There will be a large scale exhibition of Japanese prints at the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery from the 22nd of June to the 5th of October 2008. Rare Kabuki prints made by Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitsuya and Sadahide will be displayed (more details).

Bandô Tamasaburô will perform the 30th of April 2008 within the Castle of Kumamoto. This dance program is part of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the Building of the Kumamoto Castle (built in 1607), which started the 31st of December 2006 and will end in Spring 2008. So far, the only known item in this program is the beautiful dance "Fuji Musume".

The supporting actors Nakamura Nakajirô (a disciple of Nakamura Kanzaburô) celebrated his success at the nadai exam in April 2008 at the Kabukiza. It was also be the occasion this actor to take the name of Nakamura Kosaburô.

Nakamura Tokizô and Nakamura Shibajaku are the prize-winners of the 64th Japan Art Academy Prize (nihon geijutsuin shô).

Nakamura Kanzaburô will be on tour in Europe in Spring 2008! He will build his "family" theater, the Heisei Nakamuraza, in Berlin at the The House of World Cultures (Germany) from the 14th to the 21st of May 2008 and in Sibiu (Rumania) from the 29th of May to the 1st of June 2008 for the International Theatre Festival. "Natsu Matsuri" will be produced for the first time in Europe thanks to Nakamura Kanzaburô!

The Heisei Nakamuraza will be built in Nagoya in 2009 and the troupe led by Nakamura Kanzaburô will perform there 30 times during the month of September 2009. This great event was publicly announced by Mr. Asano, the chairman of the network Tôkai TV, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

After the premiere of "Botantei" in March 2008 at the Minamiza, Bandô Tamasaburô will perform this new creation in Beijing (China) from the 6th to the 15th of May 2008. He will share the stage with Kunqu performers from the Suzhou region, one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera. The dance "Yôkihi" will also be part of this program.

Nakamura Shibajaku is prize-winner of the 29th Matsuo Artistic Prize (matsuo geinô shô). He will receive the 27th of March 2008 at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tôkyô the Excellence Prize (yûshô shô).

Ichikawa Nobuo will take the name of Ichikawa Enzaburô II in March 2008 at the Shimbashi Embujô. He is the son of Arashi Kanjûrô VI and a disciple of the star Ichikawa Ennosuke.

Nakamura Shibajaku will perform at the end of March 2008 at the Uchisaiwai Hall in Tôkyô a Kabuki hitori shibai (one man Kabuki show), which is titled "Ningyo no Koi" ("The Love of a Mermaid") and is about the legend of Yaobikuni, the octo-centenarian nun (more details).

Bandô Mitsugorô and Nakamura Umenosuke are part of the cast of Yamada Yôji's movie "Kaabee". The film was released all over Japan the 26th of January 2008.

The spectacular aragoto masterpiece "Shibaraku" will be staged for the first time at the Kanamaruza in April 2008 as part of the 24th edition of the Spring Kabuki performance Kompira Kabuki Ôshibai, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Great Seto Bridge. The role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa will be played by the young star Ichikawa Ebizô.

The actor Sakata Tôjûrô, who is the new prize-winner of the 7th Asahi Stage Arts Prize (asahi butai geijutsu shô in japanese), will celebrate in 2008 his 77th birthday. This is an important age and it is a custom to celebrate it with a kiju kinen performance, which will be the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji", staged in March 2008 at the Kabukiza. This production will end with the famous oshimodoshi finale, with Ichikawa Danjûrô in the role of the demon-queller.

Bandô Tamasaburô will be at the Minamiza in March 2008 to star in "Botantei" and "Yôkihi". The former dance-drama is a brand-new creation based on the famous Chinese Opera "The Peony Pavilion". The latter dance-drama was created for Bandô Tamasaburô in 1991. Bandô Tamasaburô will share the stage with performers of Kunqu, one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera, who belong to a famous troupe of the Suzhou region.

The Kabuki expert Hattori Yukio (1932~2007) dies the 28th of December 2007.

The Kabuki Expert Matsui Toshiaki (1929~2007) dies.

The supporting actor Bandô Tachibana dies the 19th of December 2007. He was a disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII. His real name was Okano Fumio and his yagô was Tachibanaya.

The supporting actors Ichikawa Takiyuki (a disciple of Ichikawa Monnosuke) and Nakamura Chôshi (a disciple of Nakamura Shidô) will celebrate their success at the nadai exam in December 2007 at the Kabukiza. It will also be the occasion for Ichikawa Takiyuki to take the name of Ichikawa Monshô.

Revival of the "Nanzenji Gate" scene (commonly called "Onna Goemon") of the drama "Keisei Hama no Masago" at the Kabukiza in January 2008. The roles of Ishikawaya Masagoji and Taikô Hisayoshi will be played by the stage giants Nakamura Jakuemon and Nakamura Kichiemon!

Nakamura Baigyoku received in November 2007 the Purple Ribbon Medal (Shijû Hôshô in Japanese), one of the six japanese medals of honor awarded by the Japanese Government to deserving citizens.

Revival in January 2008 at the National Theater of "Komachi-Mura Shibai no Shôgatsu", a kaomise drama which has not been staged since its premiere 219 years ago!

The stage props master Kanai Shun'ichirô dies the 22nd of October 2007. He was the head of the Kanai Ôdôgû Company.

The Nagauta shamisen player Matsushima Jusaburô V dies the 19th of October 2007. He took this stage name in 1964 and received in June 1998 the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese). His real name was Shiraishi Hiroshi.

Nakamura Kinnosuke will celebrate his shûmei at the Minamiza in Kyôto in December 2007, playing the roles of Togashi Saemon and Soga Gorô in "Kanjinchô" and "Kotobuki Soga no Taimen".

Ichikawa Danjûrô receives the 55th Kikuchi Kan Award in recompense for the tour in Paris in March 2007 [more details].

Nakamura Gangorô, a supporting actor serving Sakata Tôjûrô, dies the 8th of October 2007 at the age of 60. His real name was Ioi Isao.

The Nagauta musician Mochizuki Bokusei IV dies the 20th of September 2007. He held the name of Mochizuki Tazaemon XI from 1988 to 1993 and became Living National Treasure in 1998. He performed at the Kabukiza up to the 17th of September.

The famous movie director Yamada Yôji will shoot two items of Nakamura Kanzaburô's special program in October 2007 at the Shimbashi Embujô: "Renjishi" and "Bunshichi Mottoi". The film will be released in Japan in Fall 2008, as part as the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series.

The supporting actors Bandô Tamayuki and Bandô Kôichi (two disciples of Bandô Tamasaburô) will celebrate their success at the nadai exam in October 2007 at the Kabukiza.

8th anniversary of www.kabuki21.com!

The actor Nakamura Kanzaburô is part of the cast of Hirayama Hideyuki's movie "Yajikita Dôchû Teresuko". He plays one of the three major roles, along with the stars Emoto Akira and Koizumi Kyôko. This movie is based on Jippensha Ikku's picaresque comic novel "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige". The roles of Yajirobei and Kitahachi are played by Nakamura Kanzaburô and Emoto Akira. The movie will be released all over Japan the 3rd of November 2007. Its international title is "Three for the Road" [more details].

We've just found on the web a great site full of Kabuki videos (performed by amateur troupes). You have to install an Add-in (Office Animation Runtime) in order to be able to watch the videos. Lots of classics and a few rare items!

Opening of a new website created by the National Theater and dedicated to the promotion of the art of Kabuki. There is a Japanese version and an English version.

The drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji" (whose most famous act is "Gappô Anshitsu") will be revived in November 2007 at the National Theater as a tôshi kyôgen production, which will star Sakata Tôjûrô in the prestigious role of Tamate Gozen.

The Chikamatsuza troupe will tour in China in Septembre 2007. The program will be made up of the play "Domo Mata" and the dance "Hanabusa Shûchaku Jishi". Sakata Tôjûrô will play the roles of Otoku and the spirit of the lion in these items. His son Nakamura Kanjaku will play the role of Matahei in "Domo Mata". Here is the schedule:

The actor Onoe Kikunosuke is part of the cast of Nakata Hideo's movie "Kaidan", playing the role of Shinkichi. This is an adaptation of a famous ghost story, "Shinkei Kasane-ga-Fuchi", which was created by San'yûtei Enchô. The movie will be released all over Japan the 4th of August 2007.

Revival at the Kabukiza of "Ninagawa Jûniya", a Kabuki adaptation of Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night" [more details].

We forgot one date for the Heisei Nakamuraza tour in the U.S.A.: the troupe will perform the 26th of July in Washington at the Warner Theatre the dance-dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Migawari Zazen" [more details].

The Zenshinza leader Nakamura Umenosuke is part of the cast of the omnibus movie "Yume Jûya" (10 directors, one for each of the 10 nights). This is an adaptation of Natsume Sôseki's famous eponymous novel. The movie will be released all over Japan in Spring 2007.

The actor Onoe Karoku, a supporting actor of the Otowaya guild, dies the 3rd of May 2007.

The actor Nakamura Shirogorô dies the 22nd of April 2007.

Nakamura Kanzaburô and his two sons, Nakamura Kantarô and Nakamura Shichinosuke, will be on tour in New York in July 2007! They will build their "family" theater, the Heisei Nakamuraza, in New York for the second time (the first time was in July 2004), at the Lincoln Center in the Avery Fisher Hall. They will stage "Renjishi" the 16th of July and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage" (commonly called "Hôkaibô") from the 17th to the 22nd of July.

The Kabukiza will celebrate in May 2007 the 120th anniversary of the first Kabuki performance given for the Emperor (the 21st of April 1887) with the dance-drama "Kanjinchô" and the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the death of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII witht the drama "Onna Shibaraku".

The actor Ichikawa Sadanji is part of the cast of Ninagawa Mika's movie "Sakuran", playing the role of a retired man. This is an adaptation of Anno Moyoco's eponymous Manga. The movie was released the 24th of February 2007.

The Kabuki photographer Yoshida Chiaki dies the 30th of January 2007.

Nakamura Kichiemon receives the Special Award of the 6th Asahi Performing Arts Awards (2006).

Ichikawa Kamejirô receives the Terayama Shûji Award of the 6th Asahi Performing Arts Awards (2006).

The choreographer Hanayagi Juraku dies the 7th of January 2007.

Nakamura Kichiemon receives the 48th Mainichi Performing Arts Awards (2006).

Nakamura Shinjirô will take the name of Nakamura Kinnosuke II in April 2007 at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Chôkichi/Yogorô and Torazô/Ushiwakamaru in "Sumôba" and "Kikubatake".

The musician Tanaka Dembei V dies the 20th of December 2006.

The actor Ichikawa Seiko dies the 17th of December 2006.

The young Kabuki rising star Onoe Kikunosuke is part of the cast of Ichikawa Kon's latest movie "Inugamike no Ichizoku", playing the role of Inugami Sukekiyo. This is an adaptation of Yokomizo Seishi's famous eponymous whodunnit. The movie was released all over Japan the 16th of December 2006. The international title of this movie is "The Inugamis".

Nagayama Takeomi, the head of the powerful Shôchiku company, dies in Tôkyô the 13th of December 2006.

Kataoka Nizaemon becomes member of the Japan Art Academy the 15th of December 2006.

The star Matsumoto Kôshirô performed the 23rd of November 2006 for the 900th times the prestigious role of Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". He was on tour with his guild and the venue was the Kôrakukan, a famous old wooden theater in Akita.

The Kabuki star Bandô Mitsugorô is part of the cast of Yamada Shôji's latest movie "Bushi no Ichibun", playing the role of the villain Shimada Tôya. The movie will be released all over Japan tomorrow, the 1st of December 2006.

the 4th edition of Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki"), a Kabuki play which was staged at the Kabukiza becomes a movie, will be released the 13th of January 2007. The play is "Kyôganoko Musume Ninin Dôjôji", which was staged in February 2006 and starred Bandô Tamasaburô and Onoe Kikunosuke.

Nakamura Genzaemon II dies the 20th of October 2006.

Nakamura Kanzaburô will celebrate his shûmei at the Minamiza in Kyôto in December 2006, playing the roles of Tadanobu and the shirabyôshi Hanako in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" and the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

Seventh anniversary for our little website!

The National Theater will stage the 1st of October 2006 an unusual program dedicated to the monk warrior Benkei. The first item will be the famous Nô drama "Ataka" and the second one will be "Kanjinchô", the Kabuki adaptation of this Nô drama, most likely the most famous dance-drama in the current Kabuki repertoire. The role of Benkei will be performed by Kondô Kennosuke of the Hôshô school in "Ataka" and by Nakamura Kichiemon in "Kanjinchô".

Nakamura Kantarô will not take part in the Kabuki Tour in the Eastern Provinces in September 2006. He will be replaced by Nakamura Shinobu for the role of Nureginu in "Jusshukô" and by his brother Nakamura Shichinosuke for the role of Kokingo in "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

Sakata Tôjûrô will celebrate his shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza from the 1st to the 25th of October 2006, playing the roles of Sasaki Moritsuna and the keisei Yayoi (in reality the spirit of a shishi) in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata" and the dance "Makura Jishi".

The talented onnagata Nakamura Kaishun will perform for the first time in his career the prestigious role of Kuzu-no-Ha (and the fox Kuzu-no-Ha) in the eponymous drama, which will be staged at the Kabukiza in October 2006.

Mayama Seika's Shinkabuki masterpiece "Genroku Chûshingura" will be staged in its integrity at the National Theater over 3 months in 3 different productions with 3 different stars in the leading role of Ôishi Kuranosuke: Nakamura Kichiemon in October 2006, Sakata Tôjûrô in November 2006 and Matsumoto Kôshirô in December 2006. This event is staged to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the National Theater.

A new dance is staged at the Kabukiza in August 2006. Titled "Tanokyû", it is based on a folk story and choreographed by Bandô Mitsugorô, the zagashira of the August troupe.

The Kabukiza will commemorate in September 2006 the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I, whose's haimyô was Shûzan. This special program will be called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan), starring Nakamura Kichiemon I's descendants Nakamura Kichiemon II and Matsumoto Kôshirô.

Nakamura Kantarô will not take part in the Kabuki Tour in the Eastern Provinces in July 2006. He will be replaced by Nakamura Shinobu for the role of Nureginu in "Jusshukô" and by his brother Nakamura Shichinosuke for the role of Kokingo in "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

Bandô Kokichi, the grandson of late Bandô Kichiya II, will make his first official stage appearance at the Kabukiza in August 2006.

Nakamura Kanzaburô will celebrate his shûmei in the Eastern provinces in July 2006 and in the Western Provinces in September 2006, playing the roles of Ukyô and Gonta in "Migawari Zazen" and "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". Many performances will be staged in small wooden traditional theaters, the kind of venues deeply loved by the star: the Azumaza (Gifu prefecture), the Kôrakukan (Akita prefecture), the Uchikoza (Ehime prefecture), the Kanamaruza (Kagawa prefecture), the Meijiza (Gifu prefecture) or the Kaho Gekijô (Fukuoka prefecture). As part of this tour, the performances in Nagoya from the 24th to the 27th of September, will be called Heisei Nakamuraza.

Sakata Tôjûrô will celebrate his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza from the 2nd to the 26th of July 2006, playing the roles of Danshichi Kurobei and the shirabyôshi Hanako in the drama "Natsu Matsuri" and the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Kamejirô will be on tour in Paris in March 2007. They will play at the famous Opera Garnier in the dance-dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Momijigari" from the 23rd to the 30th of March 2007. There will be a kôjô, which will talk about the kabuki Jûhachiban and the Shin Kabuki Jûhachiban.

There will be a Kabuki tour in Western Europe at the end of this month and the beginning of June 2006, in London at the Sadler's Wells (31 May~11 June) and in Amsterdam at the Stadsschouwburg (15~18 June) [more details].

Nakamura Kanzaburô will celebrate his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in June 2006, playing the roles of the spirit of the Lion, Chôbei and Benten Kozô in the dramas "Renjishi", "Bunshichi Mottoi" and "Benten Musume".

Bandô Tamasaburô is the prize-winner of the 62nd Japan Art Academy Prize (nihon geijutsuin shô).

Nakamura Umemaru becomes Nakamura Baigyoku's heyago and celebrates this month his shûmei at the Kabukiza.

Nakamura Baigyoku's disciple Nakamura Umezô and Nakamura Kaishun's disciple Nakamura Shunka celebrate this month their success at the nadai exam at the Kabukiza.

The Zenshinza troupe will celebrate its 75th anniversary in May 2006 at the National Theater, producing Tsuruya Namboku IV's "Nazo no Obi Chotto Tokubei" and Kawatake Mokuami's "Sakanaya Sôgorô". Arashi Keishi, Nakamura Baijaku and Kawarazaki Kunitarô plays the roles of Ôshima Danshichi, Azumaya Tokubei and Okaji/Otatsu in the former drama. Nakamura Umenosuke and Segawa Kikunojô plays the roles of Sôgorô and Ohama in the latter drama.

Kataoka Ainosuke and Onoe Kikujûrô are prize-winners of the 27th Matsuo Artistic Prize (matsuo geinô shô).

Ichiyama Nasorô (1921~2006), the master of the Ichiyama school of Traditional dance, dies the 17th of February.

Ichikawa Danjûrô, who was sent to hospital in August 2005 because of a leukemia, leaves the hostipal the 22nd of February.

The Kabukiza will commemorate in March 2006 the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the death of Kataoka Nizaemon XIII with his three sons performing some of his atariyaku: Kataoka Nizaemon and Kataoka Gatô will play the roles of Kan Shôjô and Yojirô in "Dômyôji" and "Horikawa".

The Kabukiza will commemorate in April 2006 the 5th anniversary (6th memorial service) of the death of Nakamura Utaemon VI. This event will also celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Matsue VI and the first stage appearance of his son, who will receive the name of Nakamura Tamatarô V.

The playwright Tobe Ginsaku (1920~2006) dies the 7th of January.

Sakata Tôjûrô will celebrate his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza from the 2nd to the 26th of February 2006, playing the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" and the 5 roles of the hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji".