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Year-end Kabuki show in Kyoto

People line up outside the Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto on Dec. 1, 2025, for the opening day of a year-end Kabuki show.

[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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Calligrapher writes kabuki actors' names

A calligrapher writes in the traditional "maneki-gaki" writing style kabuki actors' names in Kyoto on Nov. 7, 2025, on signboards to be used to decorate the Minamiza theater in the western Japan city during a year-end kabuki show.

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Calligrapher writes kabuki actors' names

A calligrapher writes in the traditional "maneki-gaki" writing style kabuki actors' names in Kyoto on Nov. 7, 2025, on signboards to be used to decorate the Minamiza theater in the western Japan city during a year-end kabuki show.

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Calligrapher writes kabuki actors' names

A calligrapher writes in the traditional "maneki-gaki" writing style kabuki actors' names in Kyoto on Nov. 7, 2025, on signboards to be used to decorate the Minamiza theater in the western Japan city during a year-end kabuki show.

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Sneak peek of TV animation series at Kyoto Kabuki theater

KYOTO, Japan, Jan. 23 Kyodo - A sneak peek event for the Japanese animated television series "The Eccentric Family," based on the original Japanese novel written by Tomihiko Morimi, is held at Minamiza Theater, a Kabuki theater, in Kyoto on June 16, 2013.(Kyodo)

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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.

E

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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Maneki signboard for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of Kabuki performers on a wooden signboard in Kyoto on Nov. 8, 2024, for the year-end show at the Minamiza Theater in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house.

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Maneki signboard for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of Kabuki performers on a wooden signboard in Kyoto on Nov. 8, 2024, for the year-end show at the Minamiza Theater in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house.

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Maneki signboard for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of Kabuki performers on a wooden signboard in Kyoto on Nov. 8, 2024, for the year-end show at the Minamiza Theater in the traditional style of "maneki-gaki" calligraphy, wishing for a full house.

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Kabuki actors' name plates in Kyoto

Wooden plates with Kabuki actor names written in calligraphy are installed at Minamiza Theatre in the western Japan city of Kyoto on Nov. 26, 2023, ahead of a year-end show.

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Kabuki actors' name plates in Kyoto

Wooden plates with Kabuki actor names written in calligraphy are installed at Minamiza Theatre in the western Japan city of Kyoto on Nov. 26, 2023, ahead of a year-end show.

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Maneki kanban for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 6, 2023, for the year-end show at Minamiza Theater.

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Maneki kanban for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 6, 2023, for the year-end show at Minamiza Theater.

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Snow-covered Kyoto

Commuters walk in front of a snow-blanketed Minamiza kabuki theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on the morning of Jan. 25, 2023.

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Kabuki star Sakata stands on brand-new theater stage

KYOTO, Japan - Star kabuki actor Sakata Tojuro stands on a brand-new cypress stage at the Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 28, 2014.

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Kyoto kabuki theater unveils brand-new stage, runway

KYOTO, Japan - The Minamiza kabuki theater in Kyoto, western Japan, opens a brand-new cypress stage and runway to the press on Nov. 28, 2014.

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Shinto ritual held to open new kabuki theater stage

KYOTO, Japan - A Shinto ritual is observed to mark the opening of a new cypress stage at the Minamiza kabuki theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 28, 2014.

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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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Expert writes kabuki actors' names in traditional style

KYOTO, Japan - Masaru Inoue writes kabuki actors' names in the traditional "maneki-gaki" style on Nov. 7, 2014, before their year-end performances in the Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan.

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Expert writes kabuki actors' names in traditional form

KYOTO, Japan - An expert writes the names of kabuki actors appearing in year-end performances in the Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, in a traditional "maneki-gaki" writing form on Nov. 7, 2014.

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Final rehearsal of 'geisha' dance competition in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Traditional professional "maiko" and "geiko" entertainers clad in gorgeous kimono dance during the final run-through of "Miyako no Nigiwai" (literally meaning "urban bustle"), an annual "geisha" dance competition, at Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 27, 2014.

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Final rehearsal of 'geisha' dance competition in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Traditional professional "maiko" and "geiko" entertainers clad in gorgeous kimono dance during the final run-through of "Miyako no Nigiwai" (literally meaning "urban bustle"), an annual "geisha" dance competition, at Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 27, 2014.

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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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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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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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Maneki kanban for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard, to be displayed at the Minamiza Theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 7, 2022.

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Maneki kanban for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard, to be displayed at the Minamiza Theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 7, 2022.

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Maneki kanban for Kyoto kabuki show

A calligrapher uses a mixture of sake and ink to write the names of kabuki performers on a "maneki" wooden signboard, to be displayed at the Minamiza Theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 7, 2022.

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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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Chirographer writes kakuki actors' names in traditional style

Chirographer Masaru Inoue writes the names of kabuki actors appearing in the year-end performance series at the Minamiza theater in Kyoto in the traditional "maneki-gaki" writing style on Nov. 10, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Chirographer writes kakuki actors' names in traditional style

Chirographer Masaru Inoue writes the names of kabuki actors appearing in the year-end performance series at the Minamiza theater in Kyoto in the traditional "maneki-gaki" writing style on Nov. 10, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Name plates up ahead of kabuki performance in Kyoto

Kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjiro IV stands in front of Kyoto Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto on Nov. 25, 2015, as wooden plates bearing the names of performers written in the Kanteiryu calligraphy were raised ahead of the start of the year-end kabuki performance that runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 26. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shinto ritual held to open new kabuki theater stage

KYOTO, Japan - A Shinto ritual is observed to mark the opening of a new cypress stage at the Minamiza kabuki theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on Nov. 28, 2014. (Kyodo)

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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." (Kyodo)

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Expert writes kabuki actors' names in traditional form

KYOTO, Japan - An expert writes the names of kabuki actors appearing in year-end performances in the Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, in a traditional "maneki-gaki" writing form on Nov. 7, 2014. (Kyodo)

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Final rehearsal of 'geisha' dance competition in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Traditional professional "maiko" and "geiko" entertainers clad in gorgeous kimono dance during the final run-through of "Miyako no Nigiwai" (literally meaning "urban bustle"), an annual "geisha" dance competition, at Minamiza theater in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 27, 2014. (Kyodo)

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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. (Kyodo)

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Minamiza Kabuki theater in Kyoto

People wait at the Kabuki theater Minamiza in Kyoto on Dec. 1, 2018, the first day of the year-end performance series. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo