At the beginning of the mid-18th century, Kabuki was revived with completion of shosagoto (dance in Kabuki) by star actors for female roles such as Kikunojo SEGAWA I (shodai) and Tomijuro NAKAMURA I (shodai), the restoration of forgotten wagoto performances by Kichitaro OGAWA and the creation of excellent scripts and improvement of stage installations by Shozo NAMIKI I in cooperation with Utaemon NAKAMURA I (shodai).
18世紀中期初には初代瀬川菊之丞(初代)、初代中村富十郎(初代)ら名女形が所作事を大成し、初代小川吉太郎は途絶えていた和事芸を再興し、初代並木正三は初代中村歌右衛門(初代)と提携して優れた脚本を作り舞台装置の改良をするなどして歌舞伎は息を吹き返した。