A prayer ceremony was held Tuesday on the Dotonbori River in Chuo Ward, Osaka, for the revival of Japan's theater culture, which has been impacted amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Ichikawa Ebizo, a kabuki actor and who initiated the ceremony, and major Osaka-based performers were aboard five boats that paraded along the river.
Since the spring, theaters nationwide have canceled performances in succession. Performances are gradually being resumed, but drawing audiences remains difficult.
"If the two major cultural hubs of Tokyo and Osaka do not get going, it will not pick up throughout Japan. I want to ignite a revival of traditional culture," Ebizo said at a press conference.
During ceremonies aboard the vessel, Ebizo performed a creative dance "Kagutsuchi no Mai."
"We hope you will love theater culture even more," said Ebizo, who performed the bold dance.
Meanwhile, Noh actor Otsuki Bunzo, Bunraku puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro, Rakugo storyteller Katsura Yonedanji and Miru Shiroma, a member of the pop idol group NMB 48, were among those aboard the boats who responded to the support from the crowds by waving.
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