In the area of pure kabuki, he was very good at plays dealing with the lives of ordinary people, playing Bentenkozo of "Aoto Zoshi Hana no Nishikie" (The Story of Aoto and the Gorgeous Woodblock Print) or "Shiranami Gonin Otoko" (The Five Shiranami Men), Otomi of "Yohanasake Ukinano Yokogushi"or "Kirare Yosa" (Scarface Yosa), Ohama the wife of "Shinsarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa" or "Sakanaya Sogoro," and, above all, Saemon of "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" (The Tale of Usuyuki) or "Usuyuki," which he played with unmatched nobleness.
純歌舞伎では『青砥稿花紅彩画』（白浪五人男）の弁天小僧、『与話情浮名横櫛』（切られ与三）のお富、『新皿屋舗月雨暈』（魚屋宗五郎）の女房おはま、そして無類の貴公子ぶりを見せた『新薄雪物語』（薄雪）の左衛門などの世話物を得意とした。