"Chushingura (The 47 Loyal Retainers)," the most famous kabuki play on thetheme of revenge, is being staged at Tokyo's Shinbashi Enbujo Theater this month.
Taking title roles in the program are prominent actors Uzaemon Ichimura, Kikugoro Onoe, Danjuro Ichikawa and Sadanji Ichikawa. Kikugoro's son, Kikunosuke, Danjuro's son, Shinnosuke, and Tatsunosuke Onoe tackle their assignments with great enthusiasm, competing courageously with their elders.
The Enbujo is dedicating the production to Tatsunosuke's grandfather, Shoroku Onoe, who died in 1989, and to Kikugoro's father, Baiko Onoe, who died in 1995. Both gave outstanding performances in "Chushingura" during the second half of the last century.