Kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke V assumed the name Onoe Kikugoro VIII at a special performance held at the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Onoe Kikugoro is a prestigious stage name in the world of the traditional Japanese performing art.
As part of the performance, a classical hand-clapping ceremony called koshiki kaoyose teuchishiki was held specially before the audience to pray for the success of an upcoming performance tour to mark the name taking. The ceremony, in which actors and other people related to kabuki get together and clap hands, is not usually open to the public.
In the presence of about 100 people on the stage, Kikugoro VIII, 47, said, "Now that I have assumed the distinguished stage name, I am determined to devote myself even more to upgrading my performance and work hard so as not to bring shame to my predecessors."
Also at Tuesday's performance, his first son, Onoe Ushinosuke VII, an 11-year-old kabuki actor, assumed the name Onoe Kikunosuke VI.
Kikugoro VIII's father, 82-year-old kabuki actor Onoe Kikugoro VII, who has been designated as a "living national treasure" by the Japanese government, is set to retain his current name.
"I will continue to do my best so that we can receive support as we now have two Kikugoro actors at the same time, the first such situation ever in kabuki history," Kikugoro VIII told reporters after Tuesday's performance.
In the upcoming tour, set to run from May 2025 to June 2026, performances will be held at Kabukiza and theaters elsewhere in Japan.
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