The role of Iruka had been emphasized long before Danjuro ICHIKAWA the ninth played the double role of Iruka and Omiwa during the Meiji period, although it has become more moderate since then.
明治期に市川團十郎(9代目)が入鹿とお三輪を二役で演じてからは入鹿の演じ方が抑えられるようになったが、以前はかなり入鹿の演出に重点が置かれていた。