excerpt from the Japan Times of May 24? And is this a common expression?
Japan can score big in the eyes of Trump if it quickly provides an “easy win” to Trump without having trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to protect the domestic market until the very end.
expressions
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
add a comment
|
What does "playing the usual kabuki" mean in the following excerpt from the Japan Times of May 24? And is this a common expression?
Japan can score big in the eyes of Trump if it quickly provides an “easy win” to Trump without having trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to protect the domestic market until the very end.
expressions
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
What does "playing the usual kabuki" mean in the following excerpt from the Japan Times of May 24? And is this a common expression?
Japan can score big in the eyes of Trump if it quickly provides an “easy win” to Trump without having trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to protect the domestic market until the very end.
expressions
expressions
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
edited May 28 at 13:14
Robusto
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
132k31 gold badges320 silver badges534 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
asked May 28 at 9:52
FujibeiFujibei
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
1,01510 gold badges24 silver badges33 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
add a comment
|
Kabuki theater
is literally one kind of dramatic presentation in Japanese culture, with some very particular tropes. The term is used as such in travel guides in English for Japan.
But in other discourse, its meaning is metaphorical. Because of the history of English speakers viewing such performances, 'kabuki theater' usually means
political showmanship or empty show emphasizing style and words over substance.
The phrase
...trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to...
is just a slight rewording. Other ways of saying it are "a bunch of kabuki theater".
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
add a comment
|
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"u003ecc by-sa 4.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499941%2fwhat-does-playing-the-usual-kabuki-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
add a comment
|
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
add a comment
|
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
This would not be a standard American English idiom as kabuki theater isn't common in the US. However, the context would be understood as the similar phrase "the usual song and dance", just substituting some Japanese flavor. In other words, the sentence is saying that instead of difficult negotiations featuring hard lines and begrudging compromises, by giving a Trump something he can boast about quickly, Japan is likely to see favorable treatment on future requests or implementation.
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 13:09
pboss3010pboss3010
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
3181 silver badge4 bronze badges
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
add a comment
|
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
You're right and +1, but this answer would be improved with an example or two of "the usual song and dance" being used in English.
– Robusto
May 28 at 13:15
1
1
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
The dance may not be common in the US but the idiom 'kabuki theater' meaning 'stylized, mostly meaningless acts that are characteristic of a group' is common enough. In fact, common enough that there are calls to not use it anymore.
– Mitch
May 28 at 13:53
add a comment
|
Kabuki theater
is literally one kind of dramatic presentation in Japanese culture, with some very particular tropes. The term is used as such in travel guides in English for Japan.
But in other discourse, its meaning is metaphorical. Because of the history of English speakers viewing such performances, 'kabuki theater' usually means
political showmanship or empty show emphasizing style and words over substance.
The phrase
...trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to...
is just a slight rewording. Other ways of saying it are "a bunch of kabuki theater".
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
add a comment
|
Kabuki theater
is literally one kind of dramatic presentation in Japanese culture, with some very particular tropes. The term is used as such in travel guides in English for Japan.
But in other discourse, its meaning is metaphorical. Because of the history of English speakers viewing such performances, 'kabuki theater' usually means
political showmanship or empty show emphasizing style and words over substance.
The phrase
...trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to...
is just a slight rewording. Other ways of saying it are "a bunch of kabuki theater".
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
add a comment
|
Kabuki theater
is literally one kind of dramatic presentation in Japanese culture, with some very particular tropes. The term is used as such in travel guides in English for Japan.
But in other discourse, its meaning is metaphorical. Because of the history of English speakers viewing such performances, 'kabuki theater' usually means
political showmanship or empty show emphasizing style and words over substance.
The phrase
...trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to...
is just a slight rewording. Other ways of saying it are "a bunch of kabuki theater".
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
Kabuki theater
is literally one kind of dramatic presentation in Japanese culture, with some very particular tropes. The term is used as such in travel guides in English for Japan.
But in other discourse, its meaning is metaphorical. Because of the history of English speakers viewing such performances, 'kabuki theater' usually means
political showmanship or empty show emphasizing style and words over substance.
The phrase
...trade negotiators playing the usual kabuki of trying to...
is just a slight rewording. Other ways of saying it are "a bunch of kabuki theater".
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 18:50
MitchMitch
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
55.6k17 gold badges112 silver badges230 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499941%2fwhat-does-playing-the-usual-kabuki-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
