4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô), 1 in Toyooka (Eirakukan), 1 in Yamaga (Yachiyoza) and 3 tours (Kinshû Special Tour, Shôchiku Grand Kabuki, Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the Kabukiza !

Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Rakuzen, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô and Ichimura Manjirô perform at the National Theatre!

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Eirakukan!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Yachiyoza!

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke are on tour (Kinshû Special Tour)!

Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Kikaku and Sawamura Sônosuke are on tour (Shôchiku Grand Kabuki)!

The Omodakaya guild and some Kabuki/non-Kabuki guests perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

Ichikawa Ebizô is on tour (Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Ichimura Kakitsu, Bandô Shûchô, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kamimura Kichiya, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Kotarô, Matsumoto Kintarô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô

The traditional November kaomise programs at the Kabukiza!

Koi Tsukami: The play "Koi Tsukami" includes a fight scene performed in real water between the hero and the spirit of a carp. Princess Kozakura (Nakamura Kotarô), the daughter of the Tsuri family, yearns for the handsome Takimado Shiganosuke (Ichikawa Somegorô). One day, when she is trying to keep her mind off him by catching fireflies, Shiganosuke appears in front of her. They return to the mansion and go into an inner room. However, another Shiganosuke arrives at the mansion carrying the heirloom sword of the Tsuri family named Ryûjinmaru. Shinomura Jirô (Ôtani Tomoemon), the chief retainer of the Tsuri family is confused to see the two Shiganosukes, but the sword he is carrying is the actual heirloom sword. Katada no Gyôbu (Nakamura Kichinojô) who is a direct retainer of the emperor's chief advisor arrives and summons Princess Kozakura. However, Shiganosuke uncovers his evil plot and punishes him with Ryûjinmaru. When he does so, the power and virtue of the sword causes the shadow of Princess Kozakura and a carp to fall upon a paper sliding door of the inner room. The first Shiganosuke is, in fact, the incarnation of the spirit of a carp from Lake Biwa which bears a grudge against the ancestors of the Tsuri family. The carp swallows Princess Kozakura in a single mouthful. However, back at Lake Biwa, the real Shiganosuke appears and fights with the giant fish, eventually defeating it and saving Princess Kozakura's life.

Sodehagi Saimon: a larger-than-life history play originally written for the puppet theater, this is an epic of the intrigues in the Tôhoku region of Japan. It shows the larger political movements of the region as the individual tragedies of various people that are caught in this turmoil. In the most famous section, this play tells the tragic story of Sodehagi (Nakamura Jakuemon), a woman disowned by her family after falling in love with a man that they did not accept. Now she is alone and blind from weeping. She wanders with her child, supporting them as a musician and comes to her family's house. They do not let her in and sitting outside in the snow, she sings her tragic tale. Meanwhile, her husband Abe no Sadatô (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) is inside the house, in a story of political intrigue. Featuring also Nakamura Kinnosuke and Nakamura Matagorô in the roles of Hachiman Tarô and Abe no Munetô.

Naozamurai: the thief Naozamurai has been betrayed and is on the run. He risks one last meeting with his lover, the courtesan Michitose, but he has never revealed his true identity to her and as far as she knows, he is a wealthy merchant. On a freezing, snow-bound night, in a romantic scene accompanied by the lush and erotic singing of Kiyomoto narrative music, the two lovers Naozamurai and Michitose meet and part forever. Starring Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô as Naozamurai and Nakamura Tokizô as Michitose.

Teppô Watashi/Futatsudama/Kanpei Harakiri: this section of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is about Hayano Kanpei (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) and his wife Okaru (Kataoka Takatarô). Kanpei survives as a hunter and is desperate for the money that will allow him to become a samurai again. He encounters two former retainers of Lord En'ya Hangan who offer to allow him to participate in a vendetta to avenge Lord En'ya Hangan's death by attacking Kô no Moronô. Unknown to him, though, Okaru's family has decided to raise the memory by selling her into prostitution as a courtesan in the Gion district of Kyôto. Okaru's father travels on a dark mountain road, eager to bring the first half of the money to Kanpei. But he is attacked and robbed by Sadakurô (Ichikawa Somegorô), also a former retainer of Lord En'ya Hangan who has gone bad and become a thief. At this point, Kanpei aims and fires at s wild boar and instead kills Sadakurô. He finds the purse with all the money and, thinking that is the gift of heaven, rushes home. At home, the brothel keeper is already there to collect Okaru and Kanpei wants to refuse to let her go, until he realizes where the money came from and believes that he killed Okaru's father by mistake. He urges Okaru to go to the pleasure quarters, not wanting her to know what has happened. In one of the dramatic highlights of the play, Kanpei commits suicide to atone for his multiple failures in duty. Featuring also Bandô Hikosaburô and Bandô Yajûrô.

Ninokuchi-mura: in the pleasure quarters, the most important possessions were money and reputation. In danger of losing his lover, the courtesan Umegawa (Nakamura Senjaku), the money courier Chûbê (Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô) 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 Nakamura Karoku in the role of Chûbê's father Magoemon.

Ôishi Saigo no Ichinichi:
(The Last Day of Ôishi Kuranosuke's Life)
This modern play comes from a series by Mayama Seika based on the famous revenge classic but based on historical sources of the sensational event. In this particular act, Ôishi Kuranosuke is shown being torn between the severe samurai duty that has made their mission a success and the desire to let a young couple meet one last time before they must die. The masterless samurai of the Akô clan have successfully completed their unauthorized vendetta and are being housed at the mansion of a samurai lord while their fate is being decided. The vendetta has caused a sensation and a young boy comes to meet the men as they are imprisoned. The boy turns out to be a woman in disguise, Omino (Nakamura Kotarô), hoping to meet her betrothed, Jûrôzaemon (Ichikawa Somegorô), one of the group. But until they know whether they will be able to have honorable deaths by ritual suicide or die by execution like common criminals, the leader of the group Ôishi Kuranosuke (Matsumoto Kôshirô) cannot allow her to meet her fiance. Featuring also Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Yajûrô and Ôtani Tomoemon.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Rakuzen, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kashô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ichimura Takematsu, Onoe Sakon, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Kamenojô

Two Shinkabuki dramas are staged this month at the National Theatre, with Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun and Onoe Shôroku as leading actors. These two dramas have not been staged for 36 years. Yamamoto Yûzô's drama "Sakazaki Dewa-no-Kami" was staged for the last time in February 1981 at the Kabukiza and it is staged to commemorate the 130th birthday of Yamamoto Yûzô. Hasegawa Shin's drama "Kutsukake Tokijirô" was staged for the last time in December 1981 at the Kabukiza.

Sakazaki Dewa-no-Kami: "Sakazaki Dewa-no-Kami" was written by Yamamoto Yûzô (1887-1974) for Onoe Kikugorô VI (1885-1949) and first performed in 1921. In 1615 Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nakamura Baigyoku) attacked with his allied daimyô lords the Ôsaka Castle to destroy Toyotomi Clan and establish the rule by Tokugawa Shogunate. Ieyasu’s granddaughter Princess Sen (Nakamura Baishi) was married to Toyotomi Hideyori, the young lord of Toyotomi clan. Ieyasu promised to marry Princess Sen to the man who rescues her. Sakazaki Dewa-no-Kami (Onoe Shôroku), the lord of Tsuwano Castle, believed this promise and rescues Princess Sen from the Ôsaka Castle in flames, burning his face. As Princess Sen dislikes Sakazaki, Ieyasu’s adviser Konchiin Sûden (Ichikawa Sadanji) tells Sakazaki that Princess Sen is becoming a nun and Sakazaki temporarily gives up to marry her. As he hears Princess Sen is going to marry Honda Heihachirô (Bandô Kamezô), one of Ieyasu’s chief vassals and his rival in love, he hopes her to be happy, but he cannot easily give up his love for her. He attacks her wedding parade and tries to abduct her. Featuring also Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô and Nakamura Kashô.

Kutsukake Tokijirô: this play was written by Hasegawa Shin (1884-1963) and first performed in 1928. Mutsuta no Sanzô’s boss was arrested and will be exiled. Sanzô (Onoe Shôroku) is the only one remaining in his gang, and the opposing gang attacks him. The wandering gambler Kutsukake Tokijirô (Nakamura Baigyoku) owes the opposing gang a meal and a lodging, so he sides with them and slays Mutsuta no Sanzô in a single combat. As the opposing gang further try to slay Sanzô’s wife Okinu (Nakamura Kaishun) and son Tarokichi (Onoe Shôroku's own son Onoe Sakon), Tokijirô protects them. As Tokijirô goes on traveling aiding them, he comes to love them. Okinu is pregnant with Sanzô’s child and takes to her bed. Though he has given up gambling and lives on the square, he makes a poor living, so he agrees to be a helper for a quarrel for only one time to raise money. What will become of Tokijirô, Okinu and Tarokichi? The sincerity and melancholy of a man who has lead a shady life is shown with humane description.

Source: National Theatre

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Jûjirô, Nakamura Tanenosuke

This is the 10th Kabuki program at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo). The first item in the program is the revival of the oiemono drama "Sengokubune Hogake no Shirahama", a drama which was premiered in July 1888 at the Shintomiza and which was related to the Sengoku Disturbance (Sengoku Sôdô) in the Izushi-han whose castle town was Izushi, the city where the Eirakukan was built. The second item is a newly-created Kabuki drama based on the dance-drama "Genroku Hanami Odori", which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Kabuki performances at the Eirakukan.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater. For the first time, with these programs, there will be a mix of video projection (with video sequences coming from the high-quality Shinema Kabuki, "Cinema Kabuki") and real dancing on stage. In "Sagi Musume", only the opening sequence is video-projected. Most of the dance will be performed on staged by Bandô Tamasaburô. "Musume Dôjôji", the travel scene (michiyuki) is skipped and the kaneiri scene ("entering the bell") is video-projected. Others main scenes, like the koi no tenarai scene ("learning about love"), are staged.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by stage announcements, usually lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. This month at the Yachiyoza, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Musume Dôjôji: a beautiful young woman dances under cherry blossoms at a dedication ceremony for a temple bell. She dances the many aspects of a woman in love, but is actually the spirit of a serpent, driven to destroy the bell out of jealousy. In addition to being the most famous of all Kabuki dances, "Musume Dôjôji" is considered to be the pinnacle of the art of the onnagata. The role of the shirabyôshi is played by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Inabune: Inabune, literally Rice Boat, refers to the narrow open barges used to transport sheaves of rice at harvest time. This dance portrays the feeling of a courtesan (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) who is obliged to wait for an absent lover.

Sagi Musume: one of the most famous dances in Kabuki, this figure is familiar through pictures and Japanese dolls. A beautiful young woman all in white appears in the snowy landscape. She dances lightly of love, but then reveals that she is the spirit of a bird, a magnificent heron that struggles wounded through a snowstorm. Starring onnagata superstar Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in a dance that he has made famous through performances around the world.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This Autumn tour stars Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The first item in the program is a speech/presentation on stage about some aspects of Kabuki.

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Nakamura Tsurumatsu) 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.

Fuji Musume: the spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of a beautiful young maiden. One of Kabuki's most famous and colorful dances, it will feature the dancing skills of Nakamura Shichinosuke.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Kikaku, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Baika

The Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Fall Tour in 20 cities.

Sushiya: this is one act of an epic originally written for the Bunraku puppet theatre. The full-length play shows the fate of various Taira generals in hiding after the victory of their enemy, the Genji. In this act, Koremori (Nakamura Mantarô), the heir to the Taira clan is hiding in a sushi shop disguised as a humble apprentice, and Osato (Nakamura Yonekichi), the daughter of the house, falls in love with him. However, Gonta (Nakamura Shidô), the evil son of the house plots to gain a reward by turning in Koremori to the top Genji general Kajiwara (Nakamura Kikaku), but in the end, he has a surprising change of heart in one of the most heart-rending scenes in Kabuki. Also featuring Kataoka Kamezô as Yazaemon, the proprietor of the sushi shop.

Tsuri Onna: a dance based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Nakamura Mantarô) longs for a wife and is told by the gods in a dream to go fishing for one. He is united with a beautiful princess (Nakamura Yonekichi). His servant Tarôkaja (Nakamura Kikaku) wants a wife as well, but when he goes fishing, is stuck with a very surprising companion, played by Kataoka Kamezô in a rare, humorous, female role.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Bandô Takesaburô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Ukon

The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama "ONE PIECE", based on Oda Eiichirô's internationally popular manga "ONE PIECE", which got his first very successful stage adaptation by Ichikawa Ennosuke in October 2015/November 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, is staged one more time in Tôkyô. Most of the actors are Kabuki actors, with 3 non-Kabuki guest actors : Hira Takehiro, Kashima Noritoshi and Asano Kazuyuki. It is almost the same cast as in 2015 (minor differences).

ONE PIECE: "ONE PIECE", a big hit comic of Japan, and Super Kabuki II by Ichikawa Ennosuke IV make a miraculous collaboration! The largest-scale project ever begins! "ONE PIECE" has started since the July 1997 issue of Weekly Shônen Jump. As a book, the first volume was published in December 1997 and gained a national reputation soon. The series reach 77 volumes and the number of copies printed of the series is more than the world record 320,000,000, so it was awarded Guinness World Record as the most printed comic series by a writer in June 2015. Ichikawa Ennosuke IV is one of star Kabuki actors who will bear the next generation. He challenges aggressively to classic kabuki and new kabuki with rich expression and unique personality. He succeeded to the spirit of Super Kabuki which had been originated by his uncle Ichikawa Ennosuke III (Ichikawa En’ô II) and performed "Sora o Kizamu Mono" [A Man who sculptures the Sky] as the first play of Super Kabuki II in March and April 2014, which resulted in a great success. It is a marine adventure roman by the hero Luffy (Onoe Ukon) who explores the ocean with his diverse crew of pirates, named the Straw Hat Pirates, in search of the world ultimate treasure known as ONE PIECE in order to become the next Pirate King. The Straw Hat Pirates broke up in the battle against the navy at Sabaody Islands, the entrance to the new world, the next step to the big navigation in search of the world ultimate treasure. Luffy became alone, hears of his brother Ace’s execution and hurries to rescue him. Luffy is able to break through the navy’s barricade, but Ace has already been transferred to the navy head quarter. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates fight Summit Battle against the navy at its head quarter!

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

The Fall Tour of Ichikawa Ebizô with performances in 17 cities.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Ichikawa Ebizô) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Kataoka Ichizô). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Ichikawa Kudanji) 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.

Otokodate Hana no Yoshiwara: Gosho no Gorozô (Ichikawa Ebizô), the most gallant and chivalrous of men in the capital of Edo, is off to the bustling Nakanochô corner of the Yoshiwara pleasure district. He has received a love letter from his lover, a famous keisei in Yoshiwara. Gorozô tells us the story of how they met and their many rendezvous in a dance. On his way, he is ambushed by men who hold a grudge against him, but Gorozô effortlessly fends them off and continues on his way to his beloved.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website