England, Merseyside, Bootle, Young children playing in Blossom street with toy guns.

Kabuki actor Tamasaburo looking in hand mirror to apply make-up for role of Izayoi the courtesan turned crook in The Village School . In kabuki all female roles are played by male actors or onnagata...

The actor Ennosuke playing the role of the fox Tadanobu in the kabuki story Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura. In this scene a fox disguises itself as a retainer of Yoritomo the brother of Yoshitsune in o...

A young boy actor or koyaku in the role of the child emperor Antoku in a kabuki play about the twelfth century Gempei war. Child actors are normally the real or adopted sons of established company pl...

Kabuki actor applying make up. Female actors are banned as immoral and their roles taken by male onnagata or female role specialists.

Nai Soi. The Long neck Karen or Padaung people are originally from Myanmar. After fleeing persecution in their native country many took up residence across the border in Thailand where they have be...

Mask carnival Gypsy accompanying Zvoncari pronounced Zvon-charee the tradition of wearing frightening masks to drive away the evil spirits of winter pre-dates Christian times. In the weeks preceedin...

Female mudang whose role is to act as an intermediary between the living and spirit worlds in trance.

Female mudang whose role is to act as an intermediary between the living and spirit worlds in trance at a funeral.

Female Shaman with arm raised in air at a funeral wearing colourful clothing.Mudang whose role it is to act as a intermediary between the living and spirit worlds

Female Shaman in a trance at a wedding waving cloth above her head with people looking on Mudang whose role it is to act as a intermediary between the living and spirit worlds

Shamanism. Female mudang whose role is to act as an intermediary between the living and spirit worlds attending funeral.