In the age of the civilization and enlightenment, from the review of the traditional nonsensical Kabuki, Danjuro, intended to reform it, tackling dramas based on historical backgrounds (called Katsureki) together with people of learning and culture (Theatrical performance movement) in the second decade of the Meiji era.
文明開化の時代にあって、従来の荒唐無稽な歌舞伎への反省から歌舞伎の革新を志し、明治10年代には学術関係者や文化人と組んで時代考証を重視した劇（「活歴」と呼ばれた）に取り組んだ（演劇改良運動）。