Shinobu Terajima’s Great Achievement! October Grand Kabuki performance is a “major turning point,” but the Kabuki world has mixed feelings about it.

It is safe to say that this is a historical accomplishment.

On July 18, Shochiku announced that Shinobu Terashima, 50, would appear in “Kinshu October Grand Kabuki: Bunshichi Genkai Monogatari,” which will mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Kabuki-za in October. As for women appearing at the Kabuki-za, Botan Ichikawa (12), the eldest daughter of Danjuro Ichikawa XIII Shirasaru, appeared in the Kabuki-za’s “December Grand Kabuki” last December, but this is the first time in history that an adult woman has appeared on stage in a main Kabuki-za performance as a main cast member. Terashima updated her blog on the same day.

As a challenge at the age of 50, I will do what I love with people I love! I was asked to do “Bunshichi-Genkai” just then. I have only one life, so I will work humbly and together so that the audience will enjoy the performance and not be plucked away by the Kabuki-za monster.

He also said, “I will not be plucked out by the monsters of the Kabuki-za,” a statement that was full of meaning. What was his true intention?

In an interview 20 years ago, she said, “I can never do what I want to do. In an interview 20 years ago, he said, “It’s a little bit painful that I can never do what I want to do and am not even given the opportunity to try. My whole life since then has been about giving up on that dream.

This time, that dream is finally coming true, but she knows that not everyone involved in Kabuki will welcome it with open arms. She is not asking who the “monster” is, but rather who has been protected for a long time. I think it is a sign of her determination to break with a long-held tradition,” says a reporter from a kabuki magazine.

There is also a lot of speculation about this decision. Some weekly magazines are saying,

The fact that the performance to unveil the new name of Ichikawa Danjuro XIII, Shochiku, was a flop, and the company decided that it could not turn its back on the tradition in order to attract more audiences.

The reason was that they needed a “jumping-off point” to get rid of the turmoil caused by the suspect, Ennosuke Ichikawa.

However, this is not the case.

In fact, since the COVID-19 crisis has abated, the number of patrons has increased considerably, and recently it has been the same as before the COVID-19 crisis. It’s true that the Ennosuke case has cast a dark shadow over the Kabuki world, but that hasn’t caused a decline in the number of patrons. On the contrary, the number of people who cheer us on and say, “Good luck! I have the impression that the number of people who support him has increased.

So why was Terashima chosen to appear in the show at this time?

I heard that her younger brother Onoe Kikunosuke V (45) strongly requested her to appear. He had seen and known his sister’s thoughts and feelings up close since childhood, so he probably had a strong desire to somehow make them come true. Another reason is that Yoji Yamada (91) is directing “Bunshichi Genkai Monogatari”.

Terashima has appeared in several of Yamada’s films, including IT’S A FLICKERING LIFE (released in 2009). It was also significant that “Bunshichi Genkai” was one of Onoe Kikugoro VII’s most popular plays, and she was his daughter. Director Yamada, who knew of Terashima’s dream, must have nominated her for the role. In that sense, this must have been just an irregular decision. I am sure that Terashima will be desperate to get on the stage, saying, ‘There will be no next time.

The same is true for those involved in the Nashien.

The people involved in the Nashien also share their feelings. “No one would deny that Ms. Terashima is a great actress, having won various awards, including the Best Actress Award at the Japan Academy Prize. However, this is not the case when it comes to kabuki. Discerning audiences genuinely want to see great kabuki performances.

Frankly, it doesn’t matter if she is a woman or Kikugoro’s daughter. If they see a great performance, they want to see it again. If not, I don’t want to see it anymore. The audience will probably stay away. To prevent that from happening, I want them to be prepared for “no next time.

Even if he is prepared for “no next time,” there is no doubt that Terashima has in mind a future collaboration with his eldest son, Onoe Masahide (10),

“Either way, it will definitely be a big turning point,” said a source close to the matter.

In any case, it will definitely be a big turning point,” said a source, as they await the October performance with mixed feelings. We are expecting Terashima to give a wonderful performance that will make everyone sit up and take notice.