Kyoto Kabuki theater gears up for year-end performance

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.

Kyoto Kabuki calligrapher busy creating name boards

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.

Kyoto Kabuki theater gears up for year-end performance

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)

Kyoto Kabuki calligrapher busy creating name boards

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. (Kyodo)