Kabuki actors on boat in Osaka

Kabuki actors on boat in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Kabuki actors Sakata Tojuro (L) and Kataoka Nizaemon wave during an event to promote the upcoming Kabuki plays in Osaka, western Japan, on June 29, 2014.

Kabuki actors take part in annual cruising on Osaka river

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.

Preparations for Kabuki performance take place in Kyoto

Preparations for Kabuki performance take place in Kyoto

Preparations for the year-end Kabuki performance are going on in Japan's ancient city of Kyoto, with the name plates of Kabuki actors displayed in front of the theater on Nov. 25, 2015. The performance will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 26, with the participation of popular actors including Sakata Tojuro and Kataoka Nizaemon. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Preparations for Kabuki performance take place in Kyoto

Preparations for Kabuki performance take place in Kyoto

Preparations for the year-end Kabuki performance are going on in Japan's ancient city of Kyoto, with the name plates of Kabuki actors displayed in front of the theater on Nov. 25, 2015. The performance will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 26, with the participation of popular actors including Sakata Tojuro and Kataoka Nizaemon. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Kabuki actors take part in annual cruising on Osaka river

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. (Kyodo)

Kabuki actors on boat in Osaka

Kabuki actors on boat in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Kabuki actors Sakata Tojuro (L) and Kataoka Nizaemon wave during an event to promote the upcoming Kabuki plays in Osaka, western Japan, on June 29, 2014. (Kyodo)

Futamata and Momotani-bashi Bridge

Futamata and Momotani-bashi Bridge

This is where the Zeniya river (present-day main stream of Nakashima River) from Himi Pass and the Narutaki area and the Domon river from the Nishiyama area merge. Momotani Bridge is an arched stone bridge 12.4m in length and 3.4m width built in 1679 by Nagashima Nizaemon, also known as Monk Bokui, over the Domon river in Dekidaiku-machi. Since there were many peach trees along the river, the town was called Momonoki-Daiku-machi and the area Momotani (peach valley). The area around the big pine tree on the left is Fudomyoh-do. The bridge is located a little upstream of where the two rivers merged and therefore survived the Nagasaki Flood.==Date:about 1874, Place:Nagasaki, Photo:Ueno Hikoma?, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Kabuki actors cruise through central Osaka

Kataoka Nizaemon (C in front row), a popular kabuki actor and living national treasure, cruises through central Osaka on June 29, 2017, to advertise a kabuki performance at a theater in the western Japan city from July 3 to 27. The promotional activity by the popular kabuki actors is a feature each summer in Osaka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo