5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Meijiza), 1 shows in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 1 tour (New Green Leaves)!!

Onoe Kikugorô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô and Ôtani Tomoemon perform at the Kabukiza!

Young actors perform at the Meijiza!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the National Theatre!

Onoe Kikugorô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kataoka Ichizô, Bandô Shûchô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Otora, Ichimura Kitsutarô

The Dankikusai May Grand Kabuki performances is 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 celebrates the first anniversary of the passing away of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII:

Kenuki: in this play, which retains the light, festive atmosphere of early-period Kabuki, a princess has a mysterious ailment that makes her hair stand on end, an ailment that prevents her from carrying out her long-awaited marriage. Kumedera Danjô comes from the groom's household to investigate and finds a plot to take over the household when his tweezers float in mid-air. Ichikawa Sadanji stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting that is a specialty of his family. Featuring also Ichikawa Danzô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Bandô Shûchô and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

Kanjinchô: probably the most popular Kabuki play today, it includes dance, comedy and the heart-warming pathos of a band of heroes during their last days. Disguised as a band of traveling priests the fugitive general Yoshitsune and his small band of retainers are stopped at a road barrier. They escape only through the quick thinking of the head retainer, a warrior priest named Musashibô Benkei, who improvises the text of an elaborate imperial decree. Having escaped danger Benkei and the others describe their days of glory and hardships on the road to escape in a moving dance. This program stars Ichikawa Ebizô in the role of Benkei, with Nakamura Shibajaku and Onoe Kikunosuke as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.

Sakanaya Sôgorô: Sôgorô (Onoe Kikugorô), a fish seller, has taken a vow to not drink, but when he learns about his sister's unjust murder at the hands of a daimyô lord, a death that they were told was execution for her wrongdoing, he starts to drink again. Drunk, he storms into the lord's mansion to seek an apology. This play by Meiji playwright Kawatake Mokuami is known for its realistic portrayal of members of the common class during the Edo period and highlights their fierce pride and frustration at the privileges of the dominant samurai class. Featuring also Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Ichimura Manjirô and Ichikawa Sadanji.

Ya-no-Ne: like a picture come to life, this play combines the most exaggerated costumes and movements with leisurely humor. The aragoto hero Soga no Gorô is sharpening a giant arrow and sleeping in wishes of good fortune for the New Year when he sees his brother Jûrô in a dream asking him to come and rescue him. The two Soga brothers are part of one of the most popular vendetta stories in Kabuki, suffering for eighteen years before being able to avenge the death of their father. In this play, when Gorô finds out that his brother is in trouble, he jumps on the horse of a passing daikon vendor and, brandishing a giant daikon as a whip prepares to rush to his brother's side. Starring Onoe Shôroku and Living National Treasure Sawamura Tanosuke as Gorô and Jûrô.

Banzui Chôbê: in the early Edo period, gallant men like Banzuiin Chôbê led the commoners. But this incurred the wrath of members of the samurai class, who were theoretically in control. This play begins with a recreation of Kabuki in its earliest days, then a fight breaks out which is settled by Chôbê (Ichikawa Ebizô). But this frustrates the ambitions of the samurai Mizuno (Onoe Kikugorô) who invites Chôbê to visit. All of Chôbê's men tell him not to go because it is a trap, but Chôbê decides to meet his end and bids farewell to his wife (Nakamura Tokizô) and son. Finally, Chôbê is killed when he is defenseless in the bath.

Kagami Jishi: one of the most important dances for onnagata female role specialists and is an audience favorite. The maidservant Yayoi performs an auspicious lion dance for the Shôgun in his opulent palace, but she gradually finds herself under the control of the lion spirit. In the second half of the dance, the lion spirit itself appears and performs its crazed dance among peonies and fluttering butterflies. Starring Onoe Kikunosuke as both Yayoi and the spirit of the lion.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Kashô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Takesaburô, Nakamura Kikaku, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Sônosuke, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Hayato, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Kichinosuke

A Kabuki program at the Meijiza with Ichikawa Somegorô as zagashira: he plays for the first time the 10 roles of "Date no Jûyaku" [Somegorô's interview]:

Torii Mae:
(In Front of the Fushimi Inari Shrine)
This is a short scene showing the troubles of Yoshitsune after his brother Yoritomo, the Shôgun, turns against him. Yoshitsune (Nakamura Hayato) is forced to flee from the troops sent by his brother Yoritomo. The trip will be hard and he decides he must leave behind his lover Shizuka Gozen (Nakamura Yonekichi), despite her passionate pleas to remain with him. As a reminder of himself, he presents her with a precious hand drum that he had received from the emperor. Yoshitsune's retainer Tadanobu (Nakamura Kashô) rescues Shizuka from Yoritomo's troops and Yoshitsune decides to have Tadanobu protect her on the road, not knowing that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox in disguise.

Tsuri Onna: a dance based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Ichikawa Komazô) longs for a wife and is told by the gods in a dream to go fishing for one. He is united with a beautiful princess (Nakamura Kazutarô). His servant Tarôkaja (Ichikawa Somegorô) wants a wife as well, but when he goes fishing, is stuck with a very surprising companion, played by Nakamura Kikaku in a rare, humorous, female role.

Rosei no Yume: a rare drama, which is the Edo parody of a famous chinese tale, which is called the Tale of Lu Sheng. In this Edo version, Lu Sheng becomes Rosei, the nickname of Roya Seikichi. Lu Sheng was a young man who fell asleep and dreamed of glory but waked to find that the millet at his bedside had not even begun to boil. Rosei (Ichikawa Somegorô) dreams of the pleasures of contemporary Edo: greeting sunrise in boat on Edo Bay, feasting in a famous restaurant, being entertained to classical music or joining the procession of top-rank courtesan under cherry-blossom. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Kashô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi and Nakamura Kazutarô.

Date no Jûyaku: One of the most famous plays in Kabuki is "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", the story of the fabulously wealthy Date clan in Sendai and plots to take over the clan. In the early 19th century, this play was rewritten so that one actor could play all the roles, switching from one to another with fast changes. The script for this particular version was lost, but some twenty years ago, Ichikawa Ennosuke had a new version prepared and this has since become a classic of Ennosuke's style of Kabuki. the young heir of the Kôraiya guild Ichikawa Somegorô plays ten roles, male and female, young and old, villain and hero.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website, except "Rosei no Yume"

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Nakamura Umenosuke, Arashi Keishi, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Anegawa Shinnosuke, Matsunami Kihachirô, Ikushima Kigorô, Arashi Ichitarô

The usual Zenshinza May program at the National Theatre! The Zenshinza tateonnagata Kawarasaki Kunitarô performs 7 roles in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Osome no Nanayaku".

Osome no Nanayaku:
(The 7 roles of Osome)
The story of the love suicide of Osome, the daughter of a wealthy merchant and Hisamatsu, a handsome young man that was an apprentice in her family's shop, is one of the most popular stories in Kabuki and was dramatized countless times. In 1813, Tsuruya Nanboku IV (1755~1829) wrote up this story as a showpiece for Iwai Hanshirô V, an onnagata specialist in female roles. One actor plays seven of the major roles in the play: Osome, Hisamatsu, the poor Osaku, Omitsu (Hisamatsu's official fiance), Hisamatsu's sister Takegawa, the geisha Koito, Osome's mother Teishô and a snake charmer named Oroku. The Onnagata Kawarasaki Kunitarô makes a virtuoso appearance in this play, acting in all seven roles, including the fastest on-stage fast change in all Kabuki. Also featuring Arashi Keishi as Oroku's fiance Kimon no Kihê.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kamimura Kichiya, Kamimura Kichitarô

22nd edition of a pedagogical show in Kyôto combining explanation for beginners (done by the professional storyteller Katsura Kujaku) and two dance-dramas.

Mitsumen Komori:
(The Babysitter with Three Masks)
This short charming dance shows a young girl who is a babysitter and she entertains her charge with a series of games and dances. The highlight is when she does a short sketch with three comic masks which shows a romantic quarrel between the plump, homely woman Okame and the drunken god of prosperity Ebisu. Finally Hyottoko with his funny, twisted up mouth steps in to mediate the fight. Starring Kamimura Kichitarô.

Kaminari Sendô: handsome boatmen crossing the Sumida River were the popular idols of the Edo period, but the only thing they feared was lightning. This humorous dance shows a female boatman and the thunder god carrying his drums and dressed in an animal skin loincloth. Starring Kamimura Kichiya as the female boatman Okichi.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke

A special and short tour led by the heirs of the Nakamuraya guild. The second item (geidan) in this program is a talk about art. All the others items are dances.