KABUKI's News

The name succession of Onoe Kikugorō VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI

In May and June 2025 at the Kabukiza Theatre, Onoe Kikunosuke V will become the eight generation of his family to hold the name Kikugorō, when he becomes Onoe Kikugorō VIII. At the same time, his son, Onoe Ushinosuke VII, will succeed to the name Onoe Kikunosuke VI. Meanwhile, Onoe Kikugorō VII will continue to perform under the same name.

Onoe Kikunosuke made his stage debut in 1984 under the name Onoe Ushinosuke VI, and succeeded to the name Onoe Kikunosuke V in 1996. He has performed both tachiyaku (male roles) and onnagata (female roles), and has been active in a wide range of genres, including historical plays, domestic plays, and dance, with performances full of emotion that have greatly moved the audiences.
At the press conference, Kikunosuke analized the spirit of the Otowaya acting house, saying, "Successive generations of the Kikugorō line have thought about creating performances that customers can enjoy and appreciate. With a sense of gratitude, I am determined to make further efforts, not only in classical kabuki, but also in revivals of old plays and in brand-new kabuki creations, so that I can repay, even in a small way, my predecessors who have so diligently preserved kabuki."

In the world of kabuki, there has never been an occasion in modern times when two actors both held the name "Kikugorō" at the same time. Kikunosuke said, "While my father Kikugorō VII will continue to perform energetically on stage for a long time, I, Kikugorō VIII, will carry on that spirit in showing the audience a new Kikugorō." Embracing his father's ambition, he continued, "We will continue the Kikugorō name without interruption. I want to support his decision and do my utmost to fulfill the role of the eighth generation Kikugorō."

Kikunosuke's son, Onoe Ushinosuke, is now 11 years old and, since his debut as Onoe Ushinosuke VII in 2019, he has taken on various roles and is expected to continue to thrive. "I want to be an actor like my two grandfathers, Kikugorō VII and Nakamura Kichiemon II. They take the emotion of the role very seriously." He said emphatically, "When Kikugorō plays a role in a domestic play, the way he delivers the lines is just like that character would speak in the Edo period. Kichiemon, excelled in expressing the emotions in historical plays, and I greatly respect those qualities in both of them."

Performances to celebrate the name succession will be held in 2025 at various theatres in Japan, starting from the May and June programs at the Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo. Performances will continue at the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre, the Misonoza Theatre in Nagoya, the Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto, and in 2026, at the Hakataza Theatre in Fukuoka.

Please look forward to the performances.