Waki kata

Waki-kata (ワキ方, also 脇方) are performers who can take the following roles:

• Waki ワキ: side actor.
• Waki-tsure ワキツレ: companion to the side actor.
• Hataraki 働キ: backstage assistants. Although waki actors do not take the role of kōken on-stage assistants, they usually act as hataraki backstage assistants, dressing the waki and waki-tsure, lifting the curtain, and operating the sliding door.

Waki actor schools are: Takayasu, Fukuō, Hōshō.