“Funa Benkei”, a Noh play of the same title revised into Kabuki. Ichikawa Danjuro 12th as a ghost of Tomomori and Kawarasaki Gonjuro 3rd as Benkei. March, 1989 at the National Theatre. (Y_E0100153000132)
It is a performing art established in the Muromachi period. From the Heian period, Sarugaku, Dengaku and other performing arts had been common among the people. Supported by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kanami and his son Zeami incorporated these performing arts and refined them into artistic theatrical productions. Since then, it has been inherited as an art of samurai families.
In Kabuki, there are many works called Matsubame plays that were originally written for Noh or Kyogen but revised into Kabuki plays afterwards.