Apr 07 (Kabuki In-Depth) - In this video, we take a look at the name-taking ceremony or shūmei of Onoe Kikugorō VII, that began in October 1973 and concluded in December of the following year. During those 15 months, the new Kikugorō announced his new name in five different programs in three cities, presenting, together with the rest of the Otowaya, a massive sample of the acting traditions of the Kikugorō acting line.
The video is illustrated with images of the actual performances, as presented in the old magazine Engekikai, with the exception of the Minami-za kaomise, for which I had no materials available. The background music comes from the gidayū song Chō no Michiyuki.