MARCH 2004

3 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza), 1 in Komatsu (Komatsu Geijutsu Gekijô), 1 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 tour (Zenshinza)!

Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikugorô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Tomijûrô and Nakamura Shikan perform at the Kabukiza!

Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Minamiza!

Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe performs at the Shôchikuza!

Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Senjaku perform at the National Theatre!

Kabukiza (Tôkyô)

Dates

2 ~ 26 March 2004 (Sangatsu Ôkabuki)

Matinée

Meiboku Sendai Hagi

Hanamizubashi

Take-no-Ma

Goten

Yukashita

Fuji Musume

Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai (Ninokuchi-mura)

Evening

Genroku Chûshingura (Ôishi Saigo no Ichinichi)

Dattan

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura

Ko-no-Mi

Kokingo Uchijini

Sushiya

Casting

Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shikan, Ichikawa Sadanji, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Shinjirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Bandô Kichiya, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Danzô, Onoe Matsusuke, Ôtani Tomoemon, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Tetsunosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô

Comments

The 2 highlights of this program are the jidaimono "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", with the good nurse Masaoka (Onoe Kikugorô) confronting the evil Yashio (Ichikawa Danshirô), and the 3 scenes of the 3rd act of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", with Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of Igami no Gonta. Here is the casting for the main roles in the main plays:

plays	Roles	Actors
Meiboku Sendai Hagi	Masaoka	Onoe Kikugorô
	Yashio	Ichikawa Danshirô
	Nikki Danjô	Matsumoto Kôshirô
	Arajishi Otokonosuke	Nakamura Tomijûrô
	Yorikane	Nakamura Kaishun
	Sakae Gozen	Nakamura Shikan
	Okinoi	Nakamura Tokizô
	Matsushima	Onoe Kikunosuke
	Tanizô	Onoe Shôroku
Fuji Musume	The wisteria maiden	Nakamura Shikan
Ninokuchi-mura	Chûbê, Magoemon	Kataoka Nizaemon
	Umegawa	Nakamura Jakuemon
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura	Igami no Gonta	Kataoka Nizaemon
	Osato	Kataoka Takatarô
	Yasuke, Koremori	Nakamura Baigyoku
	Kokingo	Kataoka Ainosuke
	Kosen	Kataoka Hidetarô
	Yazaemon	Bandô Kichiya
	Kajiwara	Ichikawa Sadanji
	Wakaba-no-Naishi	Nakamura Tôzô

Minamiza (Kyôto)

Dates

8 ~ 21 March 2004 (Bandô Tamasaburô Tokubetsu Buyô Kôen)

Program

Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura

Kishû Dôjôji

Casting

Bandô Tamasaburô

Comments

A great dance program starring Bandô Tamasaburô in two unusual dôjôjimono.

National Theatre (Tôkyô)

Dates	4 ~ 26 March 2004
Program	Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie
Casting	Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Ichikawa Kamejirô
Comments	A great women-only revenge play. The roles of Iwafuji, Onoe and Ohatsu are played by Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku and Ichikawa Kamejirô. This is the first time for these 3 young and talented actors to perform these important roles!

Komatsu Geijutsu Gekijô (Komatsu)
Dates	20 ~ 21 March 2004 (Shôchiku Ôkabuki)
Program	Kotobuki Shiki Sanbasô Kanjinchô
Casting	Ichikawa Danjûrô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Bandô Shûchô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu
Comments	Prestigious opening ceremony for a new theater, which is located in the city of Komatsu in the prefecture of Ishikawa, close to the Ataka road-block, where the action of the drama "Kanjinchô" takes place.

Zenshinza Tour in Kyûshû
Dates	10 ~ 31 March 2004
Program	Yuki Matsuri Gonin Sanbasô Narukami
Casting	Arashi Keishi, Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Yamazaki Ryûnosuke, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô

Shôchikuza (Ôsaka)

Dates	6 ~ 29 March 2004
Program	Shin Sangokushi III
Casting	Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen
Comments	Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe of young and talented actors perform a modern style of theater, which they created a few years ago and called "Super Kabuki" (Sûpâ Kabuki in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's lingo): it's spectacular (lots of chûnori), the costums are gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated, the music is modern, the texts are easy to understand and the plots are as twisted as a good Kabuki classic. Usually a big commercial success! Ichikawa Ennosuke is on sick leave and does not perform in this production.