The traditional "Manekiage" ceremony took place on the morning of November 26, 2024, ahead of the "Kichirei Kaomise Performance" at the Minamiza Theater in Kyoto (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City). 59 plain wooden signs bearing the names of the performing Kabuki actors were hung in a row, dressing up for the December festival.
Traditionally, the Maneki signs are placed on the west side (the right side as you face the theater) for actors from the Kamigata period, and on the east side (the left side) for actors from the Edo period. The work began the day before, and on a large bamboo fence set up in front of the theater, the names of Nakamura Ganjiro (65 years old) and Kataoka Ainosuke (52 years old) were lined up on the west side, and Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku (78 years old) and Nakamura Kinnosuke (65 years old) were lined up on the east side.
At 9 a.m., the final sign of Kyoto-raised Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon (80 years old) was put up, and manager Kobayashi Yujiro and others scattered purifying salt and clapped hands with the spectators to pray for the success of the show.
The show will run from December 1st to 22nd (no performances on the 10th and 16th).
