<P> Kabuki was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2005 . </P> <P> The kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi (花道, "flower path"), a walkway which extends into the audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are made . Okuni also performed on a hanamichi stage with her entourage . The stage is used not only as a walkway or path to get to and from the main stage, but important scenes are also played on the stage . Kabuki stages and theaters have steadily become more technologically sophisticated, and innovations including revolving stages and trap doors were introduced during the 18th century . A driving force has been the desire to manifest one frequent theme of kabuki theater, that of the sudden, dramatic revelation or transformation . A number of stage tricks, including actors' rapid appearance and disappearance, employ these innovations . The term keren (外 連), often translated playing to the gallery, is sometimes used as a catch - all for these tricks . Hanamichi and several innovations including revolving stage, seri and chunori have all contributed to kabuki play . Hanamichi creates depth and both seri and chunori provide a vertical dimension . </P> <P> Mawari - butai (revolving stage) developed in the Kyōhō era (1716--1735). The trick was originally accomplished by the on - stage pushing of a round, wheeled platform . Later a circular platform was embedded in the stage with wheels beneath it facilitating movement . The kuraten ("darkened revolve") technique involves lowering the stage lights during this transition . More commonly the lights are left on for akaten ("lighted revolve"), sometimes simultaneously performing the transitioning scenes for dramatic effect . This stage was first built in Japan in the early eighteenth century . </P> <P> Seri refers to the stage "traps" that have been commonly employed in kabuki since the middle of the 18th century . These traps raise and lower actors or sets to the stage . Seridashi or seriage refers to trap (s) moving upward and serisage or serioroshi to traps descending . This technique is often used to lift an entire scene at once . </P>

Who was one of the first modern dancers of japan who developed a form of art called creation dance