5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza) and 1 tour (Western Provinces)!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Onoe Shôroku perform at the Kabukiza !

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Gatô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Hidetarô and Ichikawa Sadanji perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kinnosuke and Nakamura Kashô are on tour in the Western Provinces !

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Hakataza!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Nakamura Matsue, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Shingo

6th month celebrating the opening of the new Kabukiza within a 1-year long cycle of kokera otoshi programs.

Shin Usuyuki Monogatari:
(The Tale of Princess Usuyuki)
Most of the matinee program consists of a full-length production of a Kabuki epic. This play, adapted from the Bunraku puppet theater, combines the best of kabuki -- romance, colorful spectacle and tragedy. With its numerous good roles, a large gathering of popular and accomplished actors are necessary to stage it. Rarely performed, when this play appears, it is always an event.

Hanami: Saemon (Nakamura Kankurô), the eldest son of the Sonobe family and Princesss Usuyuki (Nakamura Baishi), the daughter of the Saizaki family, fall in love after glimpsing one another under the cherry blossoms of Kiyomizu temple and are brought together by their servants. The villain Daizen (Ichikawa Ebizô) places a curse on a sword presented to the temple by Saemon. By framing the couple, he hopes to bring destroy their families so they cannot hinder his effort to take over the country. Saemon's servant Tsumahei (Kataoka Ainosuke) almost defeats this plan and is attacked by Daizen's henchmen in a spectacular fight scene with water buckets.

Sengi: Saemon and Princess Usuyuki are charged with treason. Minbu (Ichikawa Ebizô) comes to investigate the two, and although they maintain their innocence, Daizen is able to turn the evidence against them. The compassionate Minbu gives them a temporary reprieve, but still, must place them under house arrest, each at the house of the other's family, with Saemon at the Saizaki residence and Princess Usuyuki at the Sonobe residence.

Sannin Warai: unable to prove the innocence of the young couple, their fathers are charged with cutting off their heads. Sonobe Hyôe (Ichikawa Somegorô) and his wife Ume-no-Kata (Onoe Kikunosuke) allow Princess Usuyuki to escape. Saizaki (Onoe Shôroku) appears with a head box which he says contains the head of Saemon and demands that Sonobe cut off Princess Usuyuki's head. Sonobe returns, having secretly stabbed himself to atone for letting Princess Usuyuki escape. Saizaki reveals that, in fact, he has done the same and the two, seemingly stern and villainous men reveal that they have sacrificed themselves for love of their children.

Yoshiwara Suzume: in this dance, a husband and wife come to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters to sell caged sparrows for a ceremony to gain Buddhist merit by releasing living things. Caged sparrows were also images for the courtesans of the pleasure quarters, and the two dance a romantic meeting between a courtesan and her lover, showing the lively and erotic atmosphere of the pleasure quarters. Starring Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke as the husband and wife.

Onmyôji: the social situation in the capital city Kyôto in the Heian period is threatening. Evil spirits appear, enigmatic theft occurs and pregnant women are attacked one after another. A well-received young fortune-teller Abe no Seimei (Ichikawa Somegorô) encounters pandemonium and is impressed by a beautiful princess riding on a dragon as he walked with his friend and good piper Minamoto no Hiromasa (Nakamura Kankurô) one night along the street in the capital. They investigate the rumor that the princess was the leader of the bandits and find out that all recent cases in the capital are related to the Revolt of Masakado 20 years before. Masakado (Ichikawa Ebizô) rebelled for the good of public sentiment. Prince Okiyoô (Kataoka Ainosuke) made use of Masakado's feeling and shadowed him ominously. It is Tawara no Tôda (Onoe Shôroku) who received an Imperial order to subjugate Masakado. Masakado and Tôda evaluate their ability each other high. Tôda leaves for the East where Kikyô-no-Mae (Nakamura Shichinosuke) who used to love Tôda lives now with Masakado. With the truth of the case, the identity of the mysterious princess has turned out to be Princess Takiyasha (Onoe Kikunosuke), the daughter of Masakado, and a horrible plot over 20 years becomes obvious here. "Onmyôji" is a popular romance by Yumemakura Baku. It is also popular in comics and films and staged for Kabuki to celebrate the reopening of Kabukiza Theatre.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Fujima Kan'emon, Fujima Kanjûrô, Hanayagi Jusuke, Onoe Bokusetsu, Inoue Yachiyo

The first special Buyô since the opening of the new Kabukiza in April 2013!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Gatô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Kikaku, Bandô Shûchô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Komazô, Ôtani Keizô, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichimura Takematsu

Ohama Goten: there are few plays more popular in Kabuki than "Chûshingura" or the Treasury of the Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers. In the modern period, this play was reworked by Mayama Seika as "Genroku Chûshingura", a play focusing on different incidents and different characters in this revenge classic adding historical details reflecting the Genroku period. One of the most popular parts of this play shows the man that will be the next Shôgun, seemingly detached from the vendetta, but in fact, intensely interested in the progress of the quest of the band of loyal retainers. Starring Nakamura Hashinosuke as Lord Tsunatoyo and Nakamura Kanjaku as Tominomori Suke’emon. With Nakamura Kazutarô as Okiyo, Nakamura Kaishun as Ejima and Kataoka Gatô as Tsunatoyo’s teacher Arai Kageyû.

Meoto 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 there are two dancers and one 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 Kataoka Takatarô as the female dancer and Nakamura Hashinosuke as the male dancer.

Kôchiyama: the tea priest Kôchiyama (Matsumoto Kôshirô) is a skilled thief and extortionist, but cannot turn down a request to help those in need. He disguises himself as a high-ranking priest to try to gain the freedom of a girl held by a powerful samurai lord (Nakamura Kanjaku) because she will not become his mistress. Using the famous poetic cadences of the late 19th century playwright Mokuami, Kôchiyama not only succeeds in his mission to rescue the girl, but he manages to extort a fair amount for himself. Featuring also Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Tôzô and Ichikawa Sadanji.

Shiranui Kengyô: in the last years of the Edo period, Tominosuke (Matsumoto Kôshirô) has become the pupil of Shiranui (Ôtani Keizô), the best and most powerful zatô in Edo. He pretends to be a faithful pupil but secretly steals money to help his poor parents. An outcast since birth, he learned from a young age that the only way to get ahead was to take advantage of others. After ten years he becomes independent as a masseur named Tominoichi. He indulges in evil deeds such as murder, theft and cheating. Being on a vile quest for power, at last he kills his master and becomes Shiranui the 2nd. Having obtained power and much money, everything goes according to his hope. Then he kills a man to steal his lover. Featuring Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô and Ôtani Tomoemon.

Uma Nusubito: a modern dance using the techniques of traditional Kabuki for a light and entertaining story of a horse thief. Featuring Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku and Bandô Minosuke.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kichinosuke

Nakamura Matagorô III and his son Nakamura Kashô IV celebrate their shûmei touring in the western provinces!

Numazu: a dramatization of one of the most famous historical vendattas of the Edo period. "Numazu" is one act that tells of the sacrifices of those not directly involved in the vendetta itself but members of the same family who are indebted to the two opposing sides. The kimono merchant Jûbê (Nakamura Kichiemon) meets a porter Heisaku (Nakamura Karoku) as he travels west on business. They find that not only are they long-separated father and son, but that they also lie on opposite sides of the vendetta. Their loyalties prevent them from openly acknowledging their relationship. Heisaku sacrifices his life to get information from his son essential to his side's cause. Featuring Nakamura Shibajaku in the role of Heisaku's daughter Oyone.

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 Nakamura Matagorô III and his son Nakamura Kashô IV.

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 Nakamura Matagorô in the role of the parent shishi and his son Nakamura Kashô in the role of the cub.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Bandô Tamasaburô

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and the Kodô taiko drummers revive "Amaterasu", which was staged for the first time in May 2006 at the Minamiza [more details].