KABUKIZA

City

Tôkyô

Management

History

21 November 1889: opening of the Kabukiza, built in Tôkyô in the district of Kobiki-chô (Ginza).

October 1890: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Mokuami's Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Modoribashi", which is performed with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Sayuri, the demon of Mount Atago	Onoe Kikugorô V
Watanabe Genji Tsuna	Ichikawa Sadanji I

March 1891: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ôchi's drama "Buyû no Homare Shusse Kagekiyo", a revised revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's jidaimono "Shusse Kagekiyo" which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Taira no Kagekiyo, the carpenter Rokuzô	Ichikawa Danjûrô IX
Akoya	Bandô Shûchô II
Hatakeyama Shigetada	Ichikawa Gonjûrô
Minamoto no Yoritomo, the carpenter Edo Shigenari	Ichikawa Yaozô VII
Akoya's brother Iba-no-Jûzô	Nakamura Kangorô XII
The plasterer Kyûsaku, Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka	Ichikawa Ennosuke I
Mionoya Shirô	Ichikawa Shinzô V
The daigûji of the Atsuta Shrine, Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki, a carpenter (in reality Satomi Yoshinari)	Ichikawa Sumizô V
The daughter of the daigûji of the Atsuta Shrine, Kagekiyo's daughter Princess Hitomaru, Shigemori's sister Kochô	Ichikawa Metora II
Kagekiyo's son Ishiwaka	Nakamura Kofuku

September 1891: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ôchi's drama "Zôho Onna Narukami", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The ama Narukami (in reality Matsunaga's daughter Hatsuse-no-Mae)	Nakamura Fukusuke IV
Kumo no Taemanosuke, Tomiwakamaru (in reality Kumo no Taemanosuke)	Bandô Kakitsu I
Sakuma Gemba	Ichikawa Yaozô VII

July 1892: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kaidan Botan Dôrô", adapted to Kabuki from a famous Rakugo story created by San'yûtei Enchô, staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Tomozô, Oyone's ghost	Onoe Kikugorô V
Genjirô's lover Okuni, Tomozô's wife Omine	Bandô Shûchô II
Hagiwara Shinzaburô	Onoe Kikunosuke II
Iijima Heizaemon	Onoe Matsusuke IV
Otsuyu, Otsuyu's ghost	Onoe Eizaburô V
Miyanobe Genjirô	Ichikawa Yaozô VII

July 1892: premiere at the Kabukiza of the dance "Makura Jidô", which stars Onoe Kikugorô V in the role of Kikujidô.

October 1892: premiere at the Kabukiza of the matsubamemono "Suô Otoshi", starring Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Nakamura Fukusuke IV in the roles of Tarôkaja and the Princess.

March 1893: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ôchi's Nagauta-based dance "Shunkyô Kagami Jishi". The musical accompaniment is written by Kineya Shôjirô III, the choreography is made by Fujima Kan'emon II and the leading role is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. His two daughters play the roles of the butterflies.

May 1901: Nakamura Fukusuke IV takes the name of Nakamura Shikan V at the Kabukiza.

October 1902: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Ninjô Banashi Bunshichi Mottoi", whose script is based on a famous story written by the rakugoka Sanyûtei Enchô. The casting includes the following actors:

Roles	Actors
Chôbei	Onoe Kikugorô V
Chôbei's wife Okane	Onoe Eizaburô V
The Izumiya tedai Bunshichi	Ichimura Kakitsu VI
Chôbei's daughter Ohisa	Onoe Ushinosuke II
The Kadoebi Brothel madam Okoma	Nakamura Shikan V
Izumiya Seibei	Onoe Matsusuke IV

March 1903: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Otowaya guild; the actors Onoe Ushinosuke II, Onoe Eizaburô V and Onoe Eizô respectively take the names of Onoe Kikugorô VI, Onoe Baikô VI and Onoe Eizaburô VI. The three actors play the roles of Soga Gorô, Soga Jûrô and Hachiman Saburô in the drama "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue". They also play together with Ichikawa Danjûrô IX in the drama "Kiyomasa Seichûroku".

Casting for "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue":

Roles	Actors
Kudô Saemon Suketsune	Ichikawa Danjûrô IX
Soga Gorô Tokimune	Onoe Kikugorô VI
Soga Jûrô Sukenari	Onoe Baikô VI
Ôiso no Tora	Nakamura Shikan V
Kewaizaka no Shôshô	Ichikawa Monnosuke VI
Kobayashi Asahina Saburô	Ichikawa Gonjûrô
Hachiman Saburô	Onoe Eizaburô VI
Ômi no Kotôta	Ichikawa Somegorô IV
Oniô Shinzaemon	Ichikawa Yaozô VII

November 1908: revival at the Kabukiza of the kabuki jûhachiban drama "Kagekiyo", which is staged with a Tokiwazu musical accompaniment and the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo	Ichikawa Komazô VIII
Kagekiyo's wife Akoya	Onoe Baikô VI
Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada	Nakamura Shikan V
Nitan no Shirô Tadatsune	Ichimura Uzaemon XV
Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura	Ichikawa Yaozô VII
Hase no Hachirô	Ichikawa Ennosuke I
Hanzawa Rokurô Narikiyo	Onoe Kikugorô VI
Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki	Onoe Matsusuke IV
Kagekiyo's daughter Princess Hitomaru	Sawamura Sôjûrô VII

April 1910: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Yuki no Yûbe Iriya no Azemichi", a few scenes taken from "Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana" focusing on Kataoka Naojirô and his lover Michitose and staged independently from the rest of the play, which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Kataoka Naojirô	Ichimura Uzaemon XV
Michitose	Onoe Baikô VI
Kaneko Ichinojô	Ichikawa Ennosuke I
The blind masseur Jôga	Onoe Matsusuke IV
Kurayami no Ushimatsu	Nakamura Kichiemon I

November 1911: Nakamura Shikan V takes the name of Nakamura Utaemon V at the Kabukiza.

April 1912: premiere at the Kabukiza of the dance "Hashi Benkei", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Benkei	Ichikawa Danshirô II
Ushiwakamaru	Kataoka Gadô IV

November 1912: première at the Kabukiza of Enomoto Torahiko's drama "Meikô Kakiemon". The leading role of Kakiemon, the Bernard Palissy of Japan, is played by Kataoka Nizaemon XI.

April 1916: Nakamura Kotarô II takes the name of Nakamura Fukusuke V at the Kabukiza.

August 1917: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is produced for the first time at the Kabukiza, with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Danshichi Kurobei	Jitsukawa Enjaku II
Issun Tokubei	Ichikawa Sadanji II
Tsuribune Sabu	Nakamura Karoku III
Otatsu	Sawamura Gennosuke IV
Mikawaya Giheiji	Ichikawa Danshirô II
Okaji	Ichikawa Sumizô VI

October 1918: Ichikawa Yaozô VII and Ichikawa Matsuo respectively take the names of Ichikawa Chûsha VII and Ichikawa Yaozô VIII at the Kabukiza.

September 1919: premiere at the Kabukiza of the Kiyomoto-based dance "Sumidagawa", a Nô adapted to Kabuki by Yamazaki Shikô with a musical accompaniment made by Kiyomoto Umekichi II and inspired by Russian ballets seen by Ichikawa Ennosuke II during his European study tour. It is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Hanjo-no-Mae	Ichikawa Ennosuke II
The boatman	Ichikawa Danshirô II
The spirit of Umewakamaru	Ichikawa Danko II
A traveller	Ichikawa Kodayû II

October 1921: premiere at the Kabukiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Ôsakajô". The leading role of Lady Yodo (Yodogimi) is played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

30 October 1921: the Kabukiza is burnt to the ground in a fire caused by an electrical short circuit.

1 September 1923 (11:58 AM): Tôkyô is destroyed by a powerful earthquake called Kantô Daijishin, which kills more than 200,000 people; the Kabukiza is burnt to ashes.

April 1926: premiere at the Kabukiza of Matsui Shôô's drama "Yodogimi Odawara Jin". The leading role of Lady Yodo (Yodogimi) is played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

July 1926: premiere at the Kabukiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Gonza to Sukejû", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Gonza	Ichimura Uzaemon XV
Sukejû	Ichikawa Sadanji II
The landlord Rokurobei	Nakamura Kichiemon I
Sukehachi	Ichikawa Ennosuke II
Okan	Ichikawa Shôchô II

July 1927: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi", an adaptation to Kabuki by the playwright Kimura Kinka of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel, which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Karakotoya Tanjirô	Ichimura Uzaemon XV
The geisha Yonehachi	Onoe Baikô VI
The geisha Adahachi	Sawamura Sôjûrô VII

September 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Tomiko's Tokiwazu-based dance "Koma", with a choreography and a musical accompaniment made by Hanayagi Jusuke II and Tokiwazu Mojibei III; the leading role is played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II.

June 1929: revival at the Kabukiza of the dance "Gannin Bôzu", which was premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1811 by Bandô Mitsugorô III. It is staged under the title "Ukare Bôzu". The role of the bonze look-alike beggar is played by the star Onoe Kikugorô VI, who uses a different musical accompaniment, written by Kiyomoto Enjudayû V.

April 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mayama Seika's "Yoritomo no Shi", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Lady Masako	Nakamura Utaemon V
Minamoto no Yoriie	Ichikawa Sadanji II
Ôe Hiromoto	Kataoka Nizaemon XII
Hatakeyama Shigeyasu	Ichikawa Sumizô VI
Kosuô	Ichikawa Shôchô II

June 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hasegawa Shin's drama "Irezumi Chôhan", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Hantarô	Onoe Kikugorô VI
Onaka	Nakamura Fukusuke V
Masagorô	Ichimura Uzaemon XV

February 1934: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Ôishi Saigo no Ichinichi", the tenth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura".

May 1936: revival at the Kabukiza of "Nanatsu Men", which uses a new script written by Yamazaki Shikô and is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The mask-maker Kagose Akaemon, in reality Awazu Rokurô Saemon	Ichikawa Sanshô V
Yoshida no Shôshô, in reality the priest Seigen	Ichimura Kakitsu VII
Princess Sakura	Nakamura Fukusuke VI

November 1938: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Nambuzaka no Yuki Wakare", the sixth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Ôishi Kuranosuke	Ichikawa Sadanji II
Lady Yôzeiin	Kataoka Nizaemon XII
Hagura Itsuki	Ichikawa Sumizô VI
The koshimoto Oume	Ichikawa Shôchô II
Ochiai Yoemon	Matsumoto Kôshirô VII
The koshimoto Miyuki	Suketakaya Kodenji II
Shibukawa Godayû	Nakamura Kichinojô I
The koshimoto Yosame	Nakamura Shikaku II

April 1939: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Fushimi Shumokumachi", the fourth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura".

May 1940: Ichikawa Komazô IX takes the name of Ichikawa Ebizô IX at the Kabukiza, playing the role of role of a moxa peddlar, in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune in disguise, in the drama "Uirô Uri", which is revived for this occasion.

10 March 1945 (00:08 AM): 344 US Army B29 bombers drops 2,000 tons of bombs on Tôkyô, killing more than 120,000 people and destroying almost everything; the Kabukiza is burnt to ashes.

January 1951: the Kabukiza reopens.

April 1951: Nakamura Shikan VI takes the name of Nakamura Utaemon VI at the Kabukiza.

July 1951: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Minobe Iori	Ichikawa Ennosuke II
Iori's wife Run	Nakamura Tokizô III
Iori's son Kyûya	Ichikawa Shôen II
Kyûya's wife Kiku	Ichikawa Shôchô III
Run's brother Kyûemon	Ichikawa Yaozô VIII
Shimojima Jin'emon	Sawamura Tosshi VIII

("Jiisan Baasan" was also premiered in July 1951 in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza [casting])

October 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Osaragi Jirô's drama "Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga", which is staged with the following actors:

Roles	Actors
Nobunaga	Ichikawa Ebizô IX
Yayoi	Onoe Baikô VII
Hirate Masahide	Onoe Shôroku II
Kinoshita Tôkichirô	Ichikawa Sadanji III

March 1953: premiere at the Kabukiza of Osaragi Jirô's drama "Edo no Yûbae", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The hatamoto Honda Koroku	Ichikawa Ebizô IX
The hatamoto Dômae Daikichi	Onoe Shôroku II
The geisha Oriki	Onoe Baikô VII
Otose	Nakamura Fukusuke VII
The hatamoto Matsudaira Kamon	Ichikawa Sadanji III
The old boatman Shimbei	Kawarazaki Gonjûrô II
Okin	Onoe Taganojô III
Yoshida Ippeita	Bandô Hikosaburô VII
Amitoku's daughter Ochô	Ôkawa Hashizô II
The hatamoto Sekine Mondonojô	Sawamura Tanosuke V
Kamon's wife Omura	Nakamura Shikaku II
Tokumatsu	Bandô Mitsunobu
Kuroiwa Dennai	Kataoka Ichizô V
A boatman	Kawarazaki Gonzaburô IV
The sobaya master Ichibei	Ichikawa Arajirô II
The hatamoto Uchikoshi Ikunosuke	Suketakaya Kodenji II

June 1953: Ichikawa Yaozô VIII takes the name of Ichikawa Chûsha VIII at the Kabukiza.

September 1953: Sawamura Tosshô IV takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII at the Kabukiza.

March 1954: revival at the Kabukiza of the dance-drama "Oshidori" as part of the first edition of the Tsubomi no Kai, a study group led by Nakamura Utaemon VI. The actor works with Nagauta and Tokiwazu musicians to create a new music; the "Sumô" part is created by the Nagauta musicians Kineya Eiji, Yoshimura Gorôji II and Tanaka Denzaemon XI; the "Oshidori" part is created by the Tokiwazu musicians Tokiwazu Chitosedayû and Tokiwazu Kikusaburô; the choreography is supervised by Fujima Kanjûrô VI; "Oshidori" is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The keisei Kisegawa, the spirit of the female mandarin duck	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Kawazu Saburô Sukeyasu, the spirit of the male mandarin duck	Ichikawa Ebizô IX
Matano Gorô Kagehisa	Onoe Shôroku II

July 1954: revival at the Kabukiza of the dance-drama "Oshidori" as part of a regular Kabuki program; is is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The keisei Kisegawa, the spirit of the female mandarin duck	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Kawazu Saburô Sukeyasu, the spirit of the male mandarin duck	Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Matano Gorô Kagehisa	Morita Kan'ya XIV

November 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mishima Yukio's comical play "Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Sarugenji	Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Hotarubi (in reality the Princess of Tankaku Castle)	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Ebina Naamidabutsu	Ichikawa Chûsha VIII
The proprietor	Ichikawa Danzô VIII

February 1955: the drama "Tenshu Monogatari" is staged for the first time with Kabuki actors, at the Kabukiza. It was premiered in October 1951 at the Shimbashi Embujô by a Shinpa troupe. It is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Princess Tomi	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Zushonosuke	Morita Kan'ya XIV
Princess Kame	Nakamura Senjaku
Ôminojô Tôroku	Ichikawa Danzô VIII
Shitanaga Uba	Nakamura Shikaku II
Susuki	Nakamura Matagorô II
Shu-no-Banbô	Nakamura Fukusuke V

February 1955: revival at the Kabukiza of Sakurada Jisuke I's dance-drama "Kumo no Hyôshimai", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The shirabyôshi Tsumagiku, in reality the spirit of a ground spider	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Sakata Kintoki	Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII
Usui Sadamitsu	Nakamura Matagorô II
The catfish woman Oden	Nakamura Shibajaku VI
The catfish priest Raiun	Ichikawa Komazô X
A female page, in reality a ground spider	Sawamura Tosshô V
A female page, in reality a ground spider	Ichikawa Somegorô VI

July 1955: Kataoka Roen V takes the name of Kataoka Gadô V at the Kabukiza.

October 1955: Bandô Hikosaburô VII takes the name of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII at the Kabukiza.

July 1956: revival at the Kabukiza of the michiyuki "Chô no Michiyuki"; the roles of Komaki and Sukekuni are played by Nakamura Utaemon VI and Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII. Revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", which is commonly called "Onna Seigen", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Princess Hanako, the Shinkiyomizu ama Seigen, the ghost of the nun Seigen	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Sarushima no Sôta	Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII
Yoshida Matsuwakamaru	Morita Kan'ya XIV
Awazu Rokuemon Toshikane	Bandô Mitsugorô VII
Gunsuke	Ichikawa Chûsha VIII
The Shinkiyomizu chief priest Todorokibô	Ichikawa Danzô VIII
The watashimori Otsuna	Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Princess Sakura	Ichikawa Komazô X
Matsuyoi	Nakamura Matagorô II
The yakko Tobahei	Ichimura Kakitsu VIII
The tsubone Sanuki	Nakamura Shikaku II
Ôtomo Hitachinosuke Yorikuni, Arai Kitôta	Ichikawa Kuzô V
The yakko Sudahei	Nakamura Fukusuke V

September 1956: revival at the Kabukiza of the Kiyomoto version of the dance "Takao Zange" in which Nakamura Utaemon VI plays the role of the ghost of the keisei Takao.

November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô". The new script, which is based on Iwaya Shin'ichi's script for "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô" (more details), is revised by Mishima Yukio. It is is produced under its original title with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The priest Seigen, Tsurigane no Gonsuke, Shinobu no Sôta	Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII
Princess Sakura, Fûrin Ohime	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Tsunaemon	Ichikawa Danzô VIII
Matsui Gengo	Ichikawa Sumizô VII
The priest Zangetsu	Ichikawa Chûsha VIII
Awazu Shichirô, Sentarô	Nakamura Matagorô II
Iruma Akugorô	Ichikawa Yaozô IX
Katsushika no Ojû	Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Nagaura	Nakamura Shikaku II

January 1960: premiere (or revival?) at the Kabukiza of the dance "Kuruwa Sambasô", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The keisei Chitosedayû	Nakamura Utaemon VI
The shinzô Umezato	Kataoka Gadô V
The taiko mochi Tôchû	Morita Kan'ya XIV

April 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Onizoroi Momijigari", which is part of a program celebrating the shûmei of Nakamura Tokizô IV and commemorating the 1st anniversary (2nd memorial service) of late Nakamura Tokizô III; the music is performed by a Tokiwazu ensemble by Tokiwazu Chitosedayû and Tokiwazu Kikusaburô and a Nagauta ensemble (performing Ôzatsuma) led by Yoshimura Gorôji II and Tanaka Denzaemon XI; there is also a Gidayû ensemble; it is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Princess Sarashina, in reality the female demon of Mount Togakushi	Nakamura Utaemon VI
Taira no Koremochi	Ichikawa Ennosuke II
The shitennô Ueda Tarô Yoshiharu	Nakamura Fukusuke V
The shitennô Komoro Jirô Mitsusada	Ichikawa Kuzô V
The shitennô Usunaga Saburô Akimune	Nakamura Kichijûrô II
The shitennô Takatô Shirô Kaneyoshi	Ichikawa Yaozô IX
The messenger from the God of the Otokoyama Hachiman shrine Chiakihiko	Kagaya Fukunosuke I
The messenger from the God of the Otokoyama Hachiman shrine Hyakuakihiko	Kagaya Hashinosuke
A female retainer, in reality a female demon	Nakamura Matagorô II
A female retainer, in reality a female demon	Ichikawa Shôchô III
A female retainer, in reality a female demon	Ichikawa Komazô X
A female retainer, in reality a female demon	Sawamura Tosshô V
A female retainer, in reality a female demon	Ichikawa Danko III
The attendant Yukirôta	Ichimura Kakitsu VIII
The attendant Tsukirôgo	Nakamura Tôtarô

April 1962: Ichikawa Ebizô IX takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI at the Kabukiza.

September 1962: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 generations of actors belonging to the Yamatoya guild (Yamatoya Sandai Shûmei); Bandô Minosuke VI takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô VIII, Bandô Yasosuke IV becomes Bandô Minosuke VII and Bandô Yasosuke V makes his first appearance on stage.

May 1963: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Omodakaya guild; Ichikawa Ennosuke II, Ichikawa Danko III and Ichikawa Kamejirô I respectively take the names of Ichikawa En'ô I, Ichikawa Ennosuke III and Ichikawa Danko IV.

June 1963: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's Nagauta-based dance-drama "Ôeyama Shuten Dôji"; the music was written by Kineya Rokuzaemon XIV and the choreography was made by Fujima Kanjûrô VI; it is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Shuten Dôji	Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Minamoto Yorimitsu (Raikô)	Onoe Shôroku II
Hirai Yasumasa	Onoe Kurôemon II
Watanabe Tsuna	Ichimura Kakitsu VIII
Usui Sadamitsu	Bandô Minosuke VII
Sakata Kintoki	Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
Urabe Suetake	Onoe Kikuzô VI
Lady Nadeshiko	Nakamura Senjaku II
Lady Sawarabi	Nakamura Fukusuke VII
Lady Wakasa	Ôtani Tomoemon VII

June 1963: revival at the Kabukiza of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Danshichi Mohei	Onoe Shôroku II
The courtesan Otomi	Nakamura Senjaku II
The playwright Namiki Shôzô	Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Iwai-buro Jisuke	Bandô Mitsugorô VIII
Daimonjiya Jihei (commonly called Sakai no Daiji)	Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
Arashi Sangorô	Bandô Minosuke VII
Sawamura Kunitarô	Onoe Kikuzô VI
Jisuke's wife Okaji	Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Takaichi Kazuemon	Nakamura Shôjaku
Manriki Ichiemon	Nakamura Fukusuke V
The owner of the Naniwa chaya Kawakyû	Suketakaya Kodenji II
Kyûshichi	Iwai Hanshirô X
The brothel-keeper Gonbei	Ichikawa Yaozô IX

April 1964: Sawamura Yoshijirô IV and his father Sawamura Tanosuke V respectively take the names of Sawamura Tanosuke VI and Sawamura Shozan V at the Kabukiza.

May 1964: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's Nagauta-based dance-drama "Bukaku Setsugekka"; the music was written by Kineya Rokuzaemon XIV and the choreography was made by Fujima Kanjûrô VI; this dance-drama is made up of 3 short dances, the first one being about the spirit of the cherry blossoms ("Sakura"), which symbolizes Spring; the second dance is about insects under the full moon ("Matsumushi") which symbolizes the autumn; the third dance is about a snowman ("Yuki Daruma Goyomi"), which symbolizes Winter; it is staged with a Nagauta ensemble led by Kineya Rokuzaemon XIV and the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The spirit of the cherry blossoms, the insect, the snowman	Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
The little insect ("Matsumushi")	Nakamura Kankurô V

September 1964: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Kyôya and Akashiya guilds; Ôtani Tomoemon VII, Ôtani Hirotarô II and Ôtani Hiromatsu I respectively take the names of Nakamura Jakuemon IV, Ôtani Tomoemon VIII and Nakamura Shibajaku VII.

May 1965: shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 young actors of the Otowaya guild; Onoe Ushinosuke V, Bandô Kamesaburô IV and Onoe Sakon I respectively take the names of Onoe Kikunosuke IV, Bandô Shinsui VIII, and Onoe Tatsunosuke I.

February 1967: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Dattan", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The priest Shûkei	Onoe Shôroku II
The woman of the blue cloth	Onoe Baikô VII
The dôdôji	Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
A rengyôshû	Bandô Minosuke VII
A rengyôshû	Ichikawa Omezô V
A rengyôshû	Onoe Tatsunosuke I
A rengyôshû	Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI
A rengyôshû	Ichikawa Somegorô VI
A rengyôshû	Nakamura Kichiemon II
A rengyôshû	Ichikawa Komazô X
A rengyôshû	Onoe Kikuzô VI
A rengyôshû	Bandô Kichiya II
A rengyôshû	Ichikawa Ginnosuke I
A rengyôshû	Matsumoto Kingo III
A young temple attendant	Nakamura Yonekichi IV

April 1967: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Narikomaya and Kagaya guilds; Nakamura Fukusuke VII, Kagaya Fukunosuke, Kagaya Hashinosuke and Nakamura Tamatarô III respectively take the names of Nakamura Shikan VII, Nakamura Fukusuke VIII, Nakamura Matsue V and Nakamura Tôzô VI; Shikan's son Nakamura Kotarô V makes his first stage appearance.

May 1969: Ichikawa Danko IV takes the name of Ichikawa Danshirô IV at the Kabukiza.

November 1969: Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI takes the name of Ichikawa Ebizô X at the Kabukiza.

May 1972: Bandô Shinsui VIII and Ichimura Takematsu V respectively take the name of Bandô Kamezô II and Ichimura Manjirô II at the Kabukiza.

September 1972: Ichimura Takenojô VI takes the prestigious name of Nakamura Tomijûrô V at the Kabukiza.

October 1973: Onoe Kikunosuke IV takes the name of Onoe Kikugorô VII at the Kabukiza.

September 1976: Sawamura Tosshô V takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô IX at the Kabukiza.

July 1977: revival at the Kabukiza of Katsu Genzô III's drama "Ogasawara Sôdô", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Inugami Hyôbu, Okada Ryôsuke, the yakko Kikuhei (in reality the fox of Mt. Myôjin)	Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Ogasawara Tôtômi-no-Kami	Nakamura Ganjirô II
Koheiji	Ichikawa Danshirô IV
Ogasawara Haito	Nakamura Yonekichi IV
Odai-no-Kata, Ohaya	Ichikawa Monnosuke VII
Ogasawara Buzen-no-Kami	Ichikawa Omezô V

February 1979: Ichikawa Omezô V takes the name of Ichikawa Sadanji IV at the Kabukiza.

February 1980: Bandô Kamezô II takes the name of Bandô Hikosaburô VIII at the Kabukiza.

July 1980: tôshi kyôgen production of "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" at the Kabukiza; Ichikawa Ennosuke III creates and stages as a large-scale tachimawari the never-performed 5th act of this drama with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Satô Shirobyôei Tadanobu	Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan, in reality Taira no Noritsune	Ichikawa Danshirô IV
Minamoto no Yoshitsune	Nakamura Ganjirô II
Shizuka Gozen	Ichikawa Monnosuke VII
Kamei Rokurô Shigekiyo	Nakamura Yonekichi IV
Kataoka Hachirô Kiyoshige	Ichikawa Koyone II
Ise Saburô Yoshimori	Nakamura Shinjirô
Suruga Jirô Kiyoshige	Ichikawa Ukon
Washinoo Saburô Yoshihisa	Bandô Yajûrô

June 1981: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Yorozuya guild; Nakamura Yonekichi IV, Nakamura Baishi III, Nakamura Mitsuteru and Ogawa Mikihiro respectively take the names of Nakamura Karoku V, Nakamura Tokizô V, Nakamura Kashô III and Nakamura Shidô II.

October 1981: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 generations of actors belonging to the Kôraiya guild (kôraiya sandai shûmei); Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, Ichikawa Somegorô VI, Matsumoto Kintarô III, Ichikawa Nakanosuke III and Ichikawa Momomaru respectively take the names of Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Ichikawa Somegorô VII, Matsumoto Kôemon and Ichikawa Shinsha II.

April 1985: Ichikawa Ebizô IX takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII at the Kabukiza.

November 1990: Nakamura Senjaku II takes the name of Nakamura Ganjirô III at the Kabukiza.

April 1992: Nakamura Fukusuke VIII and Nakamura Kotarô V respectively take the names of Nakamura Baigyoku IV and Nakamura Fukusuke IX at the Kabukiza.

May 1996: Onoe Ushinosuke VI takes the name of Onoe Kikunosuke V at the Kabukiza.

January 1998: Kataoka Takao takes the name of Kataoka Nizaemon XV at the Kabukiza.

June 2000: revival at the Kabukiza of the spectacular hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The wisteria maiden, a falcon-handler, a zatô, a boatman and the ôtsue demon	Nakamura Ganjirô III
Ya-no-Ne no Gorô	Nakamura Kanjaku V
Benkei	Bandô Kichiya II

December 2000: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Kaka Saiyûki", Ichikawa Ennosuke III's version of Kawatake Shinshichi III's 1878 drama "Tsûzoku Saiyûki" (Kaka is the haimyô of Ichikawa Ennosuke III), which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Songokû	Ichikawa Ukon
The Priest Sanzô	Ichikawa Emiya
Chohakkai	Ichikawa En'ya
Sagojô	Ichikawa Danjirô
The queen of the Sairyô Province, in reality the spirit of a giant spider	Ichikawa Emisaburô
The queen's sister Fuyô, in reality the spirit of a giant spider	Ichikawa Shun'en

January 2001: Bandô Yasosuke V takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô X at the Kabukiza.

April 2002: Nakamura Matsue V takes the name of Nakamura Kaishun II at the Kabukiza.

May 2002: Onoe Tatsunosuke II takes the name of Onoe Shôroku IV at the Kabukiza.

May 2003: 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.

May 2004: Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII take the name of Ichikawa Ebizô XI at the Kabukiza.

March 2005: Nakamura Kankurô V take the name of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII at the Kabukiza.

April 2007: Nakamura Shinjirô takes the name of Nakamura Kinnosuke II at the Kabukiza.

November 2008: the Kabukiza, the main Kabuki theater in Japan, will be torn down and rebuilt from May 2010. The new theater complex will be built on the current site, in the Eastern part of the Ginza district of Tôkyô. The rebuilding is expected to take at least three years. To celebrate the closing of this prestigious theater, a series of performances titled Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) will be held from January 2009 to April 2010. The Shôchiku Company announces that from May 2010 until the new theater's scheduled reopening in 2013, Kabuki performances will be held at the Shimbashi Embujô.

January 2009: 1st of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

February 2009: 2nd of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

March 2009: 3rd of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

April 2009: 4th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

May 2009: 5th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

June 2009: 6th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances); isse ichidai performance of Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of Yohei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Abura no Jigoku" and the hatsubutai of Matsumoto Kôshirô's grandson Matsumoto Kintarô IV [more details].

July 2009: 7th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

August 2009: 8th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

September 2009: 9th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

October 2009: 10th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

November 2009: 11th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

December 2009: 12th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

January 2010: 13th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

February 2010: 14th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances); commemoration of the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII [more details]. Revival at the Kabukiza of the Nagauta-based dance "Tsumeô", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The fox	Nakamura Kantarô
The falcon Fubuki	Nakamura Shichinosuke
The falconer	Bandô Yajûrô
The shôya	Nakamura Kinnosuke

March 2010: 15th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

April 2010: final Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen (Kabukiza Farewell Performances) [more details].

30th April 2010: Kabukiza closing Ceremony [more details].

May 2010 ~ Spring 2013: destruction of the 4th Kabukiza; building of the 5th Kabukiza.

28th March 2013: traditional ceremonial hand-clapping (koshiki kaomise tejimeshiki in Japanese; the traditional face-showing ritual of hand-clapping) with all actors and Kabuki-related people on the brand-new stage for the successful opening of the 5th Kabukiza.

The Kabukiza (April 2013)

Photographes of the Kabukiza

Matsuri in front of the Kabukiza the 1st of January 2010

Kabukiza Construction Site (March 2012)