10-year-old Kabuki actor's debut breaks Japanese theatre traditions

In this image released by Shochiku, Maholo Onoe, front center, performs as he makes his official stage debut at the Kabuki Theater in Tokyo, on May 2, 2023. He is one of the biggest emerging stars in Japan’s 420 year-old Kabuki theater. — Photo: Shochiku via AP

Ten-year-old Maholo Terajima Ghnassia loves watching anime and playing baseball. He likes making beats and whisper ASMR. And he's breaking conventions in Japan’s 420-year-old Kabuki theater tradition.

In Kabuki, all the roles are played by men, including beautiful princesses – a role Maholo accomplishes stunningly in his official stage debut as Maholo Onoe at the Kabuki Theater in downtown Tokyo.