fairy play; pantomime
A type of traditional Japanese theatrical performance featuring fairy tales or pantomime, often associated with children's entertainment. The term is somewhat dated and may not be widely recognized today.
Long ago, children looked forward to fairy plays.
Old photographs of pantomime performances are exhibited in this museum.
Compound of 伽 (とぎ, 'attending' or 'entertaining') and 芝居 (しばい, 'play'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely referred to a type of play meant to entertain or amuse, especially children.