How to Say "Kellen" in Japanese

ケレン

keren

ケレン (keren) is the Japanese way to say kellen, referring to a theatrical or stylized technique used in performance to create a dramatic effect.

ケレン refers to a dramatic, stylized or theatrical technique used to create a spectacle.

How do you pronounce it?

keren

In modern Japanese marketing, the term is often used as ケレンを切る (keren o kiru), which literally means 'to cut the kellen', describing someone who is showing off or acting provocatively.
In professional wrestling in Japan, a match described as ケレン focuses more on dramatic storytelling and theatrical stunts than on actual athletic competition.
If a person describes a business presentation as having ケレン too much, they are often criticizing it for being all style and no substance.

あの演出は少しケレンが過ぎる。
Ano enshutsu wa sukoshi keren ga sugiru.
That direction is a bit too theatrical.
ケレン味のある舞台が見たい。
Kerenmi no aru butai ga mitai.
I want to see a stage with dramatic flair.
彼はケレンを駆使して演技する。
Kare wa keren o kushi shite engi suru.
He performs using stylized techniques.

Yui and Ren are discussing a play they just watched.

結衣 Yui

さっきの劇は、すごくケレンが効いていたね。
Sakki no geki wa, sugoku keren ga kite ita ne.
That play just now had a lot of dramatic flair, didn't it?
蓮 Ren

うん、演出がとても派手で面白かったよ。
Un, enshutsu ga totemo hade de omoshirokatta yo.
Yeah, the direction was very flashy and interesting.
結衣 Yui

蓮くんは、あんな演出が好き？
Ren-kun wa, anna enshutsu ga suki?
Ren, do you like that kind of direction?
蓮 Ren

もちろん、迫力があって最高だったよ。
Mochiron, hakuryoku ga atte saiko datta yo.
Of course, it was powerful and the best.

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