［The "Kichi-e Kaomise Kogyo" is an annual event in Kyoto that will begin on December 1, 2023 at the Minami-za Theater in Kyoto. This year's performance will be the debut of Ichikawa Danjuro XIII's Ichikawa Shirasaru and the first performance of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII, and is expected to attract much attention.

Before the Kichi-no-Kamise-enkyo, a "congratulatory curtain" conceived by film director Takashi Miike and designed by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami was unveiled, and Ichikawa Danjuro, Takashi Murakami, and Takashi Miike appeared at the Minami-za Theater. Miike, who is currently making a documentary film about Danjuro, commented that he was proud to have been involved, even if only a little, in the 13th Danjuro's face-off performance. Murakami, who was asked by Miike to create a modern-day portrait of the actor by a modern-day painter, expressed his joy, saying, "I am grateful for this opportunity to paint.

The "Shukumaku" is 8.7 meters high and 25.2 meters wide, and is a colorful depiction of the Ichikawa Danjuro family's 18 Kabuki plays, originally unveiled at the Kabuki-za in Tokyo in November 2022, and newly created to fit the size of the Minami-za stage.

Danjuro commented, "The calculated original artwork is filled with the art of Mr. Murakami, who is on the cutting edge of contemporary art. I hope that the audience will feel that entering the Minami-za from the streets of Kyoto will be a special space where they can see contemporary art in the midst of the performance to unveil the successor to the title of the actor's name. I would like to make an effort every day to enjoy being on stage with the same feelings as everyone else, so I would like to ask for your support.

He added, "The origin of the word 'kamise' comes from the fact that actors from Kamigata (Kansai) and Edo (Edo) used to meet once a year at the kamise in Kyoto, when transportation was inconvenient and actors from the two regions could not meet easily. In the past, there were times when they were good rivals, but now, as an integrated performance within the Kabuki theater, I hope that the performance will leave a lasting impression on everyone as a comprehensive traditional art form," he said.

The popularity of the show is such that tickets are already nearly sold out, but don't miss this year's glamorous end-of-year show, featuring a spectacular performance by actors from the East and West!