Ichikawa Danjyurou's "Nirami"

"O-edo shibai nenjiu gyo-ji" "Kaoyose no shiki"
Artist：吟光　　O-ban, Colour print
Ritsumeikan Art Research Center (no.arcSP02-0410)

In the Edo period, Kabuki tour started from November. This is why still now, Kaomise perfomance (the show with an all-star cast) of Minamiza starts not from December 1st but November 30th observing the custom. There was the event called Kaoyose that actors declare they will be starting a year tour with certain members. Usually the leader of a troupe reads out the title of the program and casting. When Ichikawa Danjyurou was the leader, he often posed in Genroku-mie that glares the audience. This was very unique and can be regarded as an impolite behavior, but people believed that it would purge noxious from auditorium, and it amused the audience as well.
The schedule of Kabuki tour gradually changed in the end of Edo period. After Tempo Reforms, because of the legal restrictions, promoters missed to have Kaomise performance to introduce their new performers team in more cases, so they held their unveiling in early spring in stead of the beginning of a year and called such performances "Shizome."

[Glossary]
　Doma、Sajiki、Zagashira、Nadai、Koyaku、Ainaka、Shizome、Kaomise

[Related Topics]
　「役者の親玉」