shūmei
襲名
しゅうめいsuccession to a historic stage name
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Shūmei is the succession to a historic stage name—not a mere renaming, but the acceptance of an artistic lineage, its history, and its responsibilities.
Shūmei is the succession to a stage name built by one's predecessors. In kabuki, a name is not personal property but a vessel holding roles, techniques, and generations of audience memory; to succeed to a name is to pour new life into that vessel. The occasion is celebrated with special performances and a formal on-stage address called kōjō.
The name Hakuen, which Danjūrō XIII appends to his own, is said to derive from the haiku pen name of Danjūrō V. Keeping the sound of Hakuen (栢莚), the pen name handed down since Danjūrō II, he rewrote it with the characters for "white monkey," alluding to the old saying that a monkey falls three hairs short of a human—a gesture of humility meaning his art still fell short of his forebears'. To attach a name of modesty to one of kabuki's grandest titles: that spirit, too, is part of the inheritance.
Ichikawa Danjūrō is one of the greatest names in kabuki; the thirteenth holder assumed the name in 2022. Succession is not about retracing the past but about living the next era through the name—one of the central themes this platform explores.
- the myōsekiA living name, inherited across generations.
- the moment ripensArt matured, a memorial year, the right production.
- consultationFamily, school and Shochiku settle it over time.
- the celebratory runCarrying the house's great roles — the de facto trial.
- the kōjōThe new name presented to the audience, on stage.
FROM THE OFFICIAL CHANNEL
KABUKU. / Ichikawa Danjūrō.Films where this word appears
【初公開！】襲名で披露予定だった幻のセリフを公開！動画の最後では誰も知らない裏話も⁉︎
Jun 7, 2020
The lines meant to be delivered at a name succession, spoken aloud for the first time — showing concretely what is said when a name is inherited.
Plays Where You Can See It
- KanjinchōKanjinchō — The Subscription ScrollMinamoto no Yoshitsune, estranged from his powerful brother, flees north disguised as a mountain ascetic with his loyal retainer Benkei and a handful of men.Kabuki JūhachibanView play
- Sukeroku Yukari no Edo ZakuraSukeroku, Flower of Edo (Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura)In the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter of Edo, the dashing street knight Sukeroku—lover of the great courtesan Agemaki—picks fights night after night.Kabuki JūhachibanView play
Read this next
These words meet on the same stage. Knowing one makes the next easier to see.
- 屋号yagōA yagō is the hereditary "house name" of a kabuki acting family—Naritaya for the Ichikawa Danjūrō line—often shouted from the audience in appreciation.Read
- 十八番jūhachiban / ohakoThe Jūhachiban are the eighteen plays chosen by the Ichikawa Sōke as its signature repertoire—the origin of the everyday word ohako, meaning "one's speciality."Read
- 傾くkabukuKabuku means to "lean" away from convention and live boldly in one's own colours—the word from which kabuki itself is said to derive.Read
Sources & Supervision
- Author
- KABUKI Universe Editorial Team
- Supervision
- Ichikawa Danjūrō
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 9, 2026
Supervision means Ichikawa Danjūrō has reviewed this page's intent and key points. The text is the editorial team's writing, not Ichikawa Danjūrō's own statements. Editorial responsibility rests with the team, which corrects any error. Read the editorial policy