Shumei: The Living Legacy of Kabuki

Shumei: The Living Legacy of Kabuki is a documentary about the ceremonial passing of a storied stage name in Japanese classical theatre. It follows Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII as he formally assumes the Danjūrō name and prepares for the debut performance that marks the change, with the film observing the rituals of succession and the pressures and personal sacrifices that come with carrying forward one of Japan's oldest theatrical traditions.

The film is directed by Takashi Miike and is the forty-second of forty-two films he has directed in chronological order, following Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo in the same year. It is produced by Denjiro Tanaka and Misako Saka for Shochiku, OLM and K2 Pictures. Ichikawa Ebizo XI appears as himself.

Shumei runs ninety-four minutes. It was released on September 25, 2026.