A modern legend is back at the 114-year-old Kabukiza this summer in the diminutive form of Hideki Noda, one of the titans of Japanese contemporary theater.
And, just as he did two years ago when he so memorably debuted there with his first kabuki staging, "Togitatsu no Utare (Togitatsu's Revenge)," the 48-year-old director brought his radical approach to this most traditional venue -- not least by ending the show with curtain calls.
These were, once again, greeted with standing ovations. And because this is a Noda project, many of those applauding wildly were younger theatergoers, unfamiliar with kabuki but cheering alongside veteran kabuki fans (who were no less enthused at seeing such a different approach to their treasured art form).