５カ月ぶり舞台に灯　東京・歌舞伎座が再開

　東京・銀座の歌舞伎座で１日、「八月花形歌舞伎」が幕を開けた。新型コロナウイルス感染症の拡大を受け歌舞伎の公演は３月以降、中止が続いていたが、５カ月ぶりに舞台に灯がともった。
　感染症対策で客席を半分以下に絞り、１演目ごとに出演者も観客も入れ替える４部制で実施。一番乗りをした２０年来の歌舞伎ファンという男性（５８）は「何カ月も見ていないと、その必要性が分かります」と話した。京都から訪れた２０代の女性は「歌舞伎座は安心ですが、街中は心配なので、きょうはすぐ帰ります」と語った。
　午前１１時からの第１部では、主演の片岡愛之助さん（４８）が「一日も早い事態終息の願いを込め舞台を勤めさせていただきます」とあいさつする放送に続けて「連獅子（れんじし）」を上演。唄方や三味線方らはマスクを着けながらの演奏だった。公演は２６日まで。（2020/08/01-12:09）

The Kabukiza Theatre held its first show in five months on Saturday, lifting the suspension of performances introduced as a measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
   Audiences were reduced to half the size of ordinary times to prevent the spread of the virus at the "August at the Kabukiza Theatre" show, which runs through Aug. 26 at the theater in Tokyo's Ginza district.
   The show has different performers in each of its four parts, and spectators are also switched out after every part.
   "I understand how necessary (kabuki) is after not seeing it for months," said a 58-year-old male spectator, who was the first to arrive at the theater. He said he has been a kabuki fan for 20 years.
   A woman in her 20s who visited from Kyoto, western Japan, for the show, said, "I feel safe at the Kabukiza Theatre but not on city streets, so I will go home quickly today."