Waterways occupy as much as ten percent of Ôsaka's city area, and have played a crucial role in its development as a strategic point in land and water transportation. One of the most picturesque among the city's numerous rivers and canals is the Dôtombori, which flows today through Ôsaka's vibrant entertainment district. From the Edo period in the 17th century, rows of theaters formed along the river, and the area became the center for both Kabuki and Bunraku. It is a custom to do funa norikomi before July Grand Kabuki at the Shôchikuza [more details]: the stars in the July casting arrived at the theater the 29th of June 2013 in a colorful boat parade, applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks. Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Kanjaku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô and Kataoka Hidetarô boarded the boats in Hachikenya pier in Temmabashi and went up to Ebisu Bridge on the Dôtombori. It ended with the traditional ceremonial hand-clapping (koshiki tejimeshiki in Japanese; the traditional ritual of hand-clapping) in front of the Shôchikuza.

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô will perform at the National Theatre the 22nd of August 2014 in the 8th edition of an NHK-sponsored program, which is called Gei no Shinzui (the Essence of Art in English) and is this time dedicated to him and his art [more details].

"Meiboku Sendai Hagi" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen (4 acts, 6 scenes with the classic structure, no rarely-staged scene will be revived) in November 2014 at the National Theatre with Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, his two sons Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku and Kataoka Takatarô [more details].

The programs for the first kaomise of the year, in October 2014 in Nagoya, have been published. The stars of this kaomise will be the Otowaya guild led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Tokizô [more details].

Ichikawa Ukon fell sick and had to stop performing from the 23rd of June 2014, while on tour in the central provinces with the Omodakaya guild. He was replaced by Ichikawa Emisaburô to perform the role of Hideyoshi in the dance "Taikô Sambasô" ... and Ichikawa Emisaburô was replaced by Ichikawa Emino to play the role of Yodo-no-Kata.

Some changes at the Japan Actors' Association (Nihon Haiyû Kyôkai in Japanese): Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Matagorô were promoted as directors. Ichikawa Danshirô stopped being director but is still a member of the association. The top management is still the same: Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô is the chairman, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô the president, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon the executive director, Nakamura Baigyoku the finance director and Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô and Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô are the 3 permanent directors. Others directors, along with the promoted Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Matagorô, are Bandô Mitsugorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kaishun and Mizutani Yaeko.

The 1st edition of a gala program called Yago no Kai for Bandô Yajûrô and his son Bandô Shingo (Ya comes from Yajûrô and Go from Shingo) will happen the 8th and the 9th of September 2014 in Tôkyô at the Nihombashi Kôkaidô [more details].

Kataoka Ainosuke will perform in August 2014 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô in the drama "Homura Tatsu" ("Rising Blaze" in English), which is the theater adaptation of a 1993-1994 NHK TV drama. The troupe will go on tour in September 2014, performing at the Kariya Cultural Center (3rd~4th Sep), at the Hiroshima Ueno Gakuen Hall (6th~7th Sep), at the Hyôgo Performing Arts Center (10th~15th Sep) and at the Iwate Prefectural Hall (20th~21st Sep).

Bandô Yajûrô will perform with the Shôchiku Shinkigeki troupe in July 2014 at the Shimbashi Embujô. He will perform in a special program which will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the Shôchiku Shinkigeki troupe.

If you are in Tôkyô this summer, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Kabuki at the Tôgeki movie theater. Several Kabuki dramas or dance-dramas, which were part of the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, will be screened there. "Kanjinchô" will be screened everyday at 11:00. "Migawari Zazen" will be screened everyday at 12:45. "Funa Benkei" will be screened everyday at 14:10. The fourth Kabuki movie, which will be screened at 15:40, will be:

The Omodakaya guild will perform for the first time at the new Kabukiza in July 2014 [more details]. They will perform along with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Ichikawa Ebizô ... but without the head of the Omodakaya guild Ichikawa Ennosuke.

Kataoka Nizaemon, who was back on stage in June 2014 after several months of absence, will be the star the Grand Kabuki performances in July 2014 at the Shôchikuza. He will perform the roles of Matsuômaru and Ukyô in the drama "Terakoya" and the dance-drama "Migawari Zazen" [more details].

Ichikawa Ebizô will stage in September 2014 at the Minamiza the world of the warrior Taira no Kagekiyo in "Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo". This newly-created aragoto drama was staged for the first time in January 2014 at the Shimbashi Embujô and it mixes 4 dramas belonging to the Ichikawa clan (Kabuki Jûhachiban): "Kan'u", "Kamahige", "Kagekiyo" and "Gedatsu" [more details].

Ichikawa Ennosuke IV and Ichikawa Chûsha IX will celebrate their shûmei in the western provinces in September 2014 [more details].

4th edition in July 2014 in the city of Matsumoto of a Kabuki program called Shinshû Matsumoto Grand Kabuki (Shinshû is an old name for the province of Nagano, whose main city is Matsumoto), which happens every two year since July 2008. It will be the same program as the 14th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki in Tôkyô [more details].

Ichikawa Ennosuke and Ichikawa Emiya, who will not perform at the Kabukiza with the Omodakaya troupe, will do in July 2014 a 6-city Buyô tour [more details].

There was an important funa norikomi on the Hakata River in Fukuoka the 29th of May, before June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza [more details]. Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Tôzô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô and others started with a ceremony at Canal City Hakata, boarded their colorful boats at Seiryû Park, did a kôjô at Kawabata Zenzai square, disembarked at Hakata Riverain, visited the Kagami Tenmangû Shrine and ended with a ceremony at Festa square. They were applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks of the Hakata river [more details].

To commemorate the second anniversary of the opening the 22nd of May 2012 of Tôkyô Sky Tree, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Onoe Matsuya performed the 24th of May 2014 the dance-drama piece "Dango Uri" on an outdoor stage in the Sky Arena at the tower’s base [more details].

The 5th of June 2014, the 8th edition of the Ningen Kokuhô no Kai, a special gala with many Living National Treasures (all of them being masters of schools of traditional music) will be staged in Tôkyô at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô. One actor will take part in this event: Ichikawa Shun'en [more details in Japanese].

The 2nd edition of ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of the young star Ichikawa Ebizô, will happen in Tôkyô at the Shimbashi Embujô from the 5th to the 10th of August 2014. The first item in this program will be a newly-created dance entitled "SOU". The second item will be the "Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata" act of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". Ichikawa Ebizô will perform a chûnori at the end of this play [more details].

A gala program called Idomu (Challenge) for the young actor Onoe Matsuya will happen in Tôkyô at the Nihombashi Kôkaidô from the 13th to the 15th of August 2014. There will be a kôjô and the staging of both the drama "Hikimado" and the dance "Omatsuri".

The usual summer program "August Cool-Breeze Kabuki" will be staged in August 2014 at the Kabukiza. 3 highlights: the revival of Tanizaki Jun'ichirô's drama "Kyôfu Jidai", which was staged for the last time in June 1976 at the Shimbashi Embujô; The revival of "Terutora Haizen" with Nakamura Hashinosuke in the role of Nagao Terutora; the production of "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki", with the same casting as the July 2014 production in New York City, which is subtitled Hôbei Kabuki Gaisen Kinen, the Commemoration of the Triumphal Return of the Kabuki (troupe) which Visited to America [more details].

Kataoka Ainosuke was given the 15th of May the Cotton USA Awards 2014. It is given by the Washington DC-based Cotton Council International to Japanese celebrities who represent "style, beauty and natural comfort", in order to promote the cotton industry in Japan.

Important: Nakamura Kanjaku V will take the name of Nakamura Ganjirô IV in January 2015 and February 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. This is one of the most prestigious names for Kamigata Kabuki, and there is no name-holder since December 2005. This shûmei will also be celebrated in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza in April 2015, in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in June 2015 and in Kyôto at the Minamiza in December 2015.

A special TV program about Kabuki available online for free! It is named Kabuki Kool and is produced by NHK World TV. The hosts are Ichikawa Somegorô and Haruka Christine. The next episode, "the beauty of onnagata", is scheduled the 21st of May 2014 (15:30 and 21:30 UTC) and the 22nd of May 2014 (3:30 and 9:30 UTC). You can watch NHK World TV Live Streaming on any kind of device [more details].

Kataoka Nizaemon will be back on stage in June 2014 at the Kabukiza! He will perform in the dance "Omatsuri" [more details].

The son of Onoe Shôroku will receive the name of Onoe Sakon III and make his debut on stage (hatsubutai) in June 2014 at the Kabukiza. He will play the role of Rampei's son Shigezô in the spectacular drama "Rampei Monogurui" and the role of Shigezô's father Rampei will be played by ... his real father [more details].

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in Kyôto in June 2014 at the Minamiza. Not in Kabuki but in Kumi Odori from the 5th to the 12th of June and in Jiutamai from the 15th to the 21st of June [more details].

"Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" will be staged in a tôshi kyôgen production (4 acts; 5 scenes) in October 2014 at the National Theatre. The rarely-staged "Shinkiyomizu" will be the opening act. Others scenes are the same ones as the January 2003 production in the same theater: "Sumôba", "Komeya", "Namba Ura Koroshi" and "Hikimado". Unfortunately "Izutsuya" or "Hashimoto" are not part of this program. The stars will be Matsumoto Kôshirô and his son Ichikawa Somegorô [more details].

The Japan Times published the 30th of April an interesting interview of Ichikawa Somegorô about his coming performances in May 2014 at the Meijiza [interview].

Two actors of the Mikawaya and Takashimaya guilds, Ichikawa Shigenosuke and Ichikawa Sajirô, will celebrate their success at the nadai exam in May 2014 at the Kabukiza. Ichikawa Shigenosuke and Ichikawa Sajirô, who passed the nadai exam in September 2012, will respectively take the names of Ichikawa Aragorô V and Ichikawa Tsutanosuke III.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô has received the Purple Ribbon Medal (Shiju Hôshô in Japanese), one of the six Japanese medals of honor awarded by the Japanese Government to deserving citizens.

The first anniversary of the opening of the new Kabukiza was celebrated on the stage of this prestigious theater the 28th of April 2014. 170 actors took part in this important event. The event started with 12 actors breaking open barrels of amazake (sake-like sweet fermented rice drink) at Kobikichô Square at the basement of the theater to express appreciation to Kabuki enthusiasts. They offered square wooden cups (masu) to people around. It was followed with a special dancing program by young actors and a video about the kokera otoshi performances [more details].

Six albums containing never-seen-before photos of the Shôwa star Nakamura Utaemon VI were discovered at the end of 2013 by his adopted son Nakamura Baigyoku. They were donated to Waseda University’s Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum and some of them were on display at the museum as a part of its exhibition dedicated to Nakamura Utaemon VI, which was held from the 25th of March to the 25th of April 2014 [more details].

Bandô Shinsha is no more a Kabuki actor. He appeared on a Kabuki stage for the last time in January 2014 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. There is a rumour about a severing of relationship between Bandô Shinsha and his master Bandô Takesaburô. Of course, there was no communication done by the Shôchiku Company. The Kabuki world does not wash its dirty linen in public. This young actor performs nowadays outside Kabuki, using the stage name Akimoto Michiyuki. We do wish him a successful career.

A new website for Ichikawa Ebizô! ichikawaebizo.com opened in March 2014. It has an online shop and all the social networks tools are gathered. You can even install an Iphone App about the heir of the Naritaya guild. Heavy marketing and communication campaigning for an actor who does his best to be a youth icon in nowadays Japan.

Ichikawa Tsukinosuke and Ichikawa Shun'en will perform in Shinpa in August 2014 (from the 7th to the 28th) at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô. Ichikawa Tsukinosuke will perform in "Hotaru" and "Korikori Banashi". Ichikawa Shun'en will perform only in the latter drama.

A special program at the Minamiza in Kyôto to explain stage mechanisms, from the tachimawari to the hanamichi: in this program, you can experience some of the unique stagecraft tricks used in Japanese Kabuki theatre. Tours are organized eight times a day from the 24th to the 29th of April 2014 and last about 30 minutes. The number of people for each tour is limited. Tour will be conducted in Japanese [more details].

A special exhibition dedicated to the Shôwa onnagata star Nakamura Utaemon VI started the 25th of March 2014 at the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, located within the Waseda University. It will end the 25th of April 2014. If you are in Tôkyô this spring, do not hesitate to visit this beautiful museum!

One new joiner in the the first league of Kabuki actors ("kambu shôshin"): Bandô Kitsutarô, a disciple of late Ichimura Uzaemon XVII, will take the name of Ichimura Kitsutarô in May 2014 at the Kabukiza.

Ichikawa Ennosuke IV and Ichikawa Chûsha IX will celebrate their shûmei in the central provinces in June 2014 [more details].

Nakamura Matagorô III and his son Nakamura Kashô IV will celebrate their shûmei in the western provinces in July 2014 [more details].

Nakamura Umemaru and Nakamura Kyôzô will play in a modern version of Izumi Kyôka's "Tenshu Monogatari", which will be staged in Ôsaka at the Festival Hall the 23rd of April 2014 and in Tôkyô at the Orchard Hall the 26th and 27th of April 2014.

Nakamura Shidô will perform in Tsuji Hitonari's modern drama "Kaikyô no Hikari" (based on his eponymous novel which was published in 1997) from the 11th to the 29th of April 2014 at the Ôtemachi Hall. The original music was created (and will be performed) by Luna Sea's extremely talented guitarist Sugizo.

Nakamura Kikaku will perform in Nishida Daisuke's modern drama "Mahoroba Kanata" from the 3rd to the 13th of April 2014 in Tôkyô at the Galaxy Theatre [more details in Japanese].

A special exhibition about Kabuki tours outside Japan, which is entitled "Kabuki ha Tabi Suru Taishikan" (in English: "Kabuki, the Travelling Embassy") will be held at the Kabukiza Gallery. Located on the fifth floor of the Kabukiza Tower building, the gallery consists of an exhibition room and a small hall. It will be divided into two parts: the first part from from the 2nd of April 2014 to the 24th of August 2014 and the second part from the 4th of September 2014 to the 25th of January 2015.

The Hakataza, the main theater in Fukuoka, will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its opening in June 2014. 2 Kabuki programs will be staged and the troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô [more details].

The Dankikusai May Grand Kabuki performances will be back at the Kabukiza after 5 years of absence (it was staged for the last time in May 2008). Due to the closing/opening ceremonies at the Kabukiza, the non-availability of this theater or the passing away of late Ichikawa Danjûrô, it was either staged in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza (in May 2010 and May 2011) or not produced at all. It will be staged in May 2014 at the Kabukiza to celebrate the first anniversary of the passing away of late Ichikawa Danjûrô XII [more details].

Ichikawa Somegorô will perform for the very first time the prestigious ten roles of "Date no Jûyaku", in May 2014 at the Meijiza [more details]. These roles were the privilege of the star Ichikawa Ennosuke, who revived them for the first time in April 1979 and performed them in 9 productions from 1979 to 1999. In the 2010s, it was staged 3 times with Ichikawa Ebizô in the 10 roles, in January 2010 and August 2012 at the Shimbashi Embujô, and in May 2013 at the Minamiza.

Bandô Mitsugorô received the 27th of February 2014 the Best Actor Award from the 21st Yomiuri Engeki Taishô (the Yomiuri Theatre Awards), sponsored by the famous paper Yomiuri Shimbun.

Onoe Shôroku and Nakamura Kosanza are the prize-winners of the "Outstanding Performance Award" and the "Achievement Award" of the 35th Matsuo Artistic Prizes (Matsuo Geinô Shô). He will receive his prize the 29th of March 2012 at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tôkyô.

Ichikawa En'ô II did a daily chronicle for one month (all days of February 2014) in the culture page of the morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, a leading economic newspaper in Japan. This serialized column was entitled "My CV" (watashi no rirekisho in Japanese).

The 37th Haiyûsai (literally Actors Festival) will happen at the Kabukiza the 27th of March 2014 with most of the Kabuki actors [online flyer]. This special gala is sponsored by the Japan Actors Association (led by Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô). There will be one matinée and one evening programs. The contents is as usual quite original with a mix of classic dance, newly-created or newly-revised dramas and ... the most appreciated item in the program: all the refreshment stands which are managed by the actors. If you are lucky, your coffee will be made and given to you by one of the top Kabuki stars. Actors Festival is more a parody of Kabuki full of funny surprises (in the style of the Umezawa Brothers shows?) than a set of real Kabuki performances. Some people might even think that it looks like an art university graduation show. By the way, it will be the first Actors Festival in the new Kabukiza. Here are some details:

"Rokkasen Sugata no Irodori" will be staged to open the 37th Actors Festival. It is a humorous series of five dances, which show the ancient poetic geniuses famous from classical Japanese literature, reinterpreted to the tastes of Edo period audiences. Ono no Komachi, the only woman of the six, was famous as a great beauty and in this dance, all the other poets are in love with her. In "Henjô", Onoe Shôroku and Nakamura Shibajaku play the roles of Sôjô Henjô and Komachi. In "Bun'ya", Nakamura Kankurô plays the role of Bun'ya no Yasuhide. In "Narihira", Onoe Kikunosuke and Nakamura Shichinosuke play the roles of Ariwara no Narihira and Komachi. In "Kisen", Ichikawa Somegorô and Nakamura Tokizô play the roles of the priest Kisen and Okaji. In "Kuronushi", Ichikawa Ebizô and Bandô Tamasaburô play the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi and Komachi.

The second item of this 37th Actors Festival is the dance "Nankô". A 1902 Nagauta-based dance-drama focusing on the 14th century warrior Kusunoki Masashige.

The refreshment stands festival!

A revision of "Suzu-ga-Mori" (entitled "Suzu-ga-Mori Nishiki no Kumokago") with the two main roles, Shirai Gompachi and Banzui Chôbei, played by Ichikawa Somegorô's son Matsumoto Kintarô and Onoe Shôroku's son Fujima Taiga. The kumosuke and kagokaki will be played by major actors and ... two actesses: Namino Kuriko and Mizutani Yaeko.

Nakamura Hayato, who performed in February 2014 at the Hakataza, did a special public relations campaign for the National Tax Agency the 14th of February 2014 in Fukuoka. Some taxpayers must fill their final tax return for the previous year between the 16th of February and the 15th of March in order to pay their income tax. Why not a little reminder with a Kabuki actor ? [more in Japanese].

A special program starring Ichikawa Ebizô and mixing Kabuki, Nô and Opera will be staged in April 2014 at the Minamiza. The young heir of the Naritaya guild will perform in a special version of "Genji Monogatari", along with the major Nô actors like Katayama Kurôemon X, Umewaka Kishô II and Kanze Yoshimasa and the Opera Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. Kataoka Takatarô will be a special guest [more details].

The Harimaya veteran Nakamura Kichinojô II passed away the 26th of January 2014 (lung abscess).

Bandô Mitsugorô will be back on stage in April 2014 at the Kabukiza, where he will perform in the dance-drama "Kotobuki Utsubo Zaru".

The 14th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki will happen in June 2014 at the Theatre Cocoon. These performances recreate the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. the drama "Sannin Kichisa" will be staged under the supervision and direction of Kazuyoshi Kushida. The stars of this new edition will be the heirs of late Nakamura Kanzaburô, the founder of Cocoon Kabuki, Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The third Kichisa will be played by the young and popular actor Onoe Matsuya, who will take part in Cocoon Kabuki for the first time.

Nakamura Tokizô will play for the first time in his career the role of Otomi in Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Musume Gonomi Ukina no Yokogushi", in March 2014 at the National Theatre [more details]. This kizewamono drama is commonly called "Kirare Otomi" ("Scarface Otomi") is a kakikae kyôgen based on "Kirare Yosa" ("Scarface Yosa").

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô will do his isse ichidai performance for the role of the courtesan Ohatsu in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû", which will be staged in April 2014 at the Kabukiza; the role of Ohatsu's lover Tokubei will be played by his son Nakamura Kanjaku.

Ichikawa Sadanji's disciple Ichikawa Satojirô celebrated his success in 2007 at the nadai exam in January 2014 at the Shimbashi Embujô, where he received the name of Ichikawa Sashô IV.

The April 2013, May 2013 and June 2013 Kokera Otoshi (opening ceremony) Performances at the Kabukiza have been released in DVD and Blu-Ray. The DVD package (18 discs; 75,000 JPY) was released in Japan the 18th of December 2013 [more details in Japanese]. The Blu-Ray package (10 discs; 88,000 JPY) was released in Japan the 29th of January 2014 [more details in Japanese]. The famous English commentaries are included!

The Zenshinza tateonnagata Kawarazaki Kunitarô will perform the 7 roles of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Osome no Nanayaku" in May 2014 at the National Theatre [more details].

The two months (four programs) of March 2014 and April 2014 at the Kabukiza, which should have been dedicated to the shûmei of Nakamura Utaemon VII and Nakamura Fukusuke X, will be replaced by special programs called Hôôsai, which means Phoenix Festival. The Phoenix Bird is the symbol of the Kabukiza as it is the official mon of this prestigious theater.

In March 2014, there will be 4 Living National Treasures on stage! 3 of them will perform the 3 major roles of the classic "Kanjinchô" [more details].

In April 2014, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô will do his isse ichidai performance for the role of the courtesan Ohatsu in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû" and Bandô Mitsugorô will be back on stage [more details]!

Ichimura Manjirô, Nakamura Shidô and Bandô Minosuke will perform in February 2014 at the Shimbashi Embujô in Makino Nozomi's comedy "Haha o Tazunete Hizakurige", along with famous actors or actresses like Okuda Eiji, Fujiyama Naomi or Mizutani Yaeko. This drama will be staged with the same casting in June 2014 at the Shôchikuza.

Kataoka Kamezô will play in Kazuyoshi Kushida's 1977 musical masterpiece "Motto Naite-yo Furappa" ("Cry Some More for Me, Flapper" in English), along with Matsu Takako, Matsuo Suzuki, Akiyama Natsuko, Ryô, Daidô Shunsuke, Suzuki Ranran, Ôta Midori Laurens, Ômori Hiroshi, Manako Keiji, Konishi Yasuhisa, Sakô Yoshi, Uchida Shinichirô, Kataoka Shôjirô, Kushida Kazuyoshi and Ishimaru Kanji. This musical drama will be revived in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon from the 8th of February 2014 to the 2nd of March 2014. It will also be staged in March 2014 in Matsumoto at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre and in Ôsaka at the Theater Brava.

Kataoka Ainosuke will perform in Mitani Kôki's drama "Sake to Namida to Jikiru to Haido" ("Alcohol, Tears, Jekyll and Hide" in English), which will be staged at the Tôkyô Metropolitan Theatre (10~30 April 2014) and at the Galaxy Theatre (4~18 May 2014).