In the Taisho period and early Showa period, the classical Kabuki repertoire was performed mainly by Nakamura Utaemon 5th, Onoe Baiko 6th, Matsumoto Koshiro 7th, Ichimura Uzaemon 15th, Onoe Kikugoro 6th and Nakamura Kichiemon 1st.
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Kikugoro and Kichiemon were rivals with contrasting artistic techniques. The forms and new dramatic techniques they left behind had great influence on the postwar Kabuki generation, and have been inherited by present-day Kabuki.
Kikugoro's specialties were Sewamono and Buyo. In Sewamono, Kikugoro refined the roles of Kamiyui Shinza of "Tsuyu kosode mukashi hachijo" and Sakanaya Sogoro of "Shin sarayashiki tsuki no amagasa" which had been specialties of his father Kikugoro 5th, by adding his own original ingenuity. In Buyo, he performed "Yasuna" and "Fujimusume" using new dramatic techniques, and he revived "Kagamijishi" which had ceased to be performed, and made it a popular repertoire item. |
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Nakamura Kichiemon specialized in Jidaimono, and performed the roles of Kumagai Naozane in "Ichinotani futaba gunki" and Sasaki Moritsuna in "Omi genji senjin yakata" using skillful dialogue techniques. Also in this period, Nakamura Ganjiro1st was active as a Zagashira [leading actor of a company] in Kamigata (Osaka and Kyoto area), and perfected the art of modern Wagoto. |
| > Representative repertoire items: "Tsuyu kosode mukashi hachijo" |
| > Representative repertoire items: "Fujimusume" |
| > Representative repertoire items: "Shunkyo kagamijishi" |
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