Many Kabuki actors' names have been passed down from generation to generation until the present. Succeeding to an actor's name is called Shumei, and a name passed down from generation to generation is called Myoseki. Generally speaking, in the Shumei of Kabuki, acting traditions and specialty repertoire items are inherited together with the Myoseki (family name). Representative Myoseki are succeeded to by gradual steps with more than one Shumei, a tradition unique to Kabuki. For instance, the Myoseki, Ichikawa Danjuro, is succeeded to through the names Shinnosuke and Ebizo.

Each actor's family also has a Yago (stage family name) such as the Ichikawa Danjuro family's "Naritaya" and the Onoe Kikugoro family's "Otowaya." Because Kabuki actors in the Edo period were commoners, who were not allowed to use surnames, they used Yago instead. During Kabuki performances, many encouraging voices shout these Yago from the audience seats. This has the effect of praising the actors and encouraging those on stage.

Myoseki or Yago were also incorporated into play titles, such as "Ogi byoshi o-oka seidan" [Ogi byoshi o-oka seidan] performed for the first time in 1875, starring Bando Hikosaburo 5th and Onoe Kikugoro 5th. Because 2 "Otowaya" [Otowaya] actors played leading roles, 2 "oto" characters were incorporated into the title.

From such expressions we can understand that Kabuki is a type of theatrical performance that emphasizes the importance of the actors themselves.