10 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô, Sôgetsu Hall), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza), 2 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Nagoya (Misonoza) and 2 in Hakodate (Hakodate Kôkaidô, Iai Gakuin Kôdô)!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Hayato and Ichikawa Komazô perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Minamiza!

Nakamura Shidô and Hatsune Miku perform at the Hakataza, at the Misonoza and at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

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

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichimura Manjirô, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Sônosuke, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Seiko, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Shingo, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Takanosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Ichikawa Danko

The August Young Actors Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza. Tezuka Osamu's 1963 manga "Shinsen-gumi" will be adapted to Kabuki for the first time! The story is related to the Shinsen-gumi, a group of pro-Shogunate warriors at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu).

Shinsen-gumi: this is the first kabuki adaptation of the manga series by Tezuka Osamu. It is set at the end of the Edo period in Kyôto. Fukakusa Kyûjûrô (Nakamura Utanosuke) becomes a member of the Shinsen-gumi, a party of masterless warriors, to avenge his father's death, and gets acquainted with a boy swordsman named Kamagiri Daisaku (Nakamura Fukunosuke). Though they have opposite characters, in time they become good friends after sharing moments of relief during their severe training. One day, Kyûjûrô is forced to slay a man while fighting as a member of the Shinsen-gumi and now his own life is sought to avenge that man's death. Starring Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku and Bandô Yajûrô in the roles of Kondô Isami, Hijikata Toshizô, Sakamoto Ryôma and Serizawa Kamo.

Yami no Ume Hyaku Monogatari:
(The Game of a Hundred Lights)
This is a dance drama based on a popular game in former times to light one hundred lanterns and tell ghost stories. At the conclusion of each story a light was extinguished. When the last remaining lantern was extinguished a real ghost, it was believed, would appear. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as skeleton/a peddler of commercial news-sheet by reading it aloud, Nakamura Shichinosuke as the maid servant Shiraume/a snow fairy

, Kataoka Sennosuke as shinzô, Nakamura Toranosuke as kappa, Nakamura Hashinosuke as a tanuki and Nakamura Tanenosuke as an umbrella ghost (kasa ippon ashi).

Tsukuda no Yoarashi: Aoki Teijirô (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and Kamiya Genzô (Nakamura Kankurô) spend their days doing hard labor in prison on Tsukuda Island in the early winter of 1858. Aoki, who was formerly a samurai in Kôshû province, hopes to avenge his parents who were killed over the buried gold of Takeda Shingen. As Kamiya knows of Aoki's wish, he encourages Aoki to flee from the island together with him. On the night when they carry out their plan, they climb over the fence of the prison and go across the Sumida River to the riverbank at Fukagawa. They commit one crime after another to earn their traveling expenses. Parting from Kamiya, Aoki sets out for Kôshû province. Featuring also Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Yonekichi and Ichimura Manjirô.

Ukiyo Buro: this lively dance evokes the lively atmosphere of the Edo bathhouses. In the Kinoshi-yu bathhouse, the young attendant Sansuke is busy taking care of the customers, pouring hot water on their back. A Japanese slug, shaped as a beautiful woman, nestles close to him and engages Sansuke in a beautiful kudoki. This Nagauta-based dance was premiered in 1937 and starred Ichikawa Ennosuke II. It was added by his grandson Ichikawa Ennosuke III in 1975 in the Omodaka Jûshu collection of dances. Featuring Ichikawa Ennosuke and Ichikawa Danko in the roles of Sansuke and the slug.

Yaji Kita Ritânzu: Yajirobê (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and Kitahachi (Ichikawa Ennosuke) worked as stagehands at the Kabukiza Theatre in Edo's Kobikichô district. They set out on a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine dreaming of getting rich quick, and caused various kinds of trouble everywhere they went. But they managed to come through every crisis. Three years have passed since then. At the end of the previous play in this series, fireworks at the Ise Shrine blew them high up in the sky, after which they landed on a remote desert island, but they survived somehow. By this means and that, they manage to arrive in Nagasaki where they learn that the Kabukiza Theatre, where they formerly worked, is in trouble. In order to return to the Kabukiza Theatre, they again have an incident-filled journey, getting over many problems which confront them.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Kamenojô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Kitamura Rokurô, Kawai Yukinojô

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

Yotsuya Kaidan: Tamiya Iemon, a villainous masterless samurai (Kataoka Ainosuke) is in love with Oiwa (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) and even kills her father Yotsuya Samon to be united with her, cynically promising to help her to avenge her father's death. But at the same time, the granddaughter of a wealthy doctor falls in love with him and her grandfather tries to ensure the match by sending a horrible disfiguring poison to Oiwa. In the most famous scene of the play, face destroyed, hair falling out, Oiwa carefully dresses and puts on make-up to pay a proper visit to those who have wronged her. Iemon kills Oiwa and his servant Kobotoke Kohei (Kitamura Rokurô), has their bodies nailed to a door and thrown into the river. Iemon is happily married into the wealthy family, but no sooner does the beautiful young bride arrive than Oiwa's ghost causes Iemon to kill her. The vengeful ghosts do not rest until all of their enemies are dead and, in another famous scene, Oiwa and Kohei appear floating on the river, calling out to Iemon. The concluding scene shows the ghost of Oiwa appearing mysteriously from inside a paper lantern and pulling her enemies into the wall and disappearing magically.

Genroku Hanami Odori:
(Viewing the Cherry Blossoms in the Genroku Period)
It is in the Genroku period (late 17th century) and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom on the hill of Ueno in Edo (present day Tôkyô). Men and women dressed up in showy outfits gather to view cherry blossoms and begin to dance. After the song about the custom of flower viewing in Kyoto, the drunken people start a lively dance. The dance under the cherry blossoms continues endlessly. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Kitamura Rokurô and Kawai Yukinojô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku, Sawamura Kuniya, Nakamura Chôshi, Ogawa Haruki

The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 9th time in Kabuki history! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. For the first time in Fukuoka at the Hakataza. The first item in the program is a stage talk about Chôkabuki. The second item is a dance-drama written by Matsuoka Ryô and staged under the guidance of the Fujima Kanjûrô VIII. The last item is the 2022 newly-created drama Chôkabuki also written by Matsuoka Ryô.

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku, Sawamura Kuniya, Nakamura Chôshi, Ogawa Haruki

The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 10th time in Kabuki history! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. For the first time in Nagoya at the Misonoza. The first item in the program is a stage talk about Chôkabuki. The second item is a dance-drama written by Matsuoka Ryô and staged under the guidance of the Fujima Kanjûrô VIII. The last item is the 2022 newly-created drama Chôkabuki also written by Matsuoka Ryô.

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku, Sawamura Kuniya, Nakamura Chôshi, Ogawa Haruki

The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 11th time in Kabuki history! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. For the first time in Nagoya at the Misonoza. The first item in the program is a stage talk about Chôkabuki. The second item is a dance-drama written by Matsuoka Ryô and staged under the guidance of the Fujima Kanjûrô VIII. The last item is the 2022 newly-created drama Chôkabuki also written by Matsuoka Ryô. The main program is staged either once (morning or afternoon) or twice (morning/afternoon). The 23rd and the 31st of August 2022, the main program is staged in the morning and the limited program is staged in the afternoon.

24th edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association'). The first items in this program are only music performances. The last item is a dance-drama staged under the guidance of Bandô Minosuke with Ichikawa Shinjûrô and Nakamura Kyôzô.

Dango Uri:
(The Dumpling Peddlers)
the mortar and pestle used for pounding rice cakes and dumplings are a symbol of a happily married couple. This short, lively dance shows a couple peddling dumplings with a series of songs and dances. Starring Ichikawa Shinjûrô and Nakamura Kyôzô in the roles of the husband and the wife.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

28th 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 under the supervision of Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kingo and the dance master Fujima Kanso III.

Onoe Ukon, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kataoka Ichizô, Nakamura Baika, Bandô Kamesaburô, Onoe Kikusaburô

6th edition of the Ken no Kai, a gala starring 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. In "Kasane", Onoe Ukon shares the stage with a Bunraku puppeteer.

Kasane: one can never escape past evils. Yoemon is fleeing to the countryside, but Kasane, the woman he abandoned, refuses to let him go. She catches up with him at a lonely river bank. A skull stabbed with a scythe appears and Kasane is possessed by its spirit, actually the spirit of her dead father, and her face suddenly becomes disfigured. She pours out her feelings of jealousy and resentment and Yoemon kills Kasane, but even after her death, he cannot escape her vengeful spirit. Starring Ichikawa Ukon as either Kasane or Yoemon, who shares the stage with a Bunraku puppeteer in the opposite role.

Sanemori Monogatari: a play about the early days of the rivalry between the Genji and Heike warrior clans. The warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori (Onoe Ukon) 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 (Nakamura Kazutarô), 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 Bandô Hikosaburô as Senoo Jûrô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kansei, Kataoka Yûjirô, Kataoka Rikiya, Kataoka Toshiya, Kataoka Tôkichirô, Kataoka Sentarô

The 7th gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan, which stars mostly disciples of the Matsushimaya guild. These performances are entitled Abeno Kabuki (Abeno is the name of a famous district in Ôsaka). The newly-created Kabuki drama is based on a famous Kamigata rakugo entitled "Shichidogitsune" (literally the “Seven times fox”).

32nd edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles under the supervision of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and the guidance of Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Kamimura Kichiya and the dance master Fujima Toyohiro.

Ôtani Keizô, Ôtani Ryûsei, Ôtani Keitarô, Nakamura Kyôsumi, Nakamura Kyôyuki

2nd edition of the Jûjiya Dance Gala at the Nihonbashi Gekijô (Nihonbashi Auditorium), located within the Nihonbashi Kôkaidô (Nihonbashi Community Center). The first item in this program is a speech about the art of Kabuki and the last item is a kôjô.

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 Ôtani Keizô in the role of the parent shishi and his son Ôtani Ryûsei in the role of the cub.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Umezô, Nakamura Umeno, Nakamura Umeaki, Nakamura Umetoshi

2nd edition of the Takasago Kai ('Takasago Gala') for the disciples of Nakamura Baigyoku belonging to the Takasagoya guild. The first item in the program is a kôjô.

Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kotarô

1st edition of a Buyô gala for Nakamura Fukusuke and his son Nakamura Kotarô in Tôkyô at the Sôgetsu Hall. The last item in the program is a newly-created Buyô dance.

Ôtani Keizô, Ôtani Ryûsei, Ôtani Keitarô, Nakamura Kyôsumi, Nakamura Kyôyuki

Jûjiya Gala in Hakodate at the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward. It is staged to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward.

Ôtani Keizô, Ôtani Ryûsei, Ôtani Keitarô, Nakamura Kyôsumi, Nakamura Kyôyuki

Jûjiya Gala in Hakodate at the Auditorium of the Iai Academy. The first item in this programn, "Kabuki no Mikata", is a lively presentation of Kabuki. The last item, "Goaisatsu" (literally "Greetings"), is a stage speech.