Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo assumed his family's prestigious and centuries-old stage name of Danjuro on Monday, following a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The name Ichikawa Danjuro, succeeded by the 44-year-old, is the stage name established in the latter part of the 17th century and taken on by kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family. It is considered the most prestigious of the kabuki stage names.
He became the 13th holder of the name, which was held by his father Ichikawa Danjuro XII until his death in 2013. The name succession was originally scheduled for 2020, but the plan was postponed as stage performances were suspended or curbed during the pandemic.