4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, TBS Akasaka Act Theater), 1 in Atami (MOA Museum of Art), 1 in Kyôtango (Tango Bunka Kaikan), 1 in Yamaga (Yachiyoza) and 1 tour (Eastern Provinces)!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô and Ichikawa Chûsha perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Shidô perform at the TBS Akasaka Act Theater!

Nakamura Shikan, his 3 sons and Nakamura Matsue are on tour in the Eastern Provinces!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the National Theatre!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Tango Bunka Kaikan, at the Atami Museum of Art and at the Yachiyoza!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Chûsha

Ichikawa Ebizô XI takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza. This is the first month of a 3-month shûmei for the Naritaya guild, in May, June and July.

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Kiba Katsumi, Yamaguchi Makiya

5th edition of the Akasaka Grand Kabuki, which was started in September 2008 by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, the head of the Nakamuraya guild.

Botan Dôrô: one of the most famous ghost stories in Japan shows the ghost of a beautiful young girl who visits the man she loves nightly, her way lit by a lantern decorated with peonies. The clatter of her wooden clogs announces her appearance, “…karannn…koronnnn…” Originally a Chinese story, it became a Japanese classic when it was transformed into a long rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô (1839~1900). Otsuyu (Nakamura Shichinosuke) the daughter of a samurai family falls in love with a young samurai named Shinzaburô (Nakamura Kankurô), but she falls sick and dies when he stops visiting her. Her ghost begins to visit him nightly preceded by the ghost of her nursemaid carrying a lantern decorated with peonies and he welcomes these meetings, not realizing that she is dead. But a priest sees the signs of death and protects Shinzaburô with holy amulets and a powerful Buddhist statue. The ghosts then bribe Shinzaburô’s greedy servant Tomozô (Nakamura Shidô) and his wife Omine (Nakamura Shichinosuke) to take the amulets away. The result is that Shinzaburô is killed by the ghosts and Tomozô and Omine run away with the money. But the money doesn’t bring them happiness. This version of the story is not just a tale of ghosts, but shows human treachery and the revolving ironies of fate.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Baika

The usual yearly Grand Kabuki Tour in the Eastern Provinces, not in July as it used to be up to 2019 but in May.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: the epic "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura") features many characters around the famous general Yoshitsune, but none more memorable than a magic fox that takes the guise of Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune's most trusted retainers. The fox wants to get close to a precious drum that Yoshitsune has made from the skins of his fox parents. In this excerpt from the longer play, the fox reveals his true identity with a series of spectacular stage tricks and Yoshitsune is moved to grant him the drum. Starring Nakamura Hashinosuke as the fox Tadanobu. Also featuring Bandô Shingo and Nakamura Shikan as Shizuka Gozen and Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

Renjishi: 2 entertainers dance a tale of the legendary shishi or lion-like spirits that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. There is a comic interlude with 2 Buddhist pilgrims. Then, the shishi themselves appear and perform their dance with wild shaking of their long manes. The dance shows a parent shishi forcing his cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. This theme is often associated with the training a parent actor gives his son. This performance is unusual because it features 2 cubs instead of one, starring Nakamura Shikan in the role of the parent shishi and his two sons, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke, in the roles of the cubs.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Fujikawa Yanosuke, Kawarazaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Matsunami Kihachirô, Tadamura Shin'ya, Watarai Motoyuki, Tamaura Yûnosuke, Hayase Einojô, Nakajima Kôtarô, Takei Shigeru, Nishikawa Kazuko

The usual Zenshinza May program at the National Theatre. "Tagaya no Kinta" is a newly-created Kabuki drama, with a story based on 3 famous rakugo: "Tagaya", "Nagaya no Hanami" and "Hanami no Adauchi". This program is postponed to May 2021, same venue, and it will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Zenshinza.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Kyôtango at the Tango Bunka Kaikan (Tango Culture Center).

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by stage announcements, usually lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. This month at the Tango Bunka Kaikan, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Hagoromo: the legend of the angel who came to earth to bathe and then had her heavenly feathered robe stolen by a fisherman is famous in all forms of Japanese theater. This month features an elegant dance version of the story with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the angel.

Keisei Yuki no Yoshiwara: This is a brand-new dance, the highlight of which is when the beautiful courtesan in her gorgeous costume expresses her love for her beloved, romance in the pleasure quarters, and her poor life story in dance, weaving into that scenes of the four seasons. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Atami at the MOA Museum of Art. Performances postponed to November 2020.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater. There will be a mix of video projection (with video sequences coming from the high-quality Shinema Kabuki, "Cinema Kabuki") and real dancing on stage. It celebrates the 30th anniversary of Bandô Tamasaburô's performances at the Yachiyoza.