noun
experienced viewer; kabuki connoisseur
Refers to someone with a discerning eye for traditional performing arts, especially kabuki and theatre. Often implies deep knowledge and refined taste.
彼は歌舞伎の見巧者として知られている。
He is known as a kabuki connoisseur.
見巧者だけが気づく細かい演出がある。
There are subtle staging details that only an experienced viewer would notice.
目利き refers to someone with a good eye for quality, often in antiques, art, or food, whereas 見巧者 is limited to appreciation of performance.
Compound of 見 (mi, 'seeing') + 巧者 (kōsha, 'skilled person'). The reading ごうしゃ for 巧者 is a voiced variant. The term likely originated in Edo-period theatre culture.