The very first version of "Kamahige" was staged for the first time in the 1st lunar month of 1719 at the Moritaza, within the drama "Keisei Murasaki Tazuna", starring Matsumoto Kôshirô I and his adopted son Matsumoto Shichizô I. Another version was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1769 at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu", starring Ichikawa Danjûrô IV in the role of Taira no Kagekiyo (the one being shaved). Then, the official version was finally staged in the 4th lunar month of 1774 at the Nakamuraza, within the drama "Oatsuraezome Soga Hinagata", starring Ichikawa Ebizô III in the role of Taira no Kagekiyo (the one being shaved). "Kamahige" was revived by Nakamura Nakazô III during the Meiji era. The current version was revived in October 1910 to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danshirô II and his son Ichikawa Ennosuke II at the Kabukiza. It is now an important play for the Omodakaya guild, which is only staged for special occasions like shûmei or commemorative programs.

A newly-created drama, which was entitled "Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo", was staged in January 2014 at the Shinbashi Enbujô and starred Ichikawa Ebizô XI in the role of the warrior Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo. This drama was created by mixing scenes and elements coming from 4 kagekiyomono belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban: "Kan U", "Kagekiyo" "Kamahige" and "Gedatsu" [more details]. This drama was also staged in September 2014 at the Minamiza.

The current version of "Kamahige" is made up of 2 scenes.

The first scene is set in an inn managed by a man named Manjû, in reality Minamoto no Mitsunaka, a former warrior belonging to the Minamoto clan, who fell into disgrace. One evening, a monk named Myôden turns up in the inn, asking to stay for one night. Shigesaku, a former yakko, who is in service with Manjû, starts up a conversation with Myôden and realizes that the monk is a man of the Eastern provinces because of his accent. They talk about this and that and their conversation leads them to the final battle of the rebel warlord Taira no Masakado. Shigesaku narrates the battle from the viewpoint of Tawara no Tôta, the warrior who gave the coup de grâce to Masakado. Myôden speaks from the viewpoint of Masakado. The story becomes animated and reaches its climax when the monk suddenly breaks his staff. The conversation is over but Shigesaku is doubtful about the real identity of Myôden. The monk starts to shave his face with a giant pair of pliers but it is not a really efficient method. Shigesaku suggests to take care of the shaving the following day with a more appropriate tool: a sickle! The monk agrees, bringing the first scene to an end.

The second and final scene is set in the garden of Manjû's inn, full of maple trees loaded with beautiful red leaves. Shigesaku and Myôden suddenly appear on stage trough the stage trapdoor (seriage). The monk holds a wooden tub full of water and the yakko has a big sickle in his hand close to the throat of Myôden. After a series of spectacular mie and a bit of confusion on stage, each man lets fall a funeral tablet, which he was hidding in his costum. They quickly try to take it back and take the wrong one. Shigesaku realizes he is holding the funeral tablet of Taira no Masakado, meaning that Myôden is none other than Masakado's son Taira no Yoshikado. Myôden realizes he is holding the funeral tablet of Tawara no Tôta, meaning that Shigesaku is none other than Tôta's son Tawara no Kotôta. Drumrolls from the geza suggest the presence of supernatural forces in this garden. The two fighting men collapse. Kotôta is the first to wake up. He quickly leaves the stage through the hanamichi, performing an impressive roppô, and goes to bring reinforcements. Then, Yoshikado wakes up. Suddenly his sister Princess Takiyasha appears and asks him to spend all his energy fighting and eradicating both Tawara no Kotôta and Manjû. The final fight starts with a great bukkaeri revealing a new costum for Yoshikado. He has no trouble to defeat a troupe of soldiers using a big rock and a big piece of lumber. He strikes an impressive mie after his victory. Then, all the actors playing in the first scene, surrounding Tawara no Kotôta and Manjû, appear on stage, wearing beautiful and dignifying costums. In a short speech, Manjû respectfully tells his enemy that he refuses to take advantage of Yoshikado and they swear to meet again on the battlefield for a final fight. All the actors pose, ending "Kamahige" with a beautiful emen no mie.

The actors Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII (top) and his father Ichikawa Ebizô V (bottom) playing the roles of Tawara no Kotôta and Taira no Yoshikado in the drama "Kamahige" (print made in 1852 by Utagawa Toyokuni III)