2 shows in Tôkyô (Nissay Theatre, , Nikkei Hall), 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza)!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Komazô and Ichikawa Somegorô perform at the Nissay Theatre !

Kataoka Ainosuke and young actors perform at the Shôchikuza!

Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Shichinosuke perform at the Hakataza

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Kikaku, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Kotarô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Matsumoto Kintarô

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 remember the late Matsumoto Hakuo. This month, the top actor of the company Matsumoto Kôshirô will introduce the plays in the program and talk about his recent conditions. The staging of "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa" celebrates the 120th anniversary of the death of the playwright Kawatake Mokuami.

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 Ichikawa Somegorô as Tadanobu, with Nakamura Fukusuke as Shizuka. Featuring also Nakamura Kikaku as Hayami no Tôta.

Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa:
(The Killing of Otsuta and Sôgorô the Fishmonger")
The story of Sôgorô, the fishmonger is one of the most popular plays in Kabuki, but this is just a short portion of a play by Meiji playwright Kawatake Mokuami. This play 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. It reworks the legend of "Sarayashiki" or "The Plate Mansion". In the original story, a samurai lord kills a maid when she breaks one of a precious set of ten plates and throws her body into a well. But her ghost appears nightly counting the plates again and again in the desperate hope that this time the number will work out. Otsuta (Nakamura Fukusuke) comes from a commoner family, but Lord Isobe Kazunosuke (Ichikawa Somegorô) has fallen in love with her and made her his mistress. Unfortunately, she has become the object of lust of the retainer Iwagami Tenzô (Ôtani Keizô), who is plotting together with his brother to take over the clan. When Otsuta refuses Tenzô's advances, he takes advantage of the situation by claiming that she is having an affair with a young samurai in the mansion. When the lord hears this, he is furious and kills her. Sôgorô (Matsumoto Kôshirô), a fish seller, has taken a vow to not drink, but when he learns about the unjust murder of his sister Otsuta 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.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Bandô Shinsha, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Umemaru, Kamimura Kichitarô

Shin Hakkenden:
New Version of "the Eight Dog Warriors"
The original novel is an immense epic by 19th century novelist Takizawa Bakin published over many years, but eventually reaching one-hundred and sixty volumes. This is a rare performance of the new version of "the Eight Dog Warriors" and follows the adventures of the eight dog warriors. The demon king Sutokuin who wishes to gain control of the world possesses steward Ôgigaya Sadamasa and changes a daughter of the loyal retainer of the shogunate Princess Fuse and Satomi Yoshinari into dogs. As Princess Fuse laments this and tries to kill herself, a fairy appears and tells her fate. The eight crystal beads of her rosary, each engraved with the Chinese characters of one of the Confucian virtues, emerge from Princess Fuse's body and go flying through the air. Miraculously, each will be found with a newborn baby. These eight children, all of whom have the character inu for "dog" in their names, vow to put down these turbulent times and disperse in all directions. Years have passed. The shogunate has lost its power and the world has become more and more turbulent. One of the eight dog warriors Inuzuka Shino Moritaka hopes to enter government service with his treasured sword Murasamemaru. Sadamasa disguises himself as a masterless samurai Aboshi Samojirô, exchanges Murasamemaru with a false aword, takes Shino's fiancee Hamaji away with him and stabs her mother with Murasamemaru to death. A houseboy Gakuzô with a real name Inukawa Sôsuke discovers that Shino and he have the same crystal beads, and they decide to associate with each other as brothers. Shino is now pursued by the police as he has presented a false sword to the shogunate Ashikaga Shigeuji. As Shino cuts Shigeuji's retainer Inukai Genpachi Nobumichi, they see a crystal bead emerge from the wound and know that they are kindred spirits with the same crystal beads; they also decide to associate with each other as brothers. The three dog warriors Shino, Sôsuke and Genpachi go to seek other dog warriors to defeat Samojirô. At the same time Samojirô makes advances to the most popular courtesan, but she is Inusaka Keno in disguise who has come there to avenge his father on Sadamasa. Samojirô tries to kill Keno and Hamaji, but he becomes unable to practice magic as he is doused with Hamaji's blood, and flees away. Finally all the eight dog warriors gather to pursue Sadamasa who has shown his true nature as Sutokuin. Starring Kataoka Ainosuke in the roles of Sutokuin, Ôgigaya, Aboshi Samojirô and Inukai Genpachi Nobumichi.

Ishikawa Goemon: a drama first performed in 2011 presenting the mysterious life of Ishikawa Goemon with a new perspective. It is the time after the unification of Japan by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century. There are several cathedrals seen in each place of Japan as a few decades have passed since Christianity has first been missioned in Japan. Ishida no Tsubone, a daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide's chief retainer Shioden Tajima no kami, hates Hideyoshi and seeks opportunity to avenge her father on him. As she learns Christianity from Father Calderon, she has come to forget her hatred against Hideyoshi. Love has grown between her and Calderon, and Tomoichi is born between them. Calderon resigns as a priest because he has broken the law as a priest, and chooses to live together with his wife and son. 7 years later Hideyoshi prohibits Christianity to be propagated in Japan. Calderon is banished from Japan and goes back to Spain. Hideyoshi wants to make her his own and summons her to his palace Jurakudai, since he has fancied her for years. She tries in vain to kill him and dies. Having lost his parents, Tomoichi grows up to be a robber and calls himself Ishikawa Goemon who causes a great sensation in Japan. He watches eagerly for a chance to avenge his parents on Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Goemon outwits Hideyoshi and succeeds in freeing Izumo no Okuni from him. She is Nagoya Sanza's wife and a popular dancer in Kyôto. It turns out that Sanza is a son of Akechi Mitsuhide's retainer Yasuda Sakubê. Goemon, Okuni and Sanza cooperate to defeat their common enemy Hideyoshi. Okuni takes great pains how she becomes the center of attention among people. Goemon teaches her flamenco the dance of his father's country as a hint for the new dance. But Goemon is being besieged from all sides. Enjoy a novel kabuki dance which has taken in flamenco! Starring Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kanjaku in the roles of Goemon and Hideyoshi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Matsue, Bandô Shingo

Fubuki Tôge: Oen and Sukezô, an adulterous couple, have to take refuge in a mountain hut built for pilgrims because of a violent snow storm. Oen was the wife of the gambler Naokichi, who was Sukezô's boss. They fell in love and, in order to escape death (a normal punishment for their immoral conduct), they had to elope. They now live as fugitives, in great fear of revenge by Naokichi. Fate has something in store for them as, this very night, Naokichi, who goes on pilgrimage, has to shelter himself in the same hut... Featuring Nakamura Baigyoku, Kataoka Takatarô and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of Naokichi, Oen and Sukezô.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Nakamura Kankurô) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Kataoka Nizaemon). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Nakamura Shichinosuke) take his place while he visits Hanako. He returns, giddy from a night of pleasure and tells his story to his servant in dance, unaware that his wife has discovered his deception and has taken his servant's place.

Kôchiyama: the tea priest Kôchiyama (Kataoka Nizaemon) 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 Kankurô) 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 Hashinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Kataoka Kamezô.

Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Kataoka Nizaemon) 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 Bandô Yajûrô as the evil emissary Senoo and Nakamura Hashinosuke as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon. With Kataoka Takatarô as the island girl Chidori and Nakamura Senjaku as Naritsune, Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.

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 Kankurô VI at the Hakataza.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura: these are two scenes from one of the greatest classics of the puppet theatre, which has also become a classic of Kabuki. After the wars between the Genji and Heike clans, the Genji are victorious and their leader Yoritomo is now Shôgun. But there is a falling out between Yoritomo and his brother Yoshitsune, the brilliant general responsible for the victory. Now Yoshitsune is fleeing through the country and this play fancifully has him encounter several famous warriors from the Heike clan, who are not dead, as history has it. Yoshitsune (Nakamura Baigyoku) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Nakamura Kankurô), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war, but in this play, Tomomori is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid (Nakamura Shichinosuke). At one moment the captain is a gallant commoner, but in the next, he is Tomomori, a high ranking general close to the emperor. His wife as well is a cheerful commoner who shows her true identity as a high-ranking lady-in-waiting in the magnificent robes of the imperial court. Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to get his revenge on Yoshitsune but is defeated again. Finally Tomomori holds a giant anchor and plunges into the sea.

Tomo Yakko: a samurai footman rushes after his master in the pleasure quarters, but loses sight of him. He dances with pride in his master and enjoys his dance so much that he begins emphasizing it with vigorous foot stamping. Starring Nakamura Hashinosuke in the role of the yakko.

Source: Earphone Guide website, except "Fubuki Tôge"

Nakamura Kankurô VI celebrates his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza!

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Ukon

The 12th Ôtemachiza stage performances at the Nikkei Hall in Tôkyô.

Kakubei: one of the most popular dances in the Kabuki repertory, this shows a traveling entertainer (Ichikawa Ennosuke) 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.

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 Ichikawa Ennosuke in the role of the parent shishi and his son Onoe Ukon in the role of the cub.

Sources: Earphone Guide website
Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website for "Kakubei"