1 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza), 6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô) and 1 show in Kyôto (Minamiza)!

Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Bandô Yajûrô perform at the Kabukiza!

Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô and Bandô Hikosaburô perform at the National Theatre

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and young actors perform at the Shôchikuza!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Shidô and Ôtani Tomoemon performs at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

The Zenshinza troupe perform at the Minamiza!

Lots of young talented actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô!

Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Shûchô, Nakamura Kashô, Kataoka Shinnosuke, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Nakamura Matsue, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hayato

10th month celebrating the opening of the new Kabukiza within a 1-year long cycle of kokera otoshi programs.

Shihei no Nana Warai:
(Shihei's Seven Laughs)
The Heian period court minister Sugawara no Michizane is famous for being exiled to Kyushu by a political rival. He died angry and vengeful and was said to be transformed into a thunder god. His angry spirit was placated by making him a god and now Michizane is worshipped as Tenjin, the god of learning. This is the subject of one of the most famous plays of Bunraku and Kabuki ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami") and Michizane's political rival, Fujiwara no Shihei, is always depicted as a larger-than-life villain, an evil courtier with magical powers. This play, a rarely performed classic of the Kansai style of Kabuki, and reverses the story totally. Michizane (Nakamura Karoku) is the victim of slander and Shihei (Kataoka Gatô) does his best to try to mend the situation, but unfortunately Michizane is exiled. But after Michizane leaves, Shihei shows his true self and in a famous scene, laughs triumphantly. Shihei engineered Michizane's exile himself.

Ishikiri Kajiwara: the Heike general Kajiwara (Matsumoto Kôshirô) is asked to test the sharpness of a sword by slicing two live human beings in half. He deliberately makes the sword fail the test to keep the sword, a priceless heirloom belonging to the enemy Genji clan, from falling into the hands of his Taira clan. A miracle has convinced Kajiwara to change sides. Kajiwara finally demonstrates the true power of the sword by cutting a large stone basin in two. Featuring also Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Tôzô and Ichikawa Komazô.

Matsuura no Taiko: Lord Matsuura (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) lives next door to the enemy of the loyal retainers and is disgusted because they do not seem to be interested in avenging the death of the lord. He is especially upset because he studied with the same fighting teacher as Kuranosuke, the senior retainer who should be leading the vendetta. Moreover, he learns from the haiku teacher Takarai Kikaku (Nakamura Karoku) that his student Ôtaka Gengo (Nakamura Baigyoku) who should be part of the vendetta left a poem suggesting that he was forgetting his former lord and going to take service with another samurai lord. Gengo's sister Onui (Nakamura Yonekichi) serves Lord Matsuura and in disgust he is about to dismiss her, when there is a disturbance from next door. The attack has begun, and in joy, Lord Matsuura counts out the strokes of the drum, struck in a pattern that is only known by students of his fighting teacher.

Oshidori:
(The Lovebirds)
A rare performance of a dance showing two men fighting over a beautiful woman in the guise of a sumô match only to show that the woman and one of the men are actually the spirits of birds, conjugal birds that are an image of faithful love. Starring Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kaishun and Ichikawa Somegorô.

Yamashina Kankyo: this is an act of the epic play based on a sensational incident in the early 17th century. Lord En'ya Hangan's attack on the senior official Kô no Moronô affected people even outside his own household. When Honzô, the senior retainer of another lord, stopped En'ya from killing Moronô, he thought that he was doing a good thing. But his actions earned him the scorn of Enya's retainers and brought personal tragedy to his daughter who was engaged to Rikiya, the son of Yuranosuke, En'ya's head retainer. The scene shows the tragedy as it affects Honzô's wife and daughter and how ultimately Honzô sacrifices his life to atone for his misjudgement. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Honzô, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô as his wife Tonase and Nakamura Senjaku as his daughter Konami, with Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon as Yuranosuke, Nakamura Kaishun as his wife Oishi and Nakamura Baigyoku as his son Rikiya.

Noriaibune: at the new year a group of merrymakers happen to meet on a ferry boat. They include a pair of manzai entertainers, who would go from door to door performing auspicious songs and dances. Featuring Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Matagorô.

Tôkeiji Hanadayori:
(News on Flowers from Tôkeiji Temple)
It is originally written as a series of historical novels by Inoue Hisashi (1934~2010), adapted for Kabuki and first performed this month. Tôkeiji is a temple in Kamakura, built in Kamakura period and famous for beautiful flowers of all seasons. It was a place of refuge for women in Edo era who wanted to divorce their husbands; women in Japan were not allowed to do so then. The scene is set in winter in Edo period in Kamakura. An apprentice doctor Shinjirô who also writes humorous novels lodges at the Kashiwaya inn which has those women under its charge. He talks with a merry woman Osen (Kataoka Takatarô), a timid man Sôemon (Nakamura Kanjaku) and his wife Oriku (Kataoka Hidetarô) who visit there hoping to get divorced, and learns the subtleties and warmth of human nature and the women' strong will who intend to start a new life.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Baishi, Onoe Ukon, Ichimura Takematsu, Fujima Taiga

Tatsuoka Mansaku's drama "Keisei Haru no Tori", which is famous for the "Umagiri" scene, is revived at the National Theatre as a tôshi kyôgen in 5 acts (9 scenes), which is entitled "Sanzen Ryô Haru no Komahiki". The "Umagiri" scene, a scene where a horseman is cut down with a single slash by Oda Nobutaka at the Yamato bridge, is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire but it is not often performed. The stars of "Sanzen Ryô Haru no Komahiki" are Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku. This revival features also Living National Treasure Sawamura Tanosuke [more details]. By the way, 2014 is the Year of the Horse in the traditional calendar.

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Bandô Shinsha, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Tsukinosuke

A special new year dance program at the Shôchikuza starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô:

Ninin 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 Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Shichinosuke as the two fisher women.

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 (Ichikawa En'ya), dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer (Bandô Shinsha). To make the dance especially auspicious, the old man Okina (Ichikawa Tsukinosuke) and attendant Senzai (Ichikawa Emisaburô) appear as well.

Ninin Fuji Musume: the spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of a beautiful young maiden. The scene is set in Ôtsu City near the Lake Biwa. This dance is one of Kabuki's most famous and colorful dances. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will give his definitive performance of this dance in a special double version together with young onnagata star Nakamura Shichinosuke.

Shinjû Ashita no Uwasa:
(News of Love Suicide)
The story of the love suicide of Osome, the daughter of a wealthy merchant and Hisamatsu, a handsome young man that was an apprentice in her family's shop, is one of the most popular stories in Kabuki and was dramatized countless times. In 1813, Tsuruya Nanboku IV (1755~829) wrote up this story as a showpiece for Iwai Hanshirô V, an onnagata specialist in female roles. An actor acts several roles including the fastest fast change (hayagawari). This performance is a dance scene from it. Hisamatsu's fiancee Omitsu (a country girl) appears holding bamboo grass on her shoulder. She is shocked to hear that Hisamatsu is intimate with Osome and falls on the spot. A female monkey trainer (Ichikawa Emisaburô) and a boatman (Ichikawa Tsukinosuke) come across her. The boatman raises her, but she tries to pick a quarrel with him as she is confused. They are perplexed at her madness and exorcise the evil spirit with the bamboo grass to calm her. As the female monkey trainer dances, Omitsu runs off chasing after Hisamatsu. Osome and Hisamatsu meet again, only to commit love suicide. The roles of Osome, Hisamatsu and Omitsu are played by Nakamura Shichinosuke. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of Oroku.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Shidô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu

This drama presents the world of Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo with new perspectives. He was a warrior in 12th century and famous for the episode in "The Tale of Heike" which depicts Heike clan at the height of its prosperity, its defeat to the Genji clan and its downfall. Aku in his name means bravery which he demonstrates in wars against the Genji clan. Many legendary stories have been passed down about him as a rebellious hero: He is said to have planned to overthrow the Genji clan even after the downfall of the Heike clan and have tried to assassinate the Genji general Minamoto no Yoritomo 37 times. His mysterious stormy life is taken up as an attractive material in many genres such as Nô, Bunraku and Kabuki. Kagekiyo appears in 4 of the collection of the Eighteen Favorite Plays of the Ichikawa Family (Kabuki Jûhachiban): "Kan U", "Kagekiyo" "Kamahige" and "Gedatsu". Ichikawa Ebizô, who is struggling energetically to revive and success it, will fascinate you with aragoto bombastic style of acting which is unique for it. Please look forward to a gorgeous stage which is typical of New Year. Featuring Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Shidô and Ichikawa Sadanji in the roles of Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover), Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada (Kagekiyo's enemy) and Mionoya Shirô.

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kikaku, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Juen, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Kashô, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Nakamura Umemaru, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ichikawa Enshirô

The yearly show for young promising actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in Asakusa, a lively and colorful neighboorhood that keeps the scent of old Edo.

Otoshidama: a special kôjô for new year greetings (nenshi goaisatsu in Japanese) with all young stars on stage.

Yoshikata Saigo: the full-length play shows the early rise of the Genji clan after a time of oppression. Yoshikata (Kataoka Ainosuke) is the lone member of the Genji clan and pretends to have no interest in reviving its fortunes, but Yukitsuna (Nakamura Kikaku) a good-humored footman who is actually a spy, realizes his true intentions. Yoshikata is about to have a son, the general Yoshinaka, who will lead the Genji to victory, but Yoshikata himself is attacked and surrounded and dies in a spectacular scene where he falls from the top of a flight of stairs.

Jôshû Miyage Hyakuryô Kubi: this modern play was made famous early in the 20th century by Onoe Kikugorô VI and Nakamura Kichiemon I. Two childhood friends, Itaba no Shôtarô (Ichikawa Ennosuke) and Buraikan Gajirô (Bandô Minosuke) meet for the first time in fifteen years. One prides himself on his skill as a pickpocket, the other has always been very clumsy. The clever pickpocket steals his friend's purse, only to find that there is nothing in it and that his clumsy friend has stolen his purse instead. The two meet again and decide to live honestly and vow to meet again in ten years. The play shows the lives of the two during the turbulent final years of the Tokugawa regime. Featuring also Nakamura Kikaku, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô and Kamimura Kichiya.

Bakuchi Jûô:
(The Gambling King of Hell)
A dance adaptation by Ichikawa Ennosuke III of a farce with the same title. The hell is visited with a famine, as most people live up to Buddhism and go to paradise. Enma Daiô (Ichikawa Omezô) becomes impatient and goes out to the fork to the hell where he awaits sinners with his servants. A famous gambler (Ichikawa Ennosuke) comes long way there and demands sake as he is thirsty from long journey. Drinking, he tells the story of his life: He quarreled to death with another gambler. Seeing his evil deeds reflected in a mirror, Enma Daiô criticizes him for robbing people of money and valuables. But he insists that gamble is a game of chance. Hearing this, Enma Daiô gets interested and plays dice with him. Enma Daiô continues to lose and loses his crown, scepter, mirror and everything he bets. The gambler gets finally the passport to the paradise and leaves triumphantly for the Pure Land.

Ninokuchi-mura: in the pleasure quarters, the most important possessions were money and reputation. In danger of losing his lover, the courtesan Umegawa (Nakamura Kazutarô), the money courier Chûbê (Kataoka Ainosuke) breaks the seals on a package of money entrusted to him after being taunted by a rival, even though the use of such money is punishable by death. In this scene, on their way to love suicide, the couple go through the snow covered landscape on their way to the man's home town where they will meet their end. Featuring also Arashi Kitsusaburô in the role of Chûbê's father Magoemon.

Yashiki Musume: this dance shows two young women who are service at a samurai mansion and are excitedly going home for their one break in service for the year. Starring Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Umemaru and Nakamura Yonekichi.

Shakkyô:
(The Stone Bridge)
There are many plays about shishi or lion spirits in the Asian tradition, but the shishi is not actually a lion, it is a mythical animal that guards the stone bridge (Shakkyô) leading to the Buddhist paradise of Monju, the god of wisdom. Featuring Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke and Nakamura Hayato in the roles of the shishi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô

The traditional Zenshinza New Year performances at the Minamiza:

Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri: this is a modern play by Hasegawa Shin and shows Komagata Mohê (Fujikawa Yanosuke), a starving, would-be sumô wrestler. He encounters a courtesan Otsuta (Kawarasaki Kunitarô), who gives him her purse and hair ornaments and makes him promise to become a champion sumô wrestler. In turn, she promises to go see him make his ceremonial entry into the ring. But ten years later, Mohê has become a gangster instead. Now a powerful fighter, he rescues Otsuta and her family. Ironically, this has become the only way that he can repay her kindness and the shameful form that his entry into the ring has taken.

Yushima no Kakegaku: Oshichi was a grocer's daughter who fell in love with a temple page named Kichisaburô when her family took refuge in a temple after a fire. She so wanted to see him that she set a fire, even though the penalty for arson was death. The story of Oshichi is famous in many theatrical versions, but this particular one features the antics of the middle-aged man Beniya Chôbê (commonly called Benchô) who is in love with her. Starring Fujikawa Yanosuke as Benchô, Kawarasaki Kunitarô as Oshichi and Arashi Yoshisaburô as Kichisaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website