She acted as a substitute for an actor of a female role and became the first Japanese actress, as the actor of the female role died during a performance in San Francisco (also said as the promoter disallowed him, saying 'a female role should be played by a female and an actor playing female role is not acceptable').
サンフランシスコ公演で女形が死亡したため（興行主から「女の役は女性がするべきで女形は認められない」と拒否されたためとも）急遽代役を務め、日本初の女優となった。