Okuni and her troupe dance the first "Kabuki Odori" (eccentric dances) on the banks of the Kamo river in Kyôto, close to the famous Shijô avenue.

Okuni and her troupe perform at the Shôgun palace in Edo.

Lord Date Masamune invites a Onna Kabuki (Woman Kabuki) troupe to perform in his castle in Sendai.

Onna Kabuki (Woman Kabuki) performances are forbidden by the Shogunal authorities.

Foundation of the Murayamaza.

29 January: both the Murayamaza and the Nakamuraza are burnt in a big fire.

Foundation of the Yamamuraza.

The use of silk to make Kabuki costums is forbidden by the Shogunal authorities.

6 March: the zamoto Murayama Matasaburô I (1605~1652) dies.

July: Wakashû Kabuki (Boy Kabuki) performances are forbidden by the Shogunal authorities.

2 August: the zamoto Murata Kuroemon dies.

March: Yarô Kabuki (Adult Kabuki) performances are authorized by the Shogunal authorities.

18 January: a fire breaks out in the Honmyôji temple in the district of Hongô and devastates Edo. All the Kabuki theaters are destroyed by the flames. This fire is nicknamed "furisode kaji" (the "long-sleeve fire").

9 June: the actor and zamoto Nakamura Kanzaburô I (1598~1658) dies.

14 January: a fire breaks out in the district of Yushima. It spreads and burns the Ichimuraza, the Nakamuraza and the newly-constructed Moritaza.

May: opening of the rebuilt Moritaza.

27 January: a fire breaks out in the residence of Kusakabe Gonzaemon in the district of Takajô-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Moritaza.

28 October: both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza are burnt in a big fire.

The Shimabara dramas (dramas using Shimabara as the scene of the play) are forbidden by the Shogunal authorities. Shimabara is a famous pleasure quarter in Kyôto.

The first play divided into several acts of Kabuki history is performed in Ôsaka. The drama's title is "Hinin no Adauchi", narrating the tribulations of a young man who has to disguise himself as a beggar in order to look for the murderer of his father. The author of the drama is Fukui Yagozaemon.

October: the number of Kabuki theaters in the city of Edo is set to 4 by the authorities. The authorized theaters are the Nakamuraza (in the district of Sakai-chô), the Ichimuraza (Fukiya-chô), Moritaza (Kobiki-chô) and the Yamamuraza (Kobiki-chô).

1673: Ichikawa Ebizô I plays the role of Sakata Kintoki in the drama "Shitennô Ochigodachi", which is staged at the Nakamuraza. This is the first time in Kabuki that an actor uses a kumadori make-up, made up of black and red lines. The aragoto style originates from this performance, which is a triumphant success.

26 August: the zamoto Nakamura Kanzaburô II (1647~1674) dies.

26 December: a fire breaks out in the district of Hama-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

11 August: the zamoto Nakamura Kanzaburô III (1649~1678) dies.

25 February: the zamoto Morita Kan'ya I dies.

29 May: a fire breaks out in the puppets theater Ôsaka Shichidayûza in the district of Sakai-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

March: the very first sayaate scene in Kabuki history is staged at the Ichimuraza [more details].

28 December: a fire started by Yaoya Oshichi breaks out in the Daienji Temple in the district of Komagome. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza. This fire is nicknamed "Oshichi Kaji" (the "Oshichi fire").

17 May: the courtesan Yamatoya Ichinojô and her lover Goze no Chôemon commit suicide together in Ôsaka. This event causes quite a stir and three Ôsaka theaters decide to capitalize on the situation by simultaneously producing the first shinjûmono of Kabuki history:

16 December: a fire breaks out in the Nakamuraza in the district of Sakai-chô. It spreads and burns also the Ichimuraza.

March 1684: the star Ichikawa Danjûrô I plays for the first time the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Kadomatsu Shitennô", which is staged at Nakamuraza. He is the author of this first version of "Narukami" and his stage partner in the role of Princess Taema is the onnagata actor Itô Kodayû II.

24 July: the zamoto Ichimura Uzaemon III (1628~1686) dies.

24 November: the puppet zamoto Ichimura Takenojô II (1680~1686) dies.

January: publication of "Yarô Tachiyaku Butai Ôkagami", the first hyôbanki in Kabuki history.

21 September: the actor Itô Kodayû I (1649~1687) dies.

The zamoto Araki Yojibei I produces in Ôsaka the drama "Keisei Sayo no Nakayama"; the leading role of the courtesan is played by Tanishima Mondo. It includes the first dance in Kabuki history related to the famous mugen no kane theme.

The actor Itô Kodayû II dies.

22 July: the zamoto Kawarazaki Gonnosuke I (1596~1690) dies.

18 October: the Kamigata star Arashi San'emon I (1635~1690) dies.

8 August: the actor and zamoto Ichimura Uzaemon V (1654~1691) dies.

January: publication of the illustrated book "Kokon Shibai Irokurabe Hyakunin Isshu".

March: the first drama written by the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon for the star Sakata Tôjûrô I is performed in Kyôtô at Miyako Mandayû's theater. The play's title is "Butsumo Mayasan Kaichô" and the others actors in the casting are Yamashita Hanzaemon, Yoshizawa Ayame, Kirinami Senju, Kaneko Kichizaemon and Iwai Heijirô.

Spring : the star Ichikawa Danjûrô I plays for the first time in Kyôto the role of the wicked priest Narukami. The drama's title is "Narukami Yûjoron" and it is staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai. The role of Princess Taema is played by Mizuki Tatsunosuke I.

July: the actor Namboku Sabu I dies.

7 December: Akaneya Hanshichi (son of a sake merchant) and his lover Sankatsu commit suicide together in Ôsaka. This event causes quite a stir and is immediately adapted to Kabuki by the zamoto Iwai Hanshirô I, under the title "Akane no Iroba". The roles of Sankatsu and Hanshichi are played by Hanai Azuma and Sugiyama Kanzaemon. This is a long run (150 days)

26 December: a fire breaks out in the district of Sukiyabashi. It spreads and burns both the Moritaza and the Yamamuraza.

January: premiere of the bombastic "Shibaraku" scene (kabuki jûhachiban), at the Nakamuraza, performed within the drama "Daifukuchô Sankai Nagoya". Ichikawa Danjûrô I plays the superhero role and his stage partners are Ogino Sawanojô and Yamanaka Heikurô I.

January: Premiere at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater of the drama "Keisei Asamagadake", which is produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon [casting]. This long run play is about the apparition of a courtesan's ghost to her unfaithful lover and becomes both a milestone in Kabuki history and a classic theme.

21 April: the actor and zamoto Ichimura Takenojô III (1681~1698) dies.

10 December: a fire breaks out in the district of Nihombashi Hongoku-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

3 April: the actor and zamoto Iwai Hanshirô I (1652~1699) dies.

May: Ichikawa Dannosuke II dies.

10 April: the actor and zamoto Bandô Matakurô I (1632~1700) dies.

16 December: the actor Araki Yojibei I (1637~1700) dies.