ThisshortdocumentarybyOzuwasintendedtopresenttheartistryofkabukidancerKikugoroOnoeIVtobothJapaneseandforeignaudiences.Avoice-overnarrationintroducesKikugoroaswellasthedanceheperformsinthefilm'ssecondhalf,inwhichayounggirlistransformedintoaresplendentlion(theimageryofwhichapparentlyinspiredJeanCocteauasheconceivedhisownBEAUTYANDTHEBEAST).WatchingKikugoroimitatethegesturesofademuremaidenyouseehowhedeservedhisfame.Ozushootstheperformanceinthreesimpleset-ups:arovingfrontalshotoftheperformersonstage,anangledshotfromthesideofthestage,andanangledlongshotthatacknowledgesthepresenceoftheaudienceinawaythatisunmistakablyOzu.
