Skin tight suits that cover the entire body are commonly called zentai (from the Japanese ). This is either a contraction of zenshin taitsu () ("full-body tights") or a direct translation of "full body" (zentai). Zentai is most commonly made using nylon/spandex blends, but other materials such as cotton and wool are used as well.[citation needed] Such suits were first developed for use in modern dance,[citation needed] but are now used in the arts to diminish the presence of an actor in a scene.

In fact, in the traditional Japanese art of puppetry called bunraku the apprentice performers are completely covered in black garments against a black background to produce the same effect. Zentai is also used by artists as a medium to accentuate the body, sometimes making use of vibrant patterns. By making the performer anonymous, the performance of the body itself becomes the focus.

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