2 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza), 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza) and 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza)!

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Fukusuke and Kataoka Takatarô perform at the Kabukiza!

Lots of young talented actors at the Hakataza

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kantarô

14th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen, the Kabukiza Farewell Performances, which will be held up to April 2010. It commemorates the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII:

Tsumeô:
(The Talons of the King)
This is a rare performance of a unique dance based on a children’s story of a falconer and his young falcon by Togawa Yukio (1912~2004). His stories are based on a wealth of observation of nature and this unlikely theme for a Kabuki dance was first staged in a commemorative performance for the Saruwaka school of classical Japanese dance, a school closely associated with the Nakamura Kanzaburô family. Featuring Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Kantarô.

Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Nakamura Kanzaburô) has been exiled to Devil's Island for plotting against the dictator Kiyomori. A pardon is given to his fellow conspirators, but Shunkan is only saved by an additional pardon given by Kiyomori's compassionate son. Even so, he gives up his place on the boat to freedom so his companion's new wife can accompany her husband back to the capital. The boat leaves and Shunkan is left watching is disappear in the distance, knowing he will be left on the island forever. Featuring Ichikawa Sadanji as the evil emissary Senoo and Nakamura Baigyoku as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon. With Nakamura Shichinosuke as the island girl Chidori and Nakamura Kantarô as Naritsune, Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. In this case, all the stars of the cast assemble to commemorate the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII.

Jiisan Baasan: based on a short story by Mori Ôgai, this modern play by Uno Nobuo shows a loving young couple. The samurai Iori travels to Kyôto with his lord, leaving Run, his beloved wife, behind. While there, he attacks another man in a fight over a sword and is forced into house arrest, separating him from his wife. Many years later, he returns to his home as an old man. There he meets an elderly woman and they do not recognize each other until she sees the one thing that has not changed with age, Iori's peculiar habit of putting his hand to his nose. Starring Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô as Iori and Run. Featuring also Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku and Kataoka Takatarô.

Tsubosaka: this play stars Bandô Mitsugorô as Sawaichi, a blind masseur who has become utterly depressed by the prospect of never recovering his eyesight. His faithful wife, played by Nakamura Fukusuke, has been praying to the Kannon goddess daily for several years for his recovery, and Sawaichi agrees to accompany her to the Kannon shrine to pray. Once there he announces he will stay to pray and fast for three days, and so his wife leaves to pick up some supplies for them, but in her absence, Sawaichi throws himself off a cliff. When she returns, the distraught wife decides to join her husband in death. The final scene shows the Kannon goddess, who miraculously saves the couple and cures Sawaichi's blindness.

Takatsuki: in this relatively modern dance-comedy adapted from the style of classical Kyôgen farces, the servant Jirôkaja (Nakamura Kanzaburô) is ordered by his lord (Bandô Yajûrô) to buy a takatsuki, which is a kind of ceremonial sake cup on a stand. Jirôkaja does not understand his lord's orders and is persuaded by a fast-talking geta clog salesman (Nakamura Hashinosuke) to buy a pair of clogs instead, thinking that this is the stand for which he was sent. After drinking a good amount of sake, he brings his purchase to the lord and responds to the lord's anger with a dance on the clogs, a virtuoso routine inspired by tap dancing, showing off the dancing skills of Nakamura Kanzaburô.

Kagotsurube: one of the most sensational plays of late Kabuki, it shows a humble, pockmarked merchant from the country named Sano Jirôzaemon (Nakamura Kanzaburô). He is wealthy, but because of the way he looks, has never thought that it would be possible to have a woman. He and his servant go sightseeing in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters and a chance look at top courtesan Yatsuhashi (Bandô Tamasaburô) who smiles at him, makes Jirôzaemon fall in love. However, the pleasure quarters are full of intrigue, and on the eve of the day that Jirôzaemon is to buy up Yatsuhashi's contract, her true love Einojô (Kataoka Nizaemon) forces her to reject and humiliate Jirôzaemon in the middle of the celebratory banquet. Jirôzaemon seems to forgive her, but returns with the sword Kagotsurube to exact his revenge. Featuring also Kataoka Gatô and Kataoka Hidetarô in the roles of Tachibanaya Chôbê and Okitsu.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Kamejirô, Nakamura Shidô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Takesaburô, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Tanetarô, Hayabusa Tarô

Hikimado: originally written for the puppet theater, this play shows a tragedy of commoners caught between their duty and their feelings toward their loved ones. A sumô wrestler named Nuregami Chôgorô (Nakamura Shidô) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Ichikawa Somegorô) has been ordered to arrest him. All of these complicated conflicts are symbolized by the lightness and darkness created by the humble skylight (hikimado in Japanese) as a rope is pulled to move a wooden shutter. Featuring also Ichikawa Komazô in the role of Ohaya.

Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi: first performed in 1829, this Tsuruya Nanboku IV's spectacular drama mixes the sekai of the rebel warriors Taira no Masakado and Fujiwara no Sumitomo, and the sekai of Princess Kiyo and the priest Anchin (dôjôjimono). After the defeat of both Masakado and Sumitomo, the angry spirit of Masakado takes possession of the body of Princess Takiyasha. Both Masakado's sister Princess Nanaaya and the kôshitsu Nyogetsuni's daughter Princess Kiyo are in love with the priest Kitashirakawa no Anchin (in reality Minamoto no Raikô). The latter girl is put under a giant bell and, burning with hate and jealousy, transformed herself into a demon. Fujiwara no Tadabumi, whose mission is to chase Masakado, falls in love with Princess Nanaaya. Pursuing her and Anchin to the Kizugawa river, he is killed and becomes a revengeful ghost. "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi" was revived in January 1964 at the Nissay Theatre (more details) and was put by the star Ichikawa Ennosuke in his collection of plays called Ennosuke Jûhachiban. Featuring the young promising actor Ichikawa Kamejirô, who does a chûnori, in the roles of Princess Kiyo and Fujiwara no Tadabumi. Featuring also Ichikawa Somegorô and Nakamura Baishi in the roles of Kitashirakawa no Anchin (in reality Minamoto no Raikô) and Princess Nanaaya.

Futa Omote Dôjôji: a spectacular futa-omotemono which concludes "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi". Featuring the young promising actor Ichikawa Kamejirô in the roles of the shirabyôshi Hanako (in reality the ghost of Princess Kiyo) and the kyôgenshi Masuroku (in reality the ghost of Tadabumi). Featuring also Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Baishi and Ichikawa Somegorô in the roles of Tawara no Tôta Hidesato, Princess Nanaaya and Raikô.

Ryôma ga Yuku: this is a dramatization of the first section of the tremendously popular historical novel by Shiba Ryôtarô (1923~1996) about Sakamoto Ryôma (1836~1867), a visionary revolutionary at the end of the Tokugawa Period who brought various rival factions together to battle the Shogunate and would have led Japan boldly, if he had not been assassinated in a bloody battle. Starring Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Shidô, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichikawa En'ya and Nakamura Karoku.

Sanja Matsuri: a vigorous dance starring Ichikawa Kamejirô and Ichikawa Somegorô. It is based on dolls at the Sanja festival showing the founding of the temple at Asakusa when two fishermen found a golden image of the Kannon in their nets. In this case, the holy spirits that they encounter are two spheres with the characters for "good" and "evil" on them, and the spirits possess the two and animate them into a lively dance.

Mabuta no Haha: this modern play by Hasegawa Shin (1884~1963) is about the matatabi Banba no Chûtarô (Nakamura Shidô), who meets up with his mother Ohama (Hayabusa Tarô) again by chance during one of his wanderings. She refuses to recognize this good-for-nothing offender as his son. Being turned away, Chûtarô has no choice but hitting the road again. Shaken by the encounter, the mother attempts to catch up with him but it is too late...

Sources: Earphone Guide website
Shôriya Aragorô for "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi", "Futa Omote Dôjôji" and "Mabuta no Haha"

Kamimura Kichiya, Kamimura Kichitarô

18th edition of a pedagogical show in Kyôto combining explanation for beginners (done by the professional storyteller Katsura Kujaku) and the drama "Kuni Namari Futaba no Oizuru", in which Kamimura Kichiya plays the role of Oyumi.

Keisei Awa no Naruto: it is one of the most popular scenes performed in the traditional puppet repertoire. In the "The Scene of the Pilgrim's Song", Oyumi meets her daughter Otsuru, whom she had been forced to abandon as an infant ten years earlier in Tokushima. But now, because of the perilous situation of the girl's samurai father, Oyumi must send her daughter away for the girl's own safety without revealing that she is the mother whom her daughter is seeking. Starring Kamimura Kichiya and Kamimura Kichitarô in the roles of Oyumi and Otsuru.

Source: bunraku.org