Preparation of unique signboards for Kabuki performances is under way in Kyoto for an annual year-end event featuring all-star Kabuki actors.

The names of top Kabuki performers are being written on 1.8-meter-long "maneki" signboards at Myodenji Temple by calligrapher Gyokusei Inoue in "kantei-ryu" bold font, using a mixture of ink and sake for the purpose of purification.