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Kabuki - December@Kabuki-za

The year of 2003 was the 400th year for Kabuki since it was introduced. The last plays at Kabiki-za were ended both Matinee and night show with new works.

Amongst a lot of highlights, Shinnosuke Ichikawa(Narita-ya)'s "Nirami" in the "mie" was really excellent like "prototype".

"Nirami" is one of the typical feature in Kabuki. Kabuki actors crosses their eyes for several seconds in a frozen dynamic pose during "nirami". It is "condensed" emotion with silent. The actors show unique eye-pose, i.e.cross eyes, move eyes to different direction, respectively.

Shinnosuke is likely to exercise for next year:-p(he suceeds to "Ebizo" name in the year of 2004.) In Ichikawa family, one of the head family in Kabuki world, it is a tradition to do the "nirami", when they have a "Kojo" for succession of the name.

Shinnosuke, a son and heir of Ichikawa family, is a talented youngster not only in the Kabuki world but in the show business. He had played "Musashi Miyamoto", a famous good swordsman, in the NHK's serial drama in this year.

We expect it should be difficult for getting tickets at Kabuki-za in May and June when Shinnnosuke succeeds to the name of "Ebizo"... It is a headache...