4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Sunpearl Arakawa, Sunshine Theatre), 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza), 1 in Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall) & 1 in Shizuoka (Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship)!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato & Nakamura Yonekichi perform at the Kabukiza!

Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Nakamura Jakuemon & Bandô Yajûrô perform at the Hakataza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Minamiza!

Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun & Kataoka Takatarô perform at the Sunpearl Arakawa, Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall and Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Tanetarô, Nakamura Haruki, Nakamura Hidenosuke, Nakamura Natsuki

The 2 programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Kinkakuji: "Kinkakuji" retains the epic scale of plays adapted from the Bunraku puppet theater and is full of miracles and larger-than-life characters common on the puppet stage. It is full of the classical forms of all kinds of stylized characters and the role of Princess Yuki is considered to be one of the most difficult and beautiful roles for an onnagata female role specialist. Matsunaga Daizen (Nakamura Shidô) has defeated the Shôgun and has set up base in the Golden Pavilion. The brilliant strategist Hisayoshi, disguised as a disgruntled retainer named Tôkichi (Nakamura Hayato), pretends to come under Daizen's employ to try to sabotage his plans from within. Princess Yuki (Nakamura Tokizô) is being held prisoner by Daizen, but is able to free herself by drawing a mouse in the cherry petals of the tree that she is tied to. It comes to life and chews the ropes holding her. Starring the best of the actors in their prime in a production sure to be full of fire and excitement. Featuring also Nakamura Yonekichi and Nakamura Kinnosuke in the roles of Kanônosuke Naonobu and Keijuin.

Modori Kago: two palanquin bearers, one from Ôsaka, the other from Edo (pre-modern Tôkyô), decide to stop and rest. As they do so, each boasts of the respective merits of his native town. Finally, the little apprentice courtesan (kamuro) they have been carrying, alights from the palanquin and joins them in their dance. Featuring Nakamura Mantarô as the palanquin bearer from Ôsaka (in reality Ishikawa Goemon), Nakamura Manju as the palanquin bearer from Edo (in reality Goemon's arch-enemy Mashiba Hisayoshi) and Nakamura Baishi as the kamuro.

Kozure Ôkami: set in the Edo period, 'Lone Wolf and Cub' (Kozure Ôkami) follows Ogami Ittô (Nakamura Shidô), the shogunate’s official executioner, who is ensnared in a plot by his sworn enemy, Yagyû Retsudô. Branded with false charges, stripped of his position, and devastated by the murder of his wife, Ittô sets out on a relentless journey of vengeance together with his young son, Daigorô (Nakamura Natsuki). Meanwhile, Retsudô dispatches assassin after assassin in pursuit of the pair, who come to be feared throughout the land as the 'Lone Wolf and Cub'. Epic in scale, the story of Ogami Ittô's revenge journey with Daigorô has inspired numerous film and television adaptations. In particular, the television series starring Yorozuya Kinnosuke, broadcast from 1973 to 1976, became a nationwide phenomenon. During the height of the series’ popularity, the work was adapted for the stage in 1974 as part of the celebrated 'Yorozuya Kinnosuke Special Performances' at the Kabukiza. Now returning to the Kabukiza in the month closely associated with Yorozuya acting house, this new production marks the first time that Nakamura Shidô directs at the theatre, collaborating with film director Inoue Masanori.

Niwaka Jishi: this lively dance evokes the atmosphere of an Edo period festival. The highlight of the piece is the lion dance performed by two of the handsome young men of the neighborhood. Starring Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Matagorô & Nakamura Shidô as the heads of a firefighting brigades. Starring Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Tokizô & Nakamura Yonekichi as the the geisha. Featuring Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Mantarô & Nakamura Tanenosuke as the firemen. Featuring also several young actors as tekomai.

Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu: this play is a blend of "Chûshingura" with its tangled stories of loyalties and masterless samurai that ultimately avenge their master's death and the story of "Godairiki", about the love between a geisha named Koman and the samurai Satsuma Gengobê which is spoiled by the jealousy of a man named Sangorô. Sasano Sangorô (Onoe Matsuya/Nakamura Kankurô) is married to Koman (Nakamura Shichinosuke), but she becomes a geisha to help him to raise the money to help his lord, a man that he has never seen. In the pleasure quarters the samurai Satsuma Gengobê (Nakamura Kankurô/Onoe Matsuya) falls in love with her and spends huge sums of money on her, despite the fact that he needs money for the sake of the "Chûshingura" vendetta. Finally Gengobê gets money and Sangorô and Koman decide to defraud him of the money, which results in a massacre in the pleasure quarters. Ironically, Gengobê is none other than the unknown master for whom Sangorô was trying to raise money. This story of passion and greed takes place against the background of inexplicable fate and the strict requirements of samurai society and adds ample doses of sardonic humor, the perfect play for our times. Featuring also Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kashô & Nakamura Tanenosuke.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website, Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website or others sources

Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Bandô Yajûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Omezô, Bandô Kamezô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Tamatarô, Kamimura Kichitarô, Ichimura Kitsutarô

Onoe Kikugorô VIII and his son Onoe Kikunosuke VI celebrate their shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza.

Kotobuki Shiki Sanbasô: Okina is the oldest ritual in the Nô theater. This Kabuki version shows Okina, an old man who symbolizes eternal youth, his attendant Senzai and the vigorous Sanbasô, who perform dances solemnly for good fortune. Sanbasô dances vigorously, stamping and shaking bells, praying for agricultural fertility and prosperity for all. This dances features five sanbasô and one okina (Bandô Yajûrô).

Kurumabiki: this short scene shows the three brothers that dominate the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", each with a distinctive personality. Sakuramaru (Kamimura Kichitarô) and Umeômaru (Onoe Kikunosuke) have been rendered masterless by Kan Shôjô's exile. The third brother Matsuômaru (Nakamura Takanosuke) serves the villain Shihei (Bandô Yajûrô), who is responsible for the downfall of Kan Shôjô. Sakuramaru and Umeômaru try to destroy Shihei's carriage but are stopped by Matsuômaru and the magical glare of Shihei. Finally the brothers agree to suspend their disputes until they all meet at their father's seventieth birthday party.

Ibaraki: there are many legends about the demon-quelling warrior Watanabe Tsuna. He struggled with a demon on top of the Rashômon gate into Kyôto and only escaped by cutting the demon's arm off. This dance shows Tsuna (Ichikawa Danjûrô) as he is staying locked up in his house on the instructions of a fortune-teller since the demon is sure to come to try to recover the arm. Tsuna's old nurse (Onoe Kikugorô) appears and at first he must turn her away, but finally Tsuna relents and lets her in. She dances of the years she took care of the young Tsuna, but oddly enough, she only uses one hand as she dances. Finally she reveals that she is actually the demon, come back to recover its arm.

Jiisan Baasan: based on a short story by Mori Ôgai, this modern play by Uno Nobuo shows a loving young couple. The samurai Iori travels to Kyôto with his lord, leaving Run, his beloved wife, behind. While there, he attacks another man in a fight over a sword and is forced into house arrest, separating him from his wife. Many years later, he returns to his home as an old man. There he meets an elderly woman and they do not recognize each other until she sees the one thing that has not changed with age, Iori's peculiar habit of putting his hand to his nose. Starring Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Jakuemon as Iori and Run.

Otokodate Hana no Yoshiwara: Gosho no Gorozô (Ichikawa Danjûrô), the most gallant and chivalrous of men in the capital of Edo, is off to the bustling Nakanochô corner of the Yoshiwara pleasure district. He has received a love letter from his lover, a famous keisei in Yoshiwara. Gorozô tells us the story of how they met and their many rendezvous in a dance. On his way, he is ambushed by men who hold a grudge against him, but Gorozô effortlessly fends them off and continues on his way to his beloved.

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 stars of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI.

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 features Onoe Kikugorô in the role of the parent shishi and his son Onoe Kikunosuke in the role of the cub.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Hanayagi Jusuke

A special program in Kyôto at the Minamiza starring Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô.

Kôjô: a kôjô with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Aki no Irokusa:
(Various Flowers of Autumn)
This work was originally composed in 1845 as Nagauta music to celebrate the completion of the retreat for the lord of the Nanbu clan in Edo, and it was performed as a dance later. The lyrics include various plants of autumn such as wild bush clover, pampas grass and patrinia scabiosaefolia in its verse and is known as an excellent piece about that season. It is autumn. Various flowers of autumn bloom and the chirping of pine crickets is heard. A lady (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) who stands quietly listening to the chirping insects, remembers the old story that King Xiang of the ancient Zhou (Shû in Japanese) dynasty had an affair with the goddess of the Wu Mountains (Fuzan in Japanese) in a dream, and she compares it to her own love. Having thought about her lover, she realizes that the pleasure of the four seasons does not change after many years and begins to dance.

Shigure Saigyô: this dance shows an encounter between the poet-priest Saigyô and a courtesan at Eguchi. But the courtesan is actually a merciful Buddhist deity. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the courtesan and Hanayagi Jusuke as Saigyô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Baika

Educational program at the Sunpearl Arakawa, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 109th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by 2 acts from the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Teppô Watashi/Futatsudama/Kanpei Harakiri: this section of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is about Hayano Kanpei (Nakamura Hashinosuke/Nakamura Shikan) and his wife Okaru (Kataoka Takatarô). Kanpei survives as a hunter and is desperate for the money that will allow him to become a samurai again. He encounters two former retainers of Lord En'ya Hangan who offer to allow him to participate in a vendetta to avenge Lord En'ya Hangan's death by attacking Kô no Moronô. Unknown to him, though, Okaru's family has decided to raise the memory by selling her into prostitution as a courtesan in the Gion district of Kyôto. Okaru's father travels on a dark mountain road, eager to bring the first half of the money to Kanpei. But he is attacked and robbed by Sadakurô (Nakamura Fukunosuke/Nakamura Utanosuke), also a former retainer of Lord En'ya Hangan who has gone bad and become a thief. At this point, Kanpei aims and fires at s wild boar and instead kills Sadakurô. He finds the purse with all the money and, thinking that is the gift of heaven, rushes home. At home, the brothel keeper is already there to collect Okaru and Kanpei wants to refuse to let her go, until he realizes where the money came from and believes that he killed Okaru's father by mistake. He urges Okaru to go to the pleasure quarters, not wanting her to know what has happened. In one of the dramatic highlights of the play, Kanpei commits suicide to atone for his multiple failures in duty.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Matsunami Kihachirô, Hayase Einojô, Arashi Ichitarô, Yagyû Keisuke, Soganoya Kantarô & others

The usual Zenshinza Spring program, not at the National Theatre (closed) but at the Sunshine Theatre (Tôkyô)! It celebrates the 95th anniversary of this troupe, founded in 1931! The guest star is the Shinkigeki actor Soganoya Kantarô.

Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Baika

Educational program in Shizuoka at the Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 109th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Baika

Educational program in Yokohama at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 109th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by "Kanadehon Chûshingura".