When someone mentions Japan’s traditional artform, kabuki, you might think of red and black makeup and adorning intense facial expressions. Well, there is actually a theory linking those kabuki related things and Budōmyō’ō.

We mentioned earlier that one of the reasons behind Shinshō-ji’s sudden rise in popularity was due to the special exhibitions of the statues throughout Edo. However, no matter how miraculous the Budōmyō’ō statue is known to be, to the people of Edo, there was a concrete reason behind it. Normally if a statue from a small temple in a farming village is paraded around, people wouldn’t look twice at it.

However, after just one special exhibition of the state, the temple made enough money to build a new main hall (Kōmyō-dō). On the day of the special exhibition, a kabuki actor named Danjūrō Ichikawa performed a play about Budōmyō’ō. It was, so to speak, one big advertisement.

Every Japanese person knows the name Danjūrō Ichikawa. No matter how the world changes, that name continues to be passed on today. There was a Danjūrō II, Danjūrō III, and after ten-odd generations the professional name Danjūrō Ichikawa continues to be passed down. The founder, in other words, Danjūrō Ichikawa I, was born in Narita.

The original Danjūrō Ichikawa was raised in Edo and studied kabuki from when he was a child. Since his debut, Danjūrō was on the path straight to stardom. However, there was one thing that worried him. He did not have children to be his successor. He went to Shinshō-ji back in his hometown of Narita and prayed to Budōmyō’ō for children. Soon after, he was blessed a child. The surprised Danjūrō turned that experience into a kabuki play.

The Danjūrō of that time was as big a star as Johnny Depp. Tons of people went to see Danjūrō play the role of Budōmyō’ō. It was at this time that Shinshō-ji’s first special exhibition of Budōmyō’ō drew in many people, and Budōmyō’ō became very well-known throughout Edo. Like that, the number of people who wanted to visit the “holy land” suddenly increased.

After that episode, with every new generation of Danjūrō Ichikawa , family bonds with Shinshō-ji strengthened. Whenever the temple had a special exhibition, the actor would put on a performance about Budōmyō’ō. The rich Ichikawa Danjūrō VII donated a gaku-dō to the temple. Next to the sign that said “Refreshments Area” was his signature, and Ichikawa Danjūrō VII himself handed out tea to the visitors.

Since Danjūrō Ichikawa VII’s predecessor died at a young age, number VII took on the name Danjūrō when he was only 10 years old. At that time he was still unskillful as a kabuki actor and was probably ridiculed. However, he used that as a source of power to become an extraordinary kabuki actor. He performed publicly in Narita "for those who struggled”, and it is recorded that the theater house’s flooring was eroding and became full of holes because so many people came to watch.

But, Danjūrō Ichikawa VII had one thing bothering him. Having only daughters, he did not have a son to carry on his name. So, he went to Shinshō-ji Temple, prayed, and was blessed with a boy. It goes without saying that the Ichikawa clan and Shinshō-ji have strong ties.

Of course, the present-day Ichikawa clan is also very famous. The Budōmyō’ō play has been put on for several hundred years and still continues to this day.