2 shows in Nagoya (Misonoza) and 7 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Mitsukoshi Gekijô, Shinbashi Enbujô, Zenshinza Gekijô, NHK Hall)!

The Naritaya (Ichikawa Danjûrô and his son Ichikawa Ebizô) and Otowaya (Onoe Kikugorô, his son Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku) guilds perform at the Misonoza!

Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Tamasaburô, Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Tokizô and Bandô Mitsugorô perform at the Kabukiza!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danshirô and Nakamura Shibajaku perform at the National Theatre!

The Omodakaya guild performs at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô!

The Nakamuraya guild (Nakamura Kanzaburô and his sons Nakamura Kantarô/Nakamura Shichinosuke), Nakamura Shikan and Nakamura Senjaku perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

The Zenshinza performs at the Zenshinza Gekijô!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Ebizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku

The first kaomise of the year and the 43rd kaomise at the Misonoza. A great program, which includes two masterpieces from the Kabuki Jûhachiban ("Kenuki" and "Narukami").

Kenuki: in this play, which retains the light, festive atmosphere of early-period Kabuki, a princess has a mysterious ailment that makes her hair stand on end, an ailment that prevents her from carrying out her long-awaited marriage. Kumedera Danjô comes from the groom's household to investigate and finds a plot to take over the household when his tweezers float in mid-air. Onoe Shôroku stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting that is a specialty of his family.

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 Onoe Kikunosuke as Kasane and Ichikawa Ebizô as Yoemon.

Gonza to Sukejû: in this comedy by Okamoto Kidô, two palanquin bearers constantly argue and their wives, but when they witness a murder, it changes everything in the nagaya tenement where they live. This modern play takes one of the classic stories of the wise magistrage Ôoka Echizen and looks at it from the point of view of common townspeople. Starring Ichikawa Danjûrô and Onoe Kikugorô in the roles of Gonza and Sukejû.

Narukami: one of the most popular and universally appealing plays in the Kabuki Jûhachiban collection of plays featuring the bombastic aragoto style of acting. The holy man Narukami (Ichikawa Danjûrô) is angry at the Imperial Court and has taken refuge in the mountains where he has imprisoned inside a waterfall the dragon that brings rain, bringing a severe drought to the country. Princess Taema (Onoe Kikunosuke) is sent by the Imperial Court to try to seduce Narukami, destroying his magical powers and release the rain. When he finds that he has been betrayed, anger transforms Narukami into a Thunder God.

Dattan: this is an evocative dance, that takes its name from a Buddhist rite held every March at Tôdaiji Temple in Nara. The story is about a monk yearning for a woman he left behind. Featuring Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: the epic "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura") features many characters around the famous general Yoshitsune, but none more memorable than a magic fox that takes the guise of Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune's most trusted retainers. The fox wants to get close to a precious drum that Yoshitsune has made from the skins of his fox parents. In this excerpt from the longer play, the fox reveals his true identity with a series of spectacular stage tricks and Yoshitsune is moved to grant him the drum. This play ends with a spectacular chûnori. Starring Ichikawa Ebizô as the fox Tadanobu.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Tamasaburô, Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Tokizô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô

Akai Jinbaori: the modern playwright Kinoshita Junji (1914~2006) is known for his modern dances and plays based on Japanese folk stories. This particular play shows a local magistrate who is inordinately proud of his red battle jacket, until his pride gets a few hard shocks. Starring Nakamura Kanjaku as the magistrate, with Nakamura Kinnosuke and Kataoka Takatarô.

Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai:
(The Courier of Love on the Yamato Highway)
The courtesan Umegawa and money courier Chûbê are characters in one of the most famous plays by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, which is also a representative work in the distinctive Kansai style of acting. This program features some of the top Kansai actors in the two most famous acts of the play. Starring Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô as Chûbê, Nakamura Tokizô as Umegawa, Bandô Mitsugorô as Chûbê's treacherous friend Tanbaya Hachiemon, Kataoka Hidetarô as Oen, the proprietress of the teahouse and Kataoka Gatô as Chûbê's father Magoemon.

Fûin Giri:
(Breaking the Seals)
in the pleasure quarters, the most important possessions were money and reputation. In danger of losing his lover, the courtesan Umegawa, the money courier Chûbê 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.

Ninokuchi-mura:
(Ninokuchi Village)
Chûbê and Umegawa couple on their way to love suicide goes through the snow covered landscape on their way to the man's home town where they will meet their end. They travel throughout the countryside with the stolen money, hoping for a few fleeting moments of happiness before the money runs out and they are captured and punished.

Hagoromo: the legend of the angel who came to earth to bathe and then had her heavenly feathered robe stolen by a fisherman is famous in all forms of Japanese theater. This month features an elegant dance version of the story with Kataoka Ainosuke as the fisherman and Bandô Tamasaburô as the angel.

Botan Dôrô: one of the most famous ghost stories in Japan shows the ghost of a beautiful young girl who visits the man she loves nightly, her way lit by a lantern decorated with peonies. The clatter of her wooden clogs announces her appearance, “…karannn…koronnnn…” Originally a Chinese story, it became a Japanese classic when it was transformed into a long rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô (1839~1900). Otsuyu (Nakamura Shichinosuke) the daughter of a samurai family falls in love with a young samurai named Shinzaburô (Kataoka Ainosuke), but she falls sick and dies when he stops visiting her. Her ghost begins to visit him nightly preceded by the ghost of her nursemaid carrying a lantern decorated with peonies and he welcomes these meetings, not realizing that she is dead. But a priest sees the signs of death and protects Shinzaburô with holy amulets and a powerful Buddhist statue. The ghosts then bribe Shinzaburô’s greedy servant Tomozô (Kataoka Nizaemon) and his wife Omine (Bandô Tamasaburô) to take the amulets away. The result is that Shinzaburô is killed by the ghosts and Tomozô and Omine run away with the money. But the money doesn’t bring them happiness. This version of the story is not just a tale of ghosts, but shows human treachery and the revolving ironies of fate.

Yakko Dôjôji: "Musume Dôjôji" is based on a legend about a woman transformed into a serpent out of jealousy and who destroys a temple bell keeping her from the object of her love. The original dance shows the spirit of the woman who appears at Dôjôji temple as a dancer who wants to celebrate the dedication of a new bell and does a series of dances showing the many faces of femininity. In this version the dancer is revealed to be a man in disguise and, in the highlight of the dance, transforms the romantic highpoint of the original piece into a comic scene by using masks. Starring Bandô Mitsugorô in a dance important to his family tradition.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danshirô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Somegorô

Heike Nyogo no Shima: there are few plays as universally popular as the story of Shunkan, a rebellious monk exiled to a remote island along with two companions, all conspirators against Taira no Kiyomori, the powerful dictator that rules Japan. They are pardoned, but Shunkan sacrifices himself so that one of his companions can leave together with his new wife, a fishing girl named Chidori. In the end, Shunkan, now alone forever, waves at the ship bearing his companions until it disappears in the distance. This play is actually one act of a long play by the great writer Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653~1724) entitled "Heike Nyogo no Shima" first performed as a puppet play in 1719. The original play is loosely based on historical events and the entire play has spectacle and a grand scale that sets off the intense human drama of the one act that is usually performed. In 1967, the National Theatre revived the first act that takes place in Kiyomori's mansion and this production will feature both this scene and the more famous act that contains the heart of the drama. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Shunkan, Bandô Hikosaburô as Kiyomori, Nakamura Baigyoku as the good messenger Tanzaemon, Ichikawa Komazô as Shunkan's wife Azumaya, Ichikawa Danshirô as the evil messenger Senoo, Nakamura Shibajaku as the island girl Chidori and Ichikawa Somegorô as Shunkan's companion Naritsune.

Kiyomori Yakata:
(Kiyomori's Mansion at Rokuhara)
After attempting to overthrow the tyrant Kiyomori, the priest Shunkan and his companions have been exiled. Kiyomori summons Shunkan's wife Azumaya and attempts to force her to wait on him personally but instead she commits suicide, berating Kiyomori for his crimes.

Shunkan:
(Shunkan's Exile on Devil's Island)
After three years on the island, a ship comes for the exiles. But Shunkan's name is not on the list of the pardoned carried by the evil Senoo. However, there is another pardon carried by another official. When they try to board the ship, Senoo refuses to allow Chidori, the young wife of one of the exiles, to board since her name does not appear on the list. Shunkan tries to help and Senoo contemptuously tells him that his beloved wife is dead. With nothing but emptiness awaiting him in the capital, Shunkan decides to kill Senoo and put Chidori on the ship. As the ship leaves, Shunkan waves until they disappear in the distance.

Uguisuzuka: this is the first performance of this play in a large theater in 78 years. Originally a story in an early 19th century comic book, it was dramatized on the Kabuki stage in 1832 and was performed frequently during the 19th century, often in smaller theatres where it was a favorite for its over-the-top, romantic scenes. A beautiful girl named Umegae falls in love with a poor beggar when his falcon catches her pet warbler. In fact, he is the samurai Sasaki Gennosuke, who is in disguise to avenge the death of his father. Umegae’s lady-in-waiting Ikuyo persuades the two young people to get together. Umegae and Gennosuke get married, but her father’s evil second wife Tamaki tries to use this as an occasion to humiliate the young couple and take over the estate for herself. But Gennosuke handily deals with her challenges of difficult problems of etiquette and gives a dazzling display of his fighting skills. Yodo Yozaemon, the lord of Yodo Castle is at the banquet and realizes Gennosuke’s true identity. Meanwhile, Tamaki also has a love affair with a priest named Daininbô, and the two dream up all sorts of evil schemes together. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Yozaemon, Nakamura Baigyoku as Umegae’s father Saemon, Nakamura Shibajaku as Umegae’s lady-in-waiting Ikuyo, Nakamura Tôzô as Tamaki and Ichikawa Somegorô in the two roles of the hero Gennosuke and the villainous priest Daininbô.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen

"Mitsukoshi Kabuki" is a special Kabuki program at the Mitsukoshi Theatre, which stars the young and talented actors of the Omodakaya guild:

Takashima Yakata: the story is about Kanô Shirôjirô Motonobu (Ichikawa Emiya), a samurai who serves at the Palace of the Rokkaku Family in Takashima (province of Ômi). Princess Ichô-no-Mae (Ichikawa Shun'en), the daughter of Rokkaku Yorikata, is in love with Motonobu. Nagoya Sanza, a senior retainer of the Rokkaku clan, helped the girl to make Motonobu exchange a cup of sake with Princess Ichô-no-Mae, which means that the marriage between the two is concluded. Unfortunately for them, the evil and jealous Fuwa no Dôken (Ichikawa En'ya), the senior retainer of the Rokkaku family and the father of Fuwa Banzaemon (the arch enemy of Nagoya Sanza), also covets her. He covers Motonobu with a false charge and makes him arrested. Tied to a pillar, Motonobu draws with his own blood the image of a tiger on a sliding paper-door. The image is such a masterpiece that the tiger takes on life, begins to move, picks up Motonobu on its back and disperses the enemies.

Takeyabu: this scene is a spectacular tachimawari in a bamboo grove, outside the moat of the Rokkaku palace. Utanosuke (Ichikawa Danjirô), a young artist of the Kanô school and a disciple of Motonobu, tries unsuccessfully to fight the soldiers of Fuwa no Dôken to protect Princess Ichô-no-Mae, who had run away from the Palace with Motonobu.

Domo Mata: the artist Matahei (Ichikawa Ukon) has been refused a professional name because of his stuttering. He makes a poor life by drawing folk paintings and decides to make one last effort to gain respectability. His wife Otoku (Ichikawa Emisaburô), who is given as much to chatter as Matahei is silent, pleads his case. Turned down again by his master, Matahei decides to take his life. He draws a farewell portrait of himself, a painting so skillful that the lines seep through solid rock and this miracle convinces his master to confer a professional name. Featuring Ichikawa Juen as Matahei's master Tosa Shôgen Mitsunobu and Ichikawa Kôtarô as Tosa Shûrinosuke.

Source: Earphone Guide website, except "Takashima Yakata" and "Takeyabu"

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This festival (matsuri) is divided into a Kabuki program in the afternoon and a potpourri with Kabuki actors and non-Kabuki celebrities in the evening. The Kabuki programs is made up of 3 important dramas for the Nakamuraya guild.

Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Nakamura Kanzaburô) 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 Senjaku as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon. With Nakamura Shichinosuke as the island girl Chidori and Nakamura Kantarô as Naritsune, Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.

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 is unusual because it features 2 cubs instead of one, starring Nakamura Kanzaburô in the role of the parent shishi and his two sons, Nakamura Kantarô and Nakamura Shichinosuke, in the roles of the cubs.

Bunshichi Mottoi: Chôbê spends his days and nights gambling, but is finally made aware of his family's problems when his daughter takes a job in the pleasure quarters. Having received the money for her contract, he shows his good side to save a young man on the edge of suicide after losing a large sum of money, but nobody believes Chôbê, thinking that he has gambled the money away. The performance stars Nakamura Kanzaburô and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of Chôbê and his wife Okane.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Umenosuke, Arashi Keishi, Kawarazaki Kunitarô, Segawa Kikunojô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Osagawa Genjirô, Arashi Hironari, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô

Shunkan: the priest Shunkan (Nakamura Umenosuke) 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 Osagawa Genjirô as the evil emissary Senoo and Arashi Keishi as the merciful envoy Tanzaemon. With Kawarazaki Kunitarô as the island girl Chidori and Arashi Hironari as Naritsune, Shunkan's fellow exile who has fallen in love with her.

Ninjô Isseki Banashi: ???

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Kaishun

34th edition of Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai (literally the "Classics Entertainment Appreciation Association"), a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK. The program includes one kyôgen, one Kabuki play, one traditional dance and traditional music.