7 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre), 1 show in Yokohama (Kanagawa Arts Theatre), 1 in Nagoya (Chûnichi Theatre), 5 in Ôsaka (Shinkabukiza, Orix Theatre, National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan) and 1 in Naruto (Ryôzenji Temple)!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Shûchô and Ichikawa Komazô perform at the Kabukiza !

The Omodakaya guild performs at the Shinkabukiza!

Ichikawa Ebizô and Nakamura Shidô perform at the Chûnichi Theatre and at the Orix Theatre!

All the others great Kabuki actors are on vacation ...

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Shûchô, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kotarô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Kunio, Nakamura Yoshio

The usual summer program at the Kabukiza! It is entitled Hachigatsu Nôryô Kabuki (literally "the August cool-breeze Kabuki").

Ochikubo Monogatari: this story is one of the oldest tales in Japanese literature and a classic tale of a lady abused by her evil stepmother. 20th century playwright Uno Nobuo dramatized this fairy tale with a light, humorous touch. The story takes place in Heian period, and is a Japanese version of Cinderella. The handsome lord Sakon no Shôshô (Nakamura Hayato) rescues the unfortunate Ochikubo no Kimi (Nakamura Shichinosuke).

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Bandô Yajûrô) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Bandô Minosuke) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Nakamura Kankurô) into demonstrating his skill at stick fighting, tying him to the stick. The master then ties up Tarôkaja as well. But he is outsmarted when the two still manage to drink his wine while tied up. Their happy singing and dancing while tied up is a dazzling display of virtuoso dancing and star two of the finest young dancers in Kabuki.

Sakaro:
(The Rise and Fall of the Heike Clan - Reverse Rowing)
A period play taken from the Bunraku puppet theater which combines a historical tale with the daily life of commoners. Matsuemon (Nakamura Hashinosuke) has married into the family of a country boatman. Having learned the special rowing skills of his father-in-law, he is invited to transport the Genji general Yoshitsune. But Matsuemon is actually the warrior Higuchi Kanemitsu, a leading retainer of a general killed by Yoshitsune and he sees this as a perfect opportunity to take his revenge. Before he can put his plan into action, though, his identity is discovered and he is captured in a spectacular battle on sea and land. Featuring Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Senjaku and Nakamura Kankurô in the roles of Gonshirô, Ofude and Hatakeyama Shigetada.

Kyô Ningyô: this dance tells the story of the woodcarver Hidari Jingorô, famous for the sleeping cat on the great gate of Nikkô. He brings a statue of a beautiful courtesan to life and then there is a spectacular fight scene with a variety of carpenter’s tools. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as Jingorô and Nakamura Shichinosuke as the doll of the courtesan.

Imohori Chôja:
(The Sweet-Potato-digging Millionaire)
The widow of the Matsugae family (Bandô Shûchô) who reigns over the district gives a dance party to choose a husband for her daughter Midori Gozen (Nakamura Shichinosuke). They plan to choose the man who dances the best. Tôgorô (Nakamura Hashinosuke) the potato digger comes with his friend Jirokurô (Bandô Minosuke) pretending to be the best dancer in Japan. In contrast to Tôgorô, Jirokurô is a good dancer and he knows that Tôgorô is ardently in love with Midori Gozen. Jirokurô wears a mask and dances pretending to be Tôgorô. Then asked to dance without a mask, Tôgorô dances badly. The widow accepts Jirokurô's suggestion and orders Midori Gozen to dance with Tôgorô and Jirokurô. Unable to dance well, Tôgorô begins to express potato digging in dance. The people have never seen such an interesting dance and praise his dance to be the best in Japan. Tôgorô reveals his true identity and apologizes to them, but Midori Gozen would rather marry Tôgorô the potato digger than the best dancer. Finally they all dance expressing potato digging and congratulate Tôgorô and Midori Gozen.

Gion Koi Zukushi: on his way back from a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine to Edo, Tomegorô (Nakamura Kankurô) stays at the Ôtsuya, an utensil's shop of the tea ceremony, run by Jirôhachi (Nakamura Senjaku) in Kyôto. Jirôhachi has invited Tomegorô because he owes Tomegorô's father a great deal in his youth and also because it is just the time of Gion Festival in Kyôto. Tomegorô falls in love with Osono (Nakamura Toranosuke), the sister of Jirôhachi's wife Otsugi (also played by Nakamura Senjaku), at first sight. Otsugi asks him to spy on Jirôhachi whether he is in love with another woman or not. Since this spring, Jirôhachi often came home late at night. As Otsugi suspects, Jirôhachi is head over heels in love with Someka (Nakamura Shichinosuke), a geisha in Gion, but Someka has a patron and dislikes Jirôhachi. In the mean while, Osono asks Tomegorô to take herself along to Edo; she is in love with Bunshichi (Bandô Minosuke), a clerk of Ôtsuya, but Otsugi doesn't know their relation and recommends her to marry the son of Mochimaruya. She asks Tomegorô to help her elope with Bunshichi. In exchange for telling Otsugi the name of a woman who Jirôhachi loves,Tomegorô asks her to approve the marriage between Osono and Bunshichi. Hearing this, Jirôhachi thinks that Tomegorô talked them in to humiliating him,and bears a grudge against Tomegorô and they quarrel with each other. They are reconciled at last to hear that Mochimaruya Tahê (Bandô Yajûrô) has given up getting Osono as his son's bride and approved the marriage between Osono and Bunshichi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Kasahara Akira

A special program by the 21 Seki Kabuki Gumi, which gathers the best actors of the Omodakaya guild. "Shin Suikoden" was staged for the first time in August 2008 at Le Theatre Ginza (Tôkyô). It was staged in June 2011 at the Chûnichi Theatre (Nagoya) and in August 2013 at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza. The story is based on "Shin Suikoden", "New Tales from the Water Margin" in English, a novel written by Yoshikawa Eiji and published in Japan between 1960 and 1963. This novel was itself based on the famous Chinese novel "Water Margin" ("Shui Hu Zhuan" in Chinese). The story of this 14th century novel is set in the Song Dynasty and it tells of how a group of 108 outlaws gathers at Mount Liang to form a sizable army before they are eventually granted amnesty by the government and sent on campaigns to resist foreign invaders and suppress rebel forces. In 1805, Kyokutei Bakin released a Japanese translation of the "Water Margin" illustrated by Hokusai. The book, which was called "Shinpen Suikogaden", (the "New Illustrated Edition of the Suikoden"), was a success during the Edo period and spurred a Japanese "Suikoden" craze.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichikawa Fukutarô

Roppongi Kabuki in Nagoya! The script was written by Kudô Kankurô, who already did "Ôedo Ribingu Deddo" in 2009 [more details] and "Tennichibô" in 2012 [more details]. The stage direction is done by the famous movie director Miike Takashi, an expert in violent and bizarre movies who worked twice with Ichikawa Ebizô in the movies Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011) and "Over your Dead Body" (2014). The story is about a space alien invasion of Earth. The invaders, coming from outter space, land in Edo during the Genroku period. The head of the extraterrestrial forces, Daashi Beidayû (phonetically, it is not so far from Darth Vader), is Nakamura Shidô, the villain in this play. The savior of Planet Earth, Chikyû Nagegorô (Earth-Throwing Gorô?) is Ichikawa Ebizô. The very first "Space Aragoto" in Japan in Kabuki history! The first Sci-Fi Kabuki drama was "The Emperor of Mars", which was staged at the University of Hawai'i in 1981. More details about "Chikyû Nagegorô Uchû no Aragoto" on the site of the Japan Times!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichikawa Fukutarô

Roppongi Kabuki in Ôsaka! The script was written by Kudô Kankurô, who already did "Ôedo Ribingu Deddo" in 2009 [more details] and "Tennichibô" in 2012 [more details]. The stage direction is done by the famous movie director Miike Takashi, an expert in violent and bizarre movies who worked twice with Ichikawa Ebizô in the movies Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011) and "Over your Dead Body" (2014). The story is about a space alien invasion of Earth. The invaders, coming from outter space, land in Edo during the Genroku period. The head of the extraterrestrial forces, Daashi Beidayû (phonetically, it is not so far from Darth Vader), is Nakamura Shidô, the villain in this play. The savior of Planet Earth, Chikyû Nagegorô (Earth-Throwing Gorô?) is Ichikawa Ebizô. The very first "Space Aragoto" in Japan in Kabuki history! The first Sci-Fi Kabuki drama was "The Emperor of Mars", which was staged at the University of Hawai'i in 1981. More details about "Chikyû Nagegorô Uchû no Aragoto" on the site of the Japan Times!

The Matsuo-juku Kodomo Kabuki [website in Japanese] is a kodomo shibai troupe, founded in Ôsaka in 1988 by Matsuo Hazue, the wife of Matsuo Kunizô (1899~1984), whose name is closely associated to the Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). The troupe is now led by Matsuo Hazue's daughter Matsuo Hideko. The troupe celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012.

17th edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association'). The two first items are music performances done by the Nagauta ensemble of the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan. The last item is the dance drama "Michiyuki Tabiji no Yomeiri" performed by Kabuki actors.

21st edition of the common program for 2 associations, the Chigyokai (the Young Fishes Association) and the Kabukikai (the Kabuki Association), which stars stars' disciples in the leading roles of all the items in the program, with the guidance of Nakamura Kaishun ("Jusshukô") and Nakamura Baigyoku ("Ise Ondo").

1st edition of the Ken no Kai, which stars Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon. Ken no Kai literally means 'Ken's Association' with Ken being the first ideogram in Onoe Ukon's real first name Kensuke. Ichikawa Ennosuke is the guest star of this program.

Yoshinoyama: a dance travel scene from the epic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Now in exile and disgrace, Yoshitsune has left his lover Shizuka in the safekeeping of his trusted retainer Tadanobu. But she is unaware that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox who has disguised himself to be near the treasured drum that Shizuka carries, a drum made from the skins of his fox parents. Starring Onoe Ukon as Tadanobu, with Ichikawa Ennosuke as Shizuka.

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 Ukon as both Yayoi and the spirit of the lion.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

1st edition of the Sôchôkai (literally "the Two Butterflies Association"), which stars Nakamura Kashô and his brother Nakamura Tanenosuke. Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Somegorô and Onoe Shôroku are the guest stars of this program.

Keya-mura: Rokusuke (Nakamura Kashô), a sword master who lives a simple country life, is taking care of a small foundling child. He hangs the boy's kimono outside his house in the hope that the boy's relatives will see it and know where he is. One day he finds himself attacked by a woman named Osono (Nakamura Shibajaku) who turns out to be the aunt of the child. As they talk, they find that they are in fact linked by promises of marriage although they have never met directly. Osono is searching for Kyôgoku no Takumi (Onoe Shôroku), the killer of her father, Rokusuke's master, and Rokusuke promises to help in her vendetta.

Funa Benkei: although he won a war against the enemy Heike clan, the young general Yoshitsune (Ichikawa Somegorô) has gained the disfavor of his brother, the Shôgun, and tries to flee to Kyûshû by boat. Before he sets sail, he must say farewell to his lover Shizuka (Nakamura Tanenosuke), who performs a dance expressing her grief at their separation. Once the boat sets sail, the spirit of the great Heike general Tomomori (Nakamura Tanenosuke), killed by Yoshitsune in battle at sea, appears and attacks to take revenge for the destruction of his clan. They are only saved by the prayers of Yoshitsune's companion, the warrior-priest Benkei (Nakamura Matagorô). The roles of both Shizuka and Tomomori are played by the same actor.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Onoe Matsuya, Kataoka Takatarô

A gala program called Idomu (Challenge) for the young actor Onoe Matsuya. Onoe Matsuya and his guest star Kataoka Takatarô plays the roles of Wankyû and his lover Matsuyama in "Ninin Wankyû".

Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju

The 1st gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan, which stars Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô and Kataoka Senju, 3 disciples of the Matsushimaya guild. Sora no Kai literally means "Sky Association".

Urashima: This dance depicts a Japanese folk tale of a young man named Urashima (Kataoka Senjirô) who is invited to the Dragon Palace under the sea for saving a turtle's life. When Urashima returns back home, he finds that many year had elapsed during the few days he spent at the Dragon Palace. When he opens up the gift boxes, lovingly thinking of the Princess of the Sea who had given them to him, a puff of smoke appears and Urashima turns into an old man with silvery white hair. This dance utilizes many beautiful melodies and brilliantly expresses Urashima's feeling at the moment of change.

Tanuki: this humorous jiuta-based dance shows a female tanuki (Kataoka Senju) and the keeper of a Shintô shrine (Kataoka Matsujûrô).

Hashi Benkei:
(Benkei on the Bridge)
There are many legends about Benkei, the warrior-priest who was the faithful companion of the general Yoshitsune. This dance shows the first meeting of Benkei and Yoshitsune. Benkei goes nightly to the bridge at the Fifth Avenue of Kyôto, defeating men night after night and taking their swords. Finally he encounters a delicate young man that he thinks will be an easy opponent, but is defeated himself instead. This young man was Yoshitsune, under his childhood name of Ushiwakamaru. Benkei is so impressed that he becomes Yoshitsune’s retainer, right there and then. Starring Kataoka Matsujûrô as Benkei and Kataoka Senjirô as Ushiwakamaru.

Ukiyo Banashi Hitoyo no Adauchi: this newly-created Kabuki drama is based on the famous Rakugo story "Yadoya Gataki" (literally "Revenge at the Inn"). The hero is a samurai named Banji Sewakurô (Kataoka Matsujûrô). Staying one night in a Japanese inn, he can't sleep as the guests next door are very noisy. Samurai register a strong complaint to the maid of the Bishûya Inn (Kataoka Senju). The noisy guests try to lower their voice, but, very quickly, they restart their loud chatter again. One of them named Genbê (Kataoka Senjirô) told the others that he once had killed a samurai. After hearing this story from the next room, Banji Sewakurô told to the maid that he is the brother of the samurai who was killed. He says that he will take his revenge next morning. The maid tell the guests about it and they feel shocked and become silent. Next morning, Sewakurô is about to leave the inn. The maid is surprised and asks Sewakurô when he plan to avenge the death of his brother. He simply answers that it was only a lie. A very efficient one to be able to sleep normally.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website, Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website and Nihon Buyô

The Matsuo-juku Kodomo Kabuki [website in Japanese] is a kodomo shibai troupe, founded in Ôsaka in 1988 by Matsuo Hazue, the wife of Matsuo Kunizô (1899~1984), whose name is closely associated to the Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). The troupe is now led by Matsuo Hazue's daughter Matsuo Hideko. The troupe celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012.

25th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles of all the items, with the guidance of Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô and Kataoka Hidetarô.

2nd edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. Nakamura Takanosuke performs in both "Fuji Musume" and "Tamaya". His sister Watanabe Aiko performs in "Ame no Gorô". The third item in this program is a maibayashi dedicated to the Nô master Katayama Yûsetsu, who passed away the 13th of January 2015. Nakamura Takanosuke plays the role of Musashibô Benkei in "Ataka", which is in Nô the root for the Kabuki dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The jiutai is led by the Nô master Katayama Kurôemon X.

Ichikawa Danzô

Ichikawa Danzô IX commemorate the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) of the passing away of his grandfather Ichikawa Danzô VIII. He performs the longevity dance of Musashibô Benkei, a famous section from the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", within the precincts of the Ryôzenji temple in the city of Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture. These performances, which are called Ryôzenji Hônô Kabuki~Saraba Shikoku (Offering Kabuki at the Ryôzenji Temple~Farewell Shikoku), will happen the 22nd and 23rd of August 2015 [more details about the passing away of Ichikawa Danzô VIII]. Taidan is a talk about Ichikawa Danzô VIII done by the long-time NHK announcer Kasai Seiji and Ichikawa Danzô IX. "Kuni Namari Futaba no Oizuru" is performed by a local troupe of kodomo shibai.