noun
revolving stage mechanism (kabuki)
A kabuki stage device: a section of the stage floor rotates backward 90 degrees to reveal the next scene. A specialized theatrical term.
歌舞伎の舞台では、強盗返しを使って場面を素早く転換する。
On the kabuki stage, they use the revolving mechanism to change scenes quickly.
強盗返しは、もともと龕灯の仕組みから名付けられたと言われる。
It is said that the revolving stage mechanism was originally named after the mechanism of a revolving lantern.
Archaic spelling with 燈 (old form of 灯). It is out-dated kanji usage.
Kana-mixed spelling sometimes seen in explanations, using がんどう for the first part.
Literally 'lantern reversal'. Named after the 龕灯 (a revolving lantern) because the stage mechanism's backward rotation resembles the lantern's movement. The kanji 強盗 (robber) is ateji used for its sound.