The Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on Saturday resumed performances after a five-month hiatus, with strict measures in place against infections with the novel coronavirus.
For the first program, "Renjishi," which started shortly after 11 a.m., fewer nagauta shamisen performers than usual were arrayed across the back of the stage. Each wore a custom-made black mask.
In the audience, each occupied seat was given empty space around it, with its neighbors to the front, back and sides left vacant, while seats around the hanamichi walkway, where actors make entrances and exits, were also left vacant.
The so-called omuko spectators, who traditionally shout such phrases as "I've been waiting!" during shows, refrained from doing so in consideration of the possibility of spreading airborne droplets.
When actors Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutaro appeared on the stage, the audience applauded more loudly than usual as if to make up for the absence of the omuko exclamations.
Before the pandemic, two to three performances were held each day, but the theater for the first time has introduced a four-performance system with fewer spectators to reduce the risk of infection.
About 200 actors and staff members took polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in advance and were all confirmed negative.
All the actors and staff members are completely replaced at the end of each program so that people involved in different programs do not come in contact with one another. Backstage dressing rooms are usually shared by several actors, but this time each actor was given a separate room.
Audience seats are sprayed with disinfectants at the end of each program, and food and drink sales are limited to such items as water and tea.
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