chief actor (kabuki); leading actor
Specifically refers to the top-billed actor in a kabuki production. Often seen in the compound 名題役者.
See also: 名題役者
He will play the leading role in next month's kabuki performance.
Becoming a top-billed kabuki actor requires many years of training.
chief actor in kabuki; star actor; leading actor of a troupe
名題 originally denotes a play’s title or billing. In kabuki it came to designate leading actors whose names appeared prominently on the 名題看板.