7 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theater, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shimbashi Embujô), 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza) !

Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Gatô and Kataoka Hidetarô perform at the Shôchikuza!

Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Kaishun perform at the National Theater!

The Naritaya and Otowaya guilds perform at the Shimbashi Embujô!

Nakamura Kichiemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shikan and Nakamura Fukusuke perform at the Kabukiza!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the Minamiza!

Lots of young talented actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô!

Nakamura Kichiemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shikan, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Danshirô, Kataoka Roen, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Komazô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Kotarô

My top recommendation for this new year program is definitively the great play "Narukami", starring Bandô Mitsugorô and Nakamura Tokizô in the roles of the wicked priest Narukami and Princess Taema. The role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki ("Kajiwara Heizô Homare no Ishikiri") is an atariyaku for Nakamura Kichiemon. I would bet that Sôgorô ("Sakanaya Sôgorô") as portrayed by Matsumoto Kôshirô is the gloomiest Sôgorô ever seen in Japan since the premiere of this drama.

There is a special program staged only the 27th, which commemorates the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the death of the Music Master Kiyomoto Shizudayû, who died in 1999 at the age of 100. This program is made up of the dances "Tama Usagi", "Sumidagawa", "Michiyuki Hatsune no Tabi" or "Karigane", starring Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Namino Noriaki (who's previous stage name was Nakamura Kankurô and future stage name will be Nakamura Kanzaburô).

Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Bandô Takesaburô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Shinnosuke

A Kamigata casting for this great new year program! The leading star Nakamura Ganjirô plays the roles of Kagaya Utaemon and Ichijô Ôkura Naganari in "Otoko no Hanamichi" and "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari". Others highlights are Kataoka Gatô in the role of Fujiwara no Shihei in "Shihei no Nana Warai" (literally "Shihei's seven laughs") and the duo Nakamura Senjaku/Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of Fujiya Izaemon and the courtesan Yûgiri ("Kuruwa Bunshô").

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Ukon

This classic new year program is also the shûmei of Onoe Ukon II, the son of the music master Kiyomoto Enjudayû VII and ... great-grandson of the star Onoe Kikugorô VI. Ukon was the first staged name of late Onoe Kurôemon II. The new Ukon plays the roles of Ohisa in "Bunshichi Mottoi" and a young bonze role in "Yakko Dôjôji".

Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Tôzô

Revival of Sakurada Jisuke I's 1773 kaomise drama "Gohiiki Kanjinchô". It usually includes a "Shibaraku" scene, a Kiyomoto-based dance and a bombastic and funny parody of "Kanjinchô". The originality of this new revival is the replacement of "Shibaraku" by ... "Onna Shibaraku".

Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Ichikawa Omezô, Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Shichinosuke

The yearly show for young promising actors in a Theater located in the heart of Asakusa, a lively and colorful neighboorhood that keeps the scent of old Edo.

Nakamura Umenosuke, Kawarazaki Kunitarô, Arashi Keishi, Nakamura Baijaku, Segawa Kikunojô, Nakamura Seinosuke, Yamazaki Ryûnosuke, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Yamazaki Kyôka, Anegawa Shinnosuke

The roles of Kamiyui Shinza, Chôbei, Chûshichi, Genshichi and Okuma are played by Nakamura Baijaku, Nakamura Umenosuke, Segawa Kikunojô, Arashi Keishi and Kawarazaki Kunitarô. This version is longer than usual (4 acts/nine scenes instead of 3 acts/six scenes) and included some rarely performed scenes with Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke (played by Nakamura Baijaku)