12 January: the actor Sawamura Sôjûrô IX (1933~2001) dies.

January: Bandô Yasosuke V takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô X at the Kabukiza.

31 March: the actor Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917~2001) dies.

June: 4th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Sannin Kichisa" is coproduced by Nakamura Kankurô V and the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].

8 July: the actor Ichimura Uzaemon XVII (1916~2001) dies.

January: the National Theater produces the revival of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been played in its full length since November 1864 [casting].

April: Nakamura Matsue V takes the name of Nakamura Kaishun II at the Kabukiza.

May: Onoe Tatsunosuke II takes the name of Onoe Shôroku IV at the Kabukiza.

June: Sawamura Tanosuke VI receives the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese).

The Kabuki world celebrates its 400th Anniversary !

May: Bandô Shônosuke, Kataoka Jûzô VI and Ichikawa Otora VI take the respective names of Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV, Kataoka Ichizô VI and Ichikawa Omezô VI at the Kabukiza.

June: Onoe Kikugorô VII receives the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese).

June: 5th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is coproduced by Nakamura Kankurô V and the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].

28 March: the actor Onoe Kurôemon II (1922~2004) dies.

23 April: the actor Bandô Kichiya II (1937~2004) dies.

May: Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII takes the name of Ichikawa Ebizô XI at the Kabukiza.

July: Fifth edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza, staged abroad for the first time; Nakamura Kankurô and his troupe perform in Boston (8~10 July, Cutler Majestic Theatre), New York City (17~25 July, Lincoln Center) and Washington DC (28 July, Warner Theater). In Boston and Washington, the troupe presents the dances "Bô Shibari" and "Renjishi". In New York, an Edo 545-seat traditional theater is built within the Lincoln Center and the troupe presents the great Kamigata drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami".

July: Japan decides to nominate Kabuki for recognition by UNESCO for entry in the list of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

October: special Kabuki tour in Paris (France), which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô XI [more details].

February: Bandô Takeshirô takes the name of Bandô Shinsha IV in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza.

March: the actor Nakamura Kankurô V takes the name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza.

April: Chikamatsuza tour in Korea [more details].

June: Chikamatsuza tour in the USA [more details].

June: 6th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Sakura Hime" is produced by the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].

November: UNESCO designates Kabuki as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

December: the actor Nakamura Ganjirô III takes the name of Sakata Tôjûrô IV in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

26 December: the actor Onoe Matsusuke VI (1946~2005) dies.

7 January: the playwright Tobe Ginsaku (1920~2006) dies.

17 February: Ichiyama Nasorô (1921~2006), the master of the Ichiyama school of Traditional dance, dies.

March ~ April: 7th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" is coproduced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII and the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].

May ~ June: Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in London at the Sadler's Wells (31 May~11 June) and in Amsterdam at the Stadsschouwburg (15~18 June) [more details].

20 October: the actor Nakamura Genzaemon II (1934~2006) dies.

13 December: Nagayama Takeomi, the head of the powerful Shôchiku company, dies in Tôkyô.

7 January: the playwright Tobe Ginsaku (1920~2006) dies.

30 January: the Kabuki photographer Yoshida Chiaki dies.

March: Kabuki tour in Paris (France) [more details].

April: Nakamura Shinjirô takes the name of Nakamura Kinnosuke II at the Kabukiza.

22 April: the actor Nakamura Shirogorô VII (1931~2007) dies.

June: 8th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Sannin Kichisa" is coproduced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII and the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].

May~June: Heisei Nakamuraza tour in Europe, in Berlin at the The House of World Cultures (Germany) from the 14th to the 21st of May 2008 and in Sibiu (Rumania) from the 29th of May to the 1st of June 2008 for the International Theatre Festival [more details].

June 2008: 9th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki, which is staged at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theater Cocoon. The play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is coproduced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII and the playwright Kushida Kazumi [more details].