Nakamura Kanjaku has expressed excitement about succeeding to the revered kabuki name Ganjiro, which was passed down by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

"Finally, I will inherit this great name (in January 2015)," the 55-year-old kabuki actor said at a news conference in Tokyo in April announcing his succession as Nakamura Ganjiro IV.

His succession represents the prestigious stage name's return after a nine-year hiatus that began in late 2005, when his father, a living national treasure, became Sakata Tojuro IV.