4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Nô Theatre, NHK Hall, Kôtô Ward Cultural Center), 1 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre), 1 in Nara (Tôdaiji Temple) and 2 tours (Western Provinces, Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the Kabukiza !

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Monnosuke and Kamimura Kichiya are on tour in the Western Provinces !

Ichikawa Ebizô is on tour (Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Komazô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Baika, Nakamura Kichinojô

The 11th edition in Tôkyô of a special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) is staged at the Kabukiza to commemorate the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I, whose's haimyô was Shûzan.

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 (Onoe Shôroku) 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 Baigyoku), pretends to come under Daizen's employ to try to sabotage his plans from within. Princess Yuki (Nakamura Kotarô) 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 Fukusuke, who is back on stage after a long absence, in the role of the ama Keijuin! Due to health issues, Nakamura Fukusuke had to stop acting in November 2013. It took him 4 years and 10 months before being able to perform in a Kabuki theater. Featuring also Matsumoto Kôshirô, Bandô Yajûrô and Bandô Kamezô.

Onizoroi Momijigari:
(The Autumn Leaves and the Demon of Mt. Togakushi)
This dance is a modern adaptation of a colorful Kabuki play based on an austere Nô classic. The aristocrat Koremochi (Nakamura Kinnosuke) has travelled to view the autumn leaves and encounters a beautiful princess (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and her entourage. The entire party of beautiful women turns out to be vicious demons and attack Koremochi after lulling him to sleep with a beautiful dream-like dance.

Kôchiyama: the tea priest Kôchiyama (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) 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 (Matsumoto Kôshirô) 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 Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô.

Ayatsuri Sanbasô:
(The Puppet Sanbasô)
The Sanbasô is part of the ritual Nô play "Okina", a prayer for prosperity and in Kabuki the vigorous Sanbasô dance is often performed separately. To make the dance especially auspicious, the old man Okina and attendant Senzai appear as well. In Kabuki, the Sanbasô dance appears in all kinds of versions. In this particular version, the Sanbasô is actually a giant marionette (Matsumoto Kôshirô), dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer (Nakamura Kichinojô).

Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) has been exiled to Devil's Island for plotting against the dictator Kiyomori. A pardon is given to his fellow conspirators, but Shunkan is only saved by an additional pardon given by Kiyomori's compassionate son. Even so, he gives up his place on the boat to freedom so his companion's new wife can accompany her husband back to the capital. The boat leaves and Shunkan is left watching is disappear in the distance, knowing he will be left on the island forever. Featuring Nakamura Matagorô as the evil emissary Senoo and Nakamura Karoku as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon. With Nakamura Jakuemon as the island girl Chidori, Nakamura Kinnosuke as Taira no Yasuyori and Onoe Kikunosuke as Fujiwara no Naritsune, Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.

Yûgen: in this new dance creation first performed last year, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô expresses the world of Zeami Motokiyo who is credited with having perfected the art of Nô. Together with the professional drumming troupe called Kodô, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs three graceful dances that are based on Nô plays such as "Hagoromo" (The Feather Robe), "Shakkyô" (The Stone Bridge) and "Dôjôji" (Dôjôji Temple). In the "Hagoromo" section, a fisherman comes to the pine grove of Miho no Matsubara and finds a feather mantle hanging on a branch. He gives it back to the heavenly maiden to whom it belongs, she puts it on and flies back to heaven. In the "Shakkyô" section, a Buddhist monk tries to cross the Stone Bridge on Mount Seiryô in China but is stopped. He is told that only those with sufficient merit may cross because on the other side lies the Buddhist paradise. Later there appears a shishi lion, on which the Buddhist deity Monju is normally seen riding. It plays with peonies and dances valiantly. In the "Dôjôji" section, a shirabyôshi dancer visits Dôjôji Temple to attend the dedication ceremony for a brand-new temple bell. Eventually, she causes the bell to fall as she herself disappears inside it. When it is lifted, she is found transformed into a serpent. It becomes clear that she is the same jealous spirit who destroyed the original bell after being deserted by the man to whom she believed herself betrothed.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kamimura Kichiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Matsue, Ichikawa Juen

The usual September Grand Kabuki Tour in the western provinces.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

The first leg (September) of the Fall Tour of Ichikawa Ebizô with performances in 9 cities. The first number in the program is not a Kabuki dance-drama but a performance of taiko drum. The second item is a greetings stage talk ("Goaisatsu") done by Ichikawa Ebizô.

Echigo Jishi: one of the most popular dances in the Kabuki repertory, this shows a traveling entertainer (Ichikawa Kudanji) that performed lion dances, with an adult playing the music and a child doing acrobatics like a little lion. The dance shows the feelings of the adult performer and his feelings for his home in the Echigo region and finally ends with the famous white cloth of the area as he waves long strips of cloth in a variety of different patterns.

Shiokumi: in the classical Nô Theatre, there are few plays as evocative as Matsukaze, the story of a court noble exiled to the seacoast where he falls in love with two fisher women. The women make their living scooping up heavy buckets of sea water to make salt and this has become a famous dance. Starring Ôtani Hiromatsu as the shiokumi Matsukaze.

Jayanagi: an extremely rare play from the original Kabuki Jûhachiban. High on holy Mt. Kôya, there is a willow tree that attracts the vengeful spirits of jealous women which possesses a passing traveler. Starring Ichikawa Ebizô in the roles of Suketarô of Tanba Province (in reality the spirit of the willow tree) and the powerful warrior Kongômaru in the oshimodoshi grand finale.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Kikaku

45th edition of Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai (literally the "Classics Entertainment Appreciation Association"), a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK. The program includes traditional music, one kyôgen and one Kabuki drama.

Sanemori Monogatari: a play about the early days of the rivalry between the Genji and Heike warrior clans. The warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori (Ko9) 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, 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 Kikaku as Senoo Jûrô.

Source: Earphone Guide website

5th edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. Nakamura Takanosuke performs in "Kumasaka" (shimai) and "Yoshinoyama" (the role of the fox Tadanobu). His sister Watanabe Aiko performs in "Komori" and "Yoshinoyama" (the role of Shizuka Gozen). The long-time NHK announcer Kasai Seiji is the guest in charge of all the talking.

Ichimura Manjirô, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichimura Hikaru

A special 1-day "Kabuki for Beginners" program with Ichimura Manjirô and his two sons in the Cultural Center of the Kôtô Ward in Tôkyô. The first item in this programn, "Kabuki no Mikata", is a lively presentation of Kabuki. The two others are dance-dramas.

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Takanosuke

20th edition of the Kamigata Hanabutai (the Kamigata Association), a gala program sponsored by the Kamigata Culture and Entertainment Association since 1984. This association has continuously been hosting a performance called "Kamigata Hanabutai" at the National Bunraku Theatre. This performance showcases various Kamigata geisha entertainment forms, not normally presented outside the tea houses. As it is the 20th edition, Kabuki actors have been invited to perform Kabuki dances.

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Toranosuke

A special Kabuki performance on a temporary stage built in front of the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) in the heart of the Tôdaiji Temple in the city of Nara. This event belongs to a series of event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the inscription of the Tôdaiji Temple as an UNESCO World Heritage site (in 1998).