十三代目市川團十郎白猿襲名披露　八代目市川新之助初舞台　十二月大歌舞伎　昼の部

娘の学校開催の観劇に参加。三階席なのでお顔はあまり拝見できなかったけれど、久しぶりの歌舞伎座、ほぼ満席です。

最初の鞘當（さやあて）、二枚目役の名古屋山三の幸四郎、松緑演じる不破伴坐左衛門の着物がカッコいい。喧嘩を止める留男は中車。聞き慣れた声です。

二幕目の京鹿子娘二人道成寺は勘九郎と菊之助。ずっと踊ってらして、着物を脱いでいく仕掛けも面白い。最後に團十郎が登場するも、あの衣装にあの出立、もう成田屋の型ができていて、全てが成田屋のためにステージはできているのですね。

そして、毛抜き。9歳の新之助の初舞台。しっかり演じていました。おしまいの口上も立派。沢山お稽古したのでしょうね。まるで孫の初舞台を見守るかのような大きなお姉様方の心を鷲掴み。こうしてご贔屓さんがつくのでしょう。

終わってから遅いお昼。新世界グリル梵のビーフヘレカツサンド。美味しゅうございました。

Kabuki viewing organized by my daughter's school. It's a special one that announces 2 counts: succession of stage name of 13th Hakuen, previously known as Danjuro Ichikawa, and debut of his son, 8th Shinnosuke Ichikawa. Our seats were on 3F, so we didn't have many chances to see the actors' faces, still it was great to be back in the theater.

Great set up, wonderful costumes and kimono, amazing Kabuki's been going on since the 17th century. Ichikawa family is the top brand of Kabuki, and they have everything already set up in the forms that direct his appearance: a certain style of kimono, make up, hair, swords and other accessories, stories, and moves. Everybody expects him to be in the form. He shows up, then gives the look. Audience go crazy.

Shinnosuke is 9 years old, the youngest in the history of his family playing on stage. His part was not short, though he played through it greatly, even gave a thank you speech at the end to the audience. I'm sure it captivated many of those senior ladies who were cheering him like cheering their grandchildren. That's how they win patroness, I presume.

After the show, we had a late lunch of deep fried beef cutlet sandwich at Grill Bon. It was magnificent as usual. They were busy making mountains of takeaway sandwiches, which I believe they would sell at Kabuki Theater for snacks. That must be the sign that business is coming back.