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[Breaking News]Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, Nov. 26 Kyodo - Preparations are under way for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2025, with wooden boards with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional "kantei-ryu" style of calligraphy -- wishing for a full house -- on display at Minamiza Theater. (Kyodo)

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are under way for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2025, with wooden boards with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional "kantei-ryu" style of calligraphy -- wishing for a full house -- on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are under way for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2025, with wooden boards with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional "kantei-ryu" style of calligraphy -- wishing for a full house -- on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are under way for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2025, with wooden boards with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional "kantei-ryu" style of calligraphy -- wishing for a full house -- on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Kabuki performance in Saudi Arabia

Kabuki actor Nakamura Hayato performs in Riyadh on Nov. 3, 2025, to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, Nov. 26 Kyodo - Preparations are underway for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, with wooden signs with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house, on display at Minamiza Theater. (Kyodo)

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are underway for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, with wooden signs with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house, on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are underway for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, with wooden signs with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house, on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations are underway for a year-end Kabuki performance in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 26, 2024, with wooden signs with the names of Kabuki actors written in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house, on display at Minamiza Theater.

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Japanese emperor, empress watch Kabuki performance

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend a Kabuki performance at the National Theater in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2023.

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Japanese emperor, empress watch Kabuki performance

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrive at the National Theater in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2023, to watch a Kabuki performance.

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Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Popular kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka on June 29, 2023, to advertise their summer performance at a theater in the western Japan city from July 3 to July 25.

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Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Popular kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka on June 29, 2023, to advertise their summer performance at a theater in the western Japan city from July 3 to July 25.

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Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Popular kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka on June 29, 2023, to advertise their summer performance at a theater in the western Japan city from July 3 to July 25.

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Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Popular kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka on June 29, 2023, to advertise their summer performance at a theater in the western Japan city from July 3 to July 25.

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Kabuki actors' nameplates up at Kyoto Minamiza

KYOTO, Japan - Wooden nameplates of kabuki actors who will take the stage in "Kichirei Kaomise Kogyo" are raised at Kyoto Minamiza Theatre in western Japan on Nov. 25, 2014, ahead of the year-end performance starting on Nov. 30. The traditional hoisting practice is conducted to pray for filling the theater seats.

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Kabuki actors' nameplates up at Kyoto Minamiza

KYOTO, Japan - Workers raise wooden nameplates of kabuki actors who will take the stage in "Kichirei Kaomise Kogyo" at Kyoto Minamiza Theatre in western Japan on Nov. 25, 2014, ahead of the year-end performance starting on Nov. 30. The practice is called "manekiage."

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PM Abe, U.S. envoy Kennedy at Kabukiza

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd from R), first lady Akie Abe (R), U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy (2nd from L), and her husband Edwin Schlossberg visit the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo's Ginza district on July 5, 2014, to watch a Kabuki performance. (Pool photo)

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Emperor at new Kabuki theater

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko watch a Kabuki performance at the new Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo on April 9, 2013. (Pool photo)

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Emperor at new Kabuki theater

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko watch a Kabuki performance at the new Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo on April 9, 2013. (Pool photo)

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Kabuki-za completed

TOKYO, Japan - The rebuilt Kabuki-za theater stands completed in Tokyo's Higashi-Ginza area on Feb. 26, 2013. At right is a countdown board for the theater's opening performance in April.

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Kyoto Kabuki theater gears up for year-end performance

KYOTO, Japan - Master calligrapher Seiho Kawakatsu writes the name of a Kabuki actor during the annual ''manekigaki'' ceremony at Myodenji, a Buddhist temple, in Kyoto on Nov. 10, 2010. About 60 such name boards will be displayed at the Minamiza theater during the year-end performance.

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Closing ceremony performance held at Tokyo's Kabuki-za

TOKYO, Japan - A man takes photos in front of the Kabuki-za, home of Japan's traditional Kabuki drama, in Tokyo on April 30, 2010, as the theater holds closing ceremony performances the same day. The theater will be demolished to build a 49-story multi-functional complex by 2013.

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Closing ceremony performance held at Tokyo's Kabuki-za

TOKYO, Japan - Theatergoers gather in front of the Kabuki-za, home of Japan's traditional Kabuki drama, to get tickets for the closing ceremony performance at the theater in Tokyo on April 30, 2010. It will be demolished to build a 49-story multi-functional complex by 2013.

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Closing ceremony performance held at Tokyo's Kabuki-za

TOKYO, Japan - Theatergoers gather in front of the Kabuki-za, home of Japan's traditional Kabuki drama, to get tickets for the closing ceremony performance at the theater in Tokyo on April 30, 2010. It will be demolished to build a 49-story multi-functional complex by 2013.

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Closing ceremony performance held at Tokyo's Kabuki-za

TOKYO, Japan - Theatergoers gather in front of the Kabuki-za, home of Japan's traditional Kabuki drama, to get tickets for the closing ceremony performance at the theater in Tokyo on April 30, 2010. It will be demolished to build a 49-story multi-functional complex by 2013.

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Tokyo's Kabuki-za nears closure

TOKYO, Japan - People take photos of the Kabuki-za theater in Tokyo on April 28, 2010, the final day of the ''sayonara'' series of plays before the planned refurbishment. The final performance at the theater will be shown April 30.

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Tokyo's Kabuki-za nears closure

TOKYO, Japan - People take photos of the Kabuki-za theater in Tokyo on April 28, 2010, the final day of the ''sayonara'' series of plays before the planned refurbishment. The final performance at the theater will be shown April 30.

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Kabuki actor nameplates displayed at Kyoto theater

KYOTO, Japan - A total of 60 nameplates of Kabuki actors are displayed at the front of the Minamiza theater in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward on Nov. 25, 2009, to prepare for nearly a month-long year-end performance starting Nov. 30.

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Kyoto Kabuki calligrapher busy creating name boards

KYOTO, Japan - Master calligrapher Seiho Kawakatsu, using a traditional thick brush and black ink, writes the names of star Kabuki actors on 1.8-meter-tall wooden boards during the seasonal ''maneki-gaki'' ceremony at Myodenji Temple in Kyoto on Nov. 10, 2009. The name-bearing ''hinoki'' cypress boards will be displayed at the front of the Minamiza theater in the hope for a packed hall during a nearly monthlong year-end performance starting Nov. 30.

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Audience treated to 'cool' Kabuki performance

TOKYO, Japan - Artists perform ''synchronized Kabuki'' inside a 5-meter-deep water pool during the Muscle Musical show known for acrobatic performances by muscular artists at a theater in Tokyo on July 23. The show titled ''Matsuri'' (festival) will run through Sept. 27.

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Kabuki actors take part in annual cruising on Osaka river

OSAKA, Japan - Popular Kabuki actors -- (from C to L) Onoe Kikugoro (C in front), Kataoka Nizaemon (C in back) and Sakata Tojuro -- greet well-wishers aboard a boat cruising on a river in Osaka on July 1 in an annual event ahead of a Kabuki performance in Osaka from July 5 through July 29. Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto (2nd from R) joined the actors.

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Geisha dancers dress up for 'Kitano Odori' performance in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Geisha dancers dress up for a rehearsal for the traditional spring ''Kitano Odori'' performance at the Kabuki Theater in Kamishichiken, the oldest entertainment area in Kyoto, from April 15-25. Admission, with tea service, is 4,300 yen. Contact: 075-461-0148.

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Kabuki performance by Heisei Nakamuraza troupe opens in N.Y.

NEW YORK, United States - Japanese Kabuki actor Nakamura Kanzaburo XVIII speaks in front of Lincoln Center in New York on July 16 as the Heisei Nakamuraza troupe begins its performance there.

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Emperor, empress watch Kabuki

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko (R) are welcomed at the Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo's Ginza district on May 22 before the start of a performance.

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Koizumi visits Kabuki-za theater during New Year's break

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (C) leaves Kabuki-za theater in Tokyo's Ginza district after seeing a Kabuki performance during his New Year's holidays on Jan. 2. Koizumi last saw the traditional Japanese drama about three months ago. He will resume his official duties on Jan. 6.

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Koizumi watches 'Man of La Mancha' musical

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (2nd from R) shakes hands with stage and kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro (2nd from L) after he saw a performance of the musical ''Man of La Mancha'' in Tokyo on Aug. 19. It was Matsumoto's 1,000th performance in the musical's leading role.

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Kabuki actor Kankuro campaigns for Osaka performance

OSAKA, Japan - Popular kabuki actor Nakamura Kankukro takes to a shopping street in Osaka's Kita Ward on July 29 to campaign for a medieval theatrical play his group is scheduled to perform in Osaka in November.

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Maiko at Kabuki theater in Kyoto

Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers (L) visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills.

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Maiko at Kabuki theater in Kyoto

Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills.

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Maiko at Kabuki theater in Kyoto

Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills.

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Maiko at Kabuki theater in Kyoto

Japanese "maiko" traditional professional entertainers visit Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto, western Japan, to watch a Kabuki performance on Dec. 5, 2022. It is a year-end custom for them to watch the show to improve their traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument and dancing skills.

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Succession of kabuki actor's stage name Danjuro

The entrance of Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo is crowded with people on Nov. 7, 2022, ahead of a stage performance marking the succession of prestigious kabuki actor name Danjuro.

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Succession of kabuki actor's stage name Danjuro

The entrance of Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo is crowded with people on Nov. 7, 2022, ahead of a stage performance marking the succession of prestigious kabuki actor name Danjuro.

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Mixed reality technology in kabuki

Masashi Tomita of Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution firm Shochiku Co. wears mixed reality goggles developed by his company to make kabuki more accessible, especially for an international audience, at a kabuki theater in Osaka on Oct. 17, 2022. A kabuki performance was demonstrated for the media at the theater the same day to promote the goggles.

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Mixed reality technology in kabuki

Photo taken at a kabuki theater in Osaka on Oct. 17, 2022, shows mixed reality goggles developed by Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution firm Shochiku Co. to make kabuki more accessible, especially for an international audience. A kabuki performance was demonstrated for the media at the theater the same day to promote the goggles.

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10th anniversary of Tokyo Skytree's opening

Visitors to the Tokyo Skytree broadcasting tower look at a large screen showing Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo's performance at the topmost point of the tower on May 22, 2022, the 10th anniversary of the tower's opening.

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Maiko at Kabuki theater in Kyoto

Japanese "maiko" and "geiko" traditional professional entertainers watch a "Kaomise-Kogyo" Kabuki performance at Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto on Dec. 3, 2021.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations for a year-end Kabuki performance are going on in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021, with the name plates of Kabuki actors displayed in front of the theater.

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Preparations for Kabuki performance in Kyoto

Preparations for a year-end Kabuki performance are going on in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 25, 2021, with the name plates of Kabuki actors displayed in front of the theater.