Prior to Kyoto's year-end highlight "Kichirei Kaomise Kogyo," or the year-end Kabuki performance held from November 30 to December 26, "Maneki-age," or the annual event to set up the Maneki boards inscribed with Kabuki performers' names, was held at the Kyoto MINAMIZA Theater in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, on November 25.

Maneki boards are roofed, rectangular cypress planks on which names of performers are written in "Kantei-ryu" characters, or unique Kabuki-dedicated roundish fonts, in hopes of attracting a full house. The time-honored practice has been kept since the Edo Period only at the MINAMIZA Theater.

Work began around 12:00 a.m., with craftsmen setting Maneki boards on "Takeyarai," or the lattice bamboo fence constructed at the theater's entrance, one by one, adjusting the location of each. Just after 9:00 a.m., the final board with the name Nizaemon Kataoka was attached, concluding the Maneki-age, and boards with the names of Kabuki stars from the east and west, including Kikugoro Onoe, Tojuro Sakata and others, have been placed along the wall at the MINAMIZA Theater.

With its renewed decorations, such as big paper lanterns and sacred Shinto staffs with white paper streamers named "Bonten" on top of "Yagura," or towers, and other items, the theater has been decorated for "Kabuki no Shogatsu," or the New Year feast of Kabuki. The manager and the spectators scattered salt to purify the venue and conducted ceremonial hand-clapping to wish for a successful performance.