Even after the death of Kodanji in 1866, his creativity did not wane until well into the Meiji period, and he played an active part as a pillar in Kabuki circles in which the three top-billed actors collectively called "Dan Giku Sa" (consisting of Danjuro ICHIKAWA IX, Kikugoro ONOE V and Sadanji ICHIKAWA I) flourished.
慶応2年(1866)の小團次死後から明治になっても創作力は衰えず、「團菊左」という三人の名優を擁した歌舞伎界の重鎮として活躍した。