4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Sunpearl Arakawa, Sunshine Theatre), 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 3 in Kyôto (Minamiza, Minamiza, Shunjûza), 1 in Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall) & 1 in Shizuoka (Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship)!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Ukon & Nakamura Hayato perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Kankurô & Nakamura Shichinosuke perform at the Hakataza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Minamiza!

Nakamura Senjaku and Nakamura Kinnosuke perform at the Sunpearl Arakawa, Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall and Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Matsue, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Kamimura Kichitarô, Nakamura Utanosuke, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Onoe Sakon, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Sawamura Kiyoshirô

Second month of shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Otowaya guild! Onoe Kikunosuke V and his son Onoe Ushinosuke VII respectively take the names of Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI!

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 Onoe Ukon & young actors.

Kurumabiki:
(The Tug-of-War Over the Carriage)
There are three brothers serving three masters. Umeômaru serves Kan Shôjô. Sakuramaru serves imperial prince Tokiyo. Kan Shôjô has been sent into exile and Tokiyo is in disgrace. Umeômaru (Onoe Kikunosuke) and Sakuramaru (Kamimura Kichitarô) lament the disaster that has overtaken their masters. But they hear that the carriage of Fujiwara no Shihei (Nakamura Matagorô) is coming. Shihei is the villain that has sent Kan Shôjô into exile. But when the two brothers confront the carriage, they are stopped by their brother Matsuômaru (Nakamura Takanosuke), who serves Shihei. Nonetheless, they attack the carriage and are driven back by the magical powers of Shihei. The three brothers agree to meet again at the seventieth birthday of their father, Shiratayû.

Terakoya:
(The Village School)
Genzô (Kataoka Ainosuke) and his wife Tonami (Nakamura Jakuemon) run a small school and are protecting Kan Shôjô's son and heir, saying that he is their son. However, word has gotten out Kan Shôjô's son is there and Genzô has been ordered to behead him. Moreover, Matsuômaru (Onoe Kikugorô) is to come to inspect the head. Their only alternative is to kill one of the other students as a substitute, but all of the students are farmer's children who could never pass for the son of a court aristocrat. However, a new boy arrives that day and Genzô makes the terrible decision to kill him in the place of his lord. As it turns out, Matsuômaru has sent his own son to be sacrificed, because of his family's long loyalty to Kan Shôjô. But he must face the most terrible situation for a father, inspecting the head of his own son and lying when he says that it is the genuine head of the son of Kan Shôjô. Finally Matsuômaru reveals his true feelings to Genzô and he and his wife Chiyo (Nakamura Tokizô) mourn their dead son. Featuring also Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Kamezô and Nakamura Mantarô as Sonoo-no-Mae, the farmer Gosaku and Shundô Genba.

Omatsuri: Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters. Featuring also Kataoka Takatarô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tanenosuke & Nakamura Utanosuke.

Shibaraku:
(Wait a Minute!)
More ceremony than play, "Shibaraku" is one of the oldest pieces in Kabuki. Just as an evil villain is about to execute a group of loyal retainers, a voice calls out for him to wait and a hero of justice (Ichikawa Danjûrô) appears to save the day. This play features the bombastic aragoto style of acting, which is the specialty of the Ichikawa Danjûrô line of actors and is part of the collection of the Eighteen Favorite Plays (Kabuki Jûhachiban) of the Ichikawa Family. Featuring also Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Ichikawa Udanji & Ichikawa Chûsha.

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 Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI. The kôjô is led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô.

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 Onoe Kikugorô in the role of the parent shishi and his son Onoe Kikunosuke in the role of the cub. Featuring also Kataoka Ainosuke & Nakamura Shidô.

Shibahama no Kawazaifu: this is a play adapted from a rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô which was originally performed in vaudeville by a solo performer. This tells the story of a man who is a drunk and good for nothing who picks up a leather purse full of coins while fishing. He takes it home and celebrates with a big drinking party. In the morning he asks his wife for the purse, but she insists that it was all a dream and shows how much money he has wasted with his drunken party. He decides to reform and becomes a hard worker. Three years later, the couple now lives comfortably and the wife says that she must apologize. She lied and hid the purse because she felt that this was the only way to get her husband on the right path. He thanks her and this purse which has given them so much. Starring Onoe Shôroku as the man and Nakamura Manju as his wife.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website, Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website or others sources

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Baika

The traditional two programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza.

Hikimado: originally written for the puppet theater, this play shows a tragedy of commoners caught between their duty and their feelings toward their loved ones. A sumô wrestler named Nuregami Chôgorô (Nakamura Fukunosuke) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Nakamura Hashinosuke) has been ordered to arrest him. All of these complicated conflicts are symbolized by the lightness and darkness created by the humble skylight (hikimado in Japanese) as a rope is pulled to move a wooden shutter. Featuring also Nakamura Tsurumatsu in the role of Ohaya.

Omatsuri: Nakamura Kankurô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Fuku Kanau Kami no Koibana: the carpenter Tatsugorô (Nakamura Toranosuke) who lives in a rear tenement in Edo (the old name for Tôkyô) is always drinking and does not go to work. One day, as he is taking an afternoon nap, Obin (Nakamura Shichinosuke), the goddess of poverty appears at his bedside and tells him in a lecture to work harder. She says this because she absorbs the power of humans working hard throughout their lives, turning it into nourishment. Worried that he will not be able to pay for the rent, she begins a side job. The hard working goddess of poverty gets along well with residents of the tenement house. Sukanpin (Nakamura Kankurô), an elder god of poverty, advises her not to commit herself further to human life, but she turns a deaf ear to his advice.

Michiyuki Kotoba no Amaikai: this traveling dance-drama follows Prince Tokiyo (Nakamura Fukunosuke) and Princess Kariya (Nakamura Tsurumatsu), fugitives seeking refuge in Kariya’s hometown in Kawachi, hidden in a candy peddler's box carried by their loyal retainer, Sakuramaru (Nakamura Toranosuke). During a rest in the countryside, they emerge and express their emotions through dance. Kariya, worried about her father Kan Shôjô, learns from Sakuramaru that he has been exiled to Kyûshû. Distraught, she insists on seeing him, and they hurry to the port where his ship is anchored.

Chibusa no Enoki:
(The Ghost and the Milk-Giving Tree)
Based on a rakugo story by Sanyûtei Enchô, this is a showpiece for the star actor (Nakamura Kankurô) who plays multiple roles, culminating in a thrilling fight scene in a waterfall where he switches rapidly from one to another. An artist named Hishikawa Shigenobu (Nakamura Kankurô) is killed by a handsome samurai named Isogai Namie (Nakamura Hashinosuke) who makes love to Shigenobu's wife Oseki (Nakamura Shichinosuke). He carries out the murder with the help of Shigenobu's honest, but simple minded, servant Shôsuke (Nakamura Kankurô) and the tattooed villain Uwabami no Sanji (Nakamura Kankurô). But the baby is rescued by the ghost of Shigenobu and finally the boy avenges the death of his father by killing Isogai.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website, Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website or others sources

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Shunpûtei Koasa

A special program in Kyôto at the Minamiza starring Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô with the rakugo storyteller Shunpûtei Koasa.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kohatsu Allen

A special program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The guest of this program is the non-Kabuki Okinawa-born actor Kohatsu Allen.

Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko, Arashi Kitsusaburô

Educational program at the Sunpearl Arakawa, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 107th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by "Tsuchiya Chikara".

Tsuchiya Chikara: this play is a specialty of the Nakamura Ganjirô family and features the distinctive flashy acting of Kansai actors. This month it will be performed by the younger members of this acting line. One of many stories set on the theme of the revenge of the forty-seven loyal retainers features a lord named Tsuchiya Chikara (Nakamura Senjaku) who 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 learns from his haiku teacher that Ôtaka Gengo (Nakamura Kinnosuke), one of his students 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. But in fact, this poem is a riddle hiding the secret of the vendetta. Featuring also Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko & Arashi Kitsusaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danko, Fujima Kanjûrô, Wakayagi Kichizô, Yoshizawa Iroha

A special Buyô program starring Ichikawa Danko, who shares the stage with Fujima Kanjûrô VIII, Wakayagi Kichizô & Yoshizawa Iroha (the sister of Nakamura Takanosuke). The Shunjûza is a theater located within the Kyôto University of the Arts.

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Soganoya Kantarô, Yagyû Keisuke & others

The usual Zenshinza Spring program, not at the National Theatre (closed) but at the Sunshine Theatre (Tôkyô)! "Ura Nagaya Sôdôki", which was written by the veteran movie director Yamada Yôji and was premiered in May 2017 at the National Theatre, is based on two famous rakugo stories, "Rakuda" and "Ido no Chawan". The guest star is the Shinkigeki actor Soganoya Kantarô.

Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko, Arashi Kitsusaburô

Educational program in Shizuoka at the Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 105th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by "Fûin Giri".

Tsuchiya Chikara: this play is a specialty of the Nakamura Ganjirô family and features the distinctive flashy acting of Kansai actors. This month it will be performed by the younger members of this acting line. One of many stories set on the theme of the revenge of the forty-seven loyal retainers features a lord named Tsuchiya Chikara (Nakamura Senjaku) who 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 learns from his haiku teacher that Ôtaka Gengo (Nakamura Kinnosuke), one of his students 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. But in fact, this poem is a riddle hiding the secret of the vendetta. Featuring also Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko & Arashi Kitsusaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko, Arashi Kitsusaburô

Educational program in Yokohama at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall, instead of the at the National Theatre (rebuilding ongoing), called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is the 105th edition and a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation on stage (Kabuki no Mikata) of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes. It is followed by "Fûin Giri".

Tsuchiya Chikara: this play is a specialty of the Nakamura Ganjirô family and features the distinctive flashy acting of Kansai actors. This month it will be performed by the younger members of this acting line. One of many stories set on the theme of the revenge of the forty-seven loyal retainers features a lord named Tsuchiya Chikara (Nakamura Senjaku) who 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 learns from his haiku teacher that Ôtaka Gengo (Nakamura Kinnosuke), one of his students 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. But in fact, this poem is a riddle hiding the secret of the vendetta. Featuring also Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Seiko & Arashi Kitsusaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website