Kikugoro the fifth was good at the role of a fireman such as Umekichi in "Mekuranagaya Umega Kagatobi" known as "Kagatobi" (The Firefighters of the Kaga clan) or Sashichi in "Edosodachi Omatsuri Sashichi" (The Festival and Sashichi, a Son of Edo) known as "Omatsuri Sashichi;" he left oral instructions of various ways of acting.
五代目菊五郎は『盲長屋梅加賀鳶』（加賀鳶）の梅吉や『江戸育御祭左七』（お祭り左七）の左七など町火消役を得意としたが、さまざまな演じ方の口伝を残している。