Ichikawa Danjūrō
The style was created and pioneered by Ichikawa Danjūrō I, a kabuki actor in the Edo period (1603-1867), and has come to be epitomized by his successors in the Ichikawa Danjūrō line of kabuki actors. Roles such as the leads in and are particularly representative of the style. is often contrasted with the ("soft" or "gentle") style, which emerged around the same time but focuses on more naturalistic drama. It is also contrasted with or "female-like style".