tˈuː jˈɪɹz lˈeɪɾɚ, ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn, hiː bɪkˌeɪm zˌæɡɐʃˈiəɹə hˈɛd ʌvðə nˈuːli ˈoʊpənd kæbˈuːkizˈɑː, wˌɪtʃ ɪz tədˈeɪ ðə pɹˈɪnsɪpəl kæbˈuːki θˈiəɾɚɹ ɪn dʒəpˈæn.
Two years later, in November 1889, he became zagashira (head) of the newly opened Kabuki-za, which is today the principal Kabuki theater in Japan.