3 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Makuhari Messe), 2 shows in Nagoya (Misonoza), 2 on Shikoku island (Kanamaruza) and 3 tours (Classics Tour, Central Provinces, Zenshinza)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Sadanji and Bandô Yajûrô perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Shikan, Kataoka Ainosuke and Onoe Shôroku perform at the Misonoza!

Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the Kanamaruza!

Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku and Ichikawa Komazô are on tour in the Central Provinces!

Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Udanji are on tour (Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Nakamura Kikaku, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Nakamura Kotarô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Ichikawa Omezô, Bandô Minosuke, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ichimura Takematsu, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Jûjirô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô, Ichikawa Otora, Terajima Maholo

5 Living National Treasures on stage, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Sakata Tôjûrô, Kataoka Nizaemon and Nakamura Tôzô, for two April Grand Kabuki programs with the following highlights:

The dance-drama "Osamaru Miyo Nagori no Emaki" with Nakamura Fukusuke and Bandô Yajûrô staged to celebrate the end of the Heisei era.

The rarely-staged "Zama Yashiro" scene will open the staging of "Shinpan Utazaimon", with Nakamura Jakuemon in the role of Osome. This scene was staged for the last time more than 40 years ago, in January 1979 at the National Theatre.

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô celebrates his 88th birthday in the dance-drama "Sakae Kotohogu Fuji no Suehiro".

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon and Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô play the roles of Shirai Gonpachi and Banzuiin Chôbê in the drama "Suzu-ga-Mori".

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon play the prestigious role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in "Sanemori Monogatari".

Ichikawa Ennosuke performs in "Kurozuka", a classic of the Omodakaya guild.

"Ninin Yûgiri" is staged with Nakamura Kaishun and Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of the two Yûgiri and Nakamura Ganjirô as Fujiya Izaemon.

Osamaru Miyo Nagori no Emaki: this is a brand-new play commemorating the end of the Heisei era. Set during the time when the Genji and the Heike clans were at war, the people of both clans appear one after another. The first will be Lady Tokiwa (Nakamura Fukusuke), mother of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, together with the Heike warrior Taira no Munekiyo (Bandô Yajûrô). They grasp the white banner of the Genji clan.

Shinpan Utazaimon: Hisamatsu (Nakamura Kinnosuke) is an apprentice at the Aburaya and becomes intimate with Osome, the daughter of the pawnbroker. As he meets Osome (Nakamura Jakuemon) at the Zama Shrine, he is swindled out of the money he collected from the shop's customer and is falsely accused of embezzling it by Kosuke (Nakamura Matagorô), a sales clerk of the Aburaya. By this accident, Hisamatsu was brought back to Kyûsaku's house where Hisamatsu grew as an adopted child. Kyûsaku's daughter Omitsu (Nakamura Tokizô) rejoices to hear that Kyûsaku (Nakamura Karoku) intends to unite her with Hisamatsu. When Osome visits this place, Omitsu learns that Osome and Hisamatsu are determined to commit lovers' double suicide...

Sakae Kotohogu Fuji no Suehiro: this is a dance celebrating Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô's 88th birthday performed by himself, his son and his grandson. The Empress (Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô) appears in the palace at the time of the spring festival. A crane (Nakamura Ganjirô) and a tortoise (Ichikawa Ennosuke) dance in front of her to celebrate longevity; the crane is believed to live for 1,000 years while the tortoise is said to live for 10,000 years.

Suzu-ga-Mori: The young samurai Shirai Gonpachi (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) is ambushed near the execution grounds of Edo on a dark night, but he manages to escape after a gruesome but humorous fight scene. He is watched by Banzuiin Chôbê (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon), an Edo boss, who is impressed with his fighting skills and agrees to give him shelter in the city. This meeting between the handsome young Gonpachi and the heroic Chôbê is one of the most famous meetings in Kabuki.

Sanemori Monogatari: a play about the early days of the rivalry between the Genji and Heike warrior clans. The warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) has been charged by the leaders of the dominant Heike clan with finding Aoi Gozen, the pregnant wife of the leader of the enemy Genji clan. He is to kill her child if it is a son who can succeed to head of the clan, but old loyalties to the Genji lead him to protect the boy. Sanemori tells the story of how Koman (Kataoka Takatarô), the daughter of the old couple who is protecting Aoi Gozen, bravely fought to protect the sacred standard of the Genji from the Heike. Koman mysteriously comes back to life when her severed arm is rejoined to it. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku as Senoo Jûrô.

Kurozuka: a woman has grown bitter at the world after being rejected by her husband and now loves in seclusion, killing travelers and becoming a kind of demon. However, when she gives shelter to a holy man and his party, she rejoices at this opportunity to find salvation. She goes to get firewood to keep her visitors warm, cautioning them not to look into the back room, where the bodies of her victims are. She dances in joy among the dry autumn grasses under the full moon at her chance for absolution. But the porter in the holy man's party looks in the back room and they all leave in a panic. The old woman is furious at being betrayed and this transforms her into a demon, which is finally vanquished by the power of the holy man. Starring Ichikawa Ennosuke as the old woman and Nakamura Kinnosuke as the holy man.

Ninin Yûgiri: One of the most famous plays in the repertory of Kansai Kabuki is about the love affair of the top-ranking courtesan Yûgiri and fabulously wealthy Izaemon. Izaemon is disowned by his family and reduced to wearing a paper kimono, but still burns with love for Yûgiri. The original play was written to commemorate the death of a fabulously famous courtesan, but has come to be the most representative portrait of the Kansai pleasure quarters. This particular play is a kind of sequel to the original. After the death of the original Yûgiri, Izaemon (Nakamura Ganjirô) lives with the courtesan who has succeeded to Yûgiri's name (Kataoka Takatarô), but much to their surprise, the first Yûgiri (Nakamura Kaishun) is not dead, but has fallen on very hard times. Featuring also Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô and Ichikawa Danzô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shikan, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Shingo, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke

The return of the spring program at the Misonoza with young actors.

Hakkenden:
(The Eight Dog Warriors)
the original novel is an immense epic by 19th century novelist Takizawa Bakin published over many years, but eventually reaching one-hundred and sixty volumes. The Satomi clan is being attacked and its lord offers his daughter Princess Fuse to the warrior that will bring him the head of the enemy. It is his loyal dog that kills and beheads the enemy and, saying that her father must not go back on his word, Princess Fuse goes with the dog. Nevertheless, the Satomi clan is defeated and one of its loyal retainers goes to rescue Princess Fuse, shooting the dog, but unfortunately shooting Princess Fuse as well. The eight crystal beads of her rosary, each engraved with the Chinese characters of one of the Confucian virtues, goes flying through the air. Miraculously, each will be found with a newborn baby. These eight children, all of whom have the character inu for "dog" in their names, eventually meet and join together to restore the Satomi clan. The play features all the stars of the company and follows the adventures of the eight dog warriors as they meet and gradually join together, leading to a climactic fight on the roof of a dizzyingly high tower.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Kataoka Kamezô, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu

35th edition of the Spring Kabuki performance Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai at the Kanamaruza on Shikoku Island!

Sushiya: this is one act of an epic originally written for the Bunraku puppet theatre. The full-length play shows the fate of various Taira generals in hiding after the victory of their enemy, the Genji. In this act, Koremori (Nakamura Senjaku), the heir to the Taira clan is hiding in a sushi shop disguised as a humble apprentice, and Osato (Nakamura Tsurumatsu), the daughter of the house, falls in love with him. However, Gonta (Nakamura Kankurô), the evil son of the house plots to gain a reward by turning in Koremori to the top Genji general Kajiwara (Kataoka Kamezô), but in the end, he has a surprising change of heart in one of the most heart-rending scenes in Kabuki. Also featuring Ichikawa Chûsha as Yazaemon, the proprietor of the sushi shop.

Shinjû Tsukiyo no Hoshinoya: this is a newly written play adapted from a rakugo story. Teruzô (Ichikawa Chûsha) has lost his money in a speculative venture. He and his concubine Otaka (Nakamura Shichinosuke) promise to commit shinjû, 'lovers' double suicide', but when the time comes he alone jumps into the river and she returns home as her mother recommended. Later, Tôsuke (Kataoka Kamezô) tells her that Teruzô's ghost appeared warning that he will haunt her. Terrified, she takes the tonsure and becomes a nun, after which Teruzô himself reappears. The double suicide was Teruzô's test of her sincerity. Featuring also Nakamura Senjaku.

Domo Mata: the artist Matahei has been refused a professional name because of his stuttering. He makes a poor life by drawing folk paintings and decides to make one last effort to gain respectability. His wife Otoku, who is given as much to chatter as Matahei is silent, pleads his case. Turned down again by his master, Matahei decides to take his life. He draws a farewell portrait of himself, a painting so skillful that the lines seep through solid rock and this miracle convinces his master to confer a professional name. Starring Nakamura Senjaku as Matahei and Nakamura Shichinosuke as his wife Otoku. Featuring Kataoka Kamezô as Matahei's master Tosa Shôgen Mitsunobu, Nakamura Kankurô as Utanosuke and Nakamura Toranosuke as Shûrinosuke.

Takatsuki: in this relatively modern dance-comedy adapted from the style of classical Kyôgen farces, the servant Jirôkaja (Nakamura Kankurô) is ordered by his lord (Keizo2) to buy a takatsuki, which is a kind of ceremonial sake cup on a stand. Jirôkaja does not understand his lord's orders and is persuaded by a fast-talking geta clog salesman (Nakamura Toranosuke) to buy a pair of clogs instead, thinking that this is the stand for which he was sent. After drinking a good amount of sake, he brings his purchase to the lord and responds to the lord's anger with a dance on the clogs, a virtuoso routine inspired by tap dancing, showing off the dancing skills of Nakamura Kankurô.

Shibahama no Kawazaifu: this is a play adapted from a rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô which was originally performed in vaudeville by a solo performer. This tells the story of a man who is a drunk and good for nothing who picks up a leather purse full of coins while fishing. He takes it home and celebrates with a big drinking party. In the morning he asks his wife for the purse, but she insists that it was all a dream and shows how much money he has wasted with his drunken party. He decides to reform and becomes a hard worker. Three years later, the couple now lives comfortably and the wife says that she must apologize. She lied and hid the purse because she felt that this was the only way to get her husband on the right path. He thanks her and this purse which has given them so much. Starring Ichikawa Chûsha as the man and Nakamura Shichinosuke as his wife.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Sônosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô

The usual Grand Kabuki Tour in the central provinces, in April and not in July this year. Matsumoto Hakuô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô X celebrate their shûmei.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. In this case, all the main actors of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Matsumoto Hakuô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô X.

Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami:
(Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy)
Sugawara no Michizane (known in this play as Kan Shôjô) was a high-ranking imperial court minister who was a brilliant calligrapher and scholar. But political rivalries forced him to be exiled to distant Kyûshû, where he died. After Michizane's death, a series of disasters in the imperial capital were attributed to his angry spirit and he was appeased by being made a god known as Tenjin, and he is now revered as the god of learning. His story was dramatized as an epic puppet drama in 1746 and the play remains a favorite in both Kabuki and the Bunraku puppet theatre.

Kamo Zutsumi:
(The Kamo Riverbank)
Young Sakuramaru (Nakamura Baigyoku) serves imperial prince Tokiyo (Sawamura Sônosuke) who has fallen in love with Princess Kariya, Michizane's beautiful daughter. Sakuramaru and his wife Yae (Ichikawa Komazô) are charmed by the affair, since it reminds them of their own love. But the affair is discovered and Michizane's rivals use it as proof that he is attempting to take over the imperial court. This innocent love affair triggers the tragedies of the play.

Kurumabiki:
(The Tug-of-War Over the Carriage)
There are three brothers serving three masters. Umeômaru serves Kan Shôjô. Sakuramaru serves imperial prince Tokiyo. Kan Shôjô has been sent into exile and Tokiyo is in disgrace. Umeômaru (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and Sakuramaru (Nakamura Baigyoku) lament the disaster that has overtaken their masters. But they hear that the carriage of Fujiwara no Shihei (Matsumoto Kingo) is coming. Shihei is the villain that has sent Kan Shôjô into exile. But when the two brothers confront the carriage, they are stopped by their brother Matsuômaru (Matsumoto Hakuô), who serves Shihei. Nonetheless, they attack the carriage and are driven back by the magical powers of Shihei. The three brothers agree to meet again at the seventieth birthday of their father, Shiratayû.

Yakko Dôjôji: "Musume Dôjôji" is based on a legend about a woman transformed into a serpent out of jealousy and who destroys a temple bell keeping her from the object of her love. The original dance shows the spirit of the woman who appears at Dôjôji temple as a dancer who wants to celebrate the dedication of a new bell and does a series of dances showing the many faces of femininity. In this version the dancer is revealed to be a man in disguise and, in the highlight of the dance, transforms the romantic highpoint of the original piece into a comic scene by using masks. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji

A special tour in 11 cities for the heir of the Naritaya guild.

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku

The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 4th time in Kabuki history! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They perform "together" in a newly-created Chôkabuki drama. It is staged at the Makuhari Messe as part of the Niconico Chôkaigi 2019 event, an important yearly event for the otaku tribes.

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Matsunami Kihachirô, Tadamura Shin'ya

A March and April tour all over Japan for the Zenshinza troupe. "Ura Nagaya Sôdôki", which was written by the veteran movie director Yamada Yôji and was premiered in May 2017 at the National Theatre, is based on two famous rakugo stories, "Rakuda" and "Ido no Chawan".