[citation needed] Originally staged by Ichikawa Danjūrō I in 1697 at the Nakamura-za, it was very popular, and quickly began to be included at the annual kaomise celebrations of each theatre in Edo.

The modern version of the drama centers around the figure of Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa, who has become the stereotypical bombastic hero of the kabuki stage, with red-and-white striped makeup and strong, energetic movements; the historical Kamakura Kagemasa is famous for his bravery for having continued to fight after losing an eye in battle in the Gosannen War (1083–1087).

The story is set in front of the Tsuruoka Hachimangu shrine, where an evil aristocrat (his exact identity has changed across the centuries, and in the modern version is the Heian era warlord Kiyohara no Takehira) has usurped power and taken as prisoners several imperial royals, including Prince Kamo Yoshitsuna and the Princess Katsura.

The hero appears and steps out onto the hanamichi (a raised platform extending through the audience seats to the stage) in a magnificent costume (featuring the sanshō, the three- square symbol of the Naritaya, Ichikawa Danjūrō's acting family) and red striped makeup.

Surrounded, Gongorō draws his giant sword and cuts their heads off with a single blow, and then performs a stunning Mie pose in an intentionally exaggerated scene which shows his superhuman strength.

On this particular occasion, when his fellow actors refused to give him his cue to make his entrance, Danjūrō dramatically shouted "Shibaraku!

This arrangement also allows onnagata, actors devoted to playing female roles, to take part in this most popular of dramatic archetypal stories.