Kabuki play costume

This costume of the Musashibou Benkei character from the Kabuki play Kanjincho, is displayed at the 3rd floor of the Narita Airport Terminal 1 Central Bldg. It was selected to be displayed here because of a connection with Narita, more precisely with the the Narita-san Shinsho-ji temple.

The costume is a replica of the one worn by the actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII at the play's premiere in 1840. It has the Sanskrit word for Fudō Myō-ō stitched in gold, because of a legend that connects the Buddhist god and the Ichikawa family of Kabuki actors: The legend says that Ichikawa Danjūrō I, the creator of the Aragota style of Kabuki, prayed for a heir to Fudō Myō-ō at the Narita temple, and his wish was granted.