3 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 1 tour (Western Provinces)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shibajaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Onoe Shôroku and Nakamura Tôzô perform at the Kabukiza !

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji and Ôtani Tomoemon perform at the Minamiza !

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Chûsha and the Omodakaya guild are on tour in the Western Provinces !

Nakamura Kichiemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shibajaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kikaku, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kashô, Bandô Kametoshi, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Kamenojô

This is the 7th edition in Tôkyô of a special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan), which is produced at the Kabukiza to commemorate the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I, whose's haimyô was Shûzan. The star of this program is his adopted son, the Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon II.

Kikubatake: it is a great classic of period play Kabuki originally adapted from the Bunraku puppet theatre, full of larger-than-life characters and a stage full of dazzling color. In a garden of brilliant yellow and white chrysanthemums, there is Kiichi (Nakamura Karoku), an elderly strategist working for the dictator Kiyomori, his beautiful daughter Minazuru (Nakamura Yonekichi) and two footmen, the elegant young Torazô (Ichikawa Somegorô) and the powerful Chienai (Onoe Shôroku). But in fact, Torazô is a young general from the enemy side here to steal Kiichi’s secrets of strategy. Chienai is his retainer. But Kiichi has realized why they are there and also knows that Chienai is actually his younger brother. At the same time, Minazuru has fallen deeply in love with Torazô.

Hôkaibô: a full-length performance of a comic play featuring the antics of an evil begging priest named Hôkaibô. In this case, it is a special version of this Kabuki classic staged by modern theater director Kushida Kazuyoshi. Hôkaibô (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) is in love with the beautiful, young Okumi (Nakamura Shibajaku) who is herself in love with Yôsuke, a servant at her father's store. Yôsuke (Nakamura Kinnosuke) is actually an aristocrat searching for the lost treasure of his family. He regains possession only to have the scroll stolen by Hôkaibô. Yôsuke accepts Okumi's love, but is also pursued by Princess Nowake (Nakamura Tanenosuke up to the 13th of September, Nakamura Kotarô from the 14th of September), his true fiancee. In a grim but humorous scene at a graveyard, everyone tries to get Okumi and the scroll. But Hôkaibô ends up killing Princess Nowake and is killed himself before he can enjoy the fruits of his villainy. The last scene, "Futa Omote Mizu ni Terutsuki", is one of the great classics of dance and is often performed separately. Yôsuke and Okumi try to run off together only to find a strange figure that looks exactly like Okumi. Yôsuke tries to find out which is the real Okumi. In fact, in a virtuoso turn for the star actor who plays this double role, the mysterious figure is made up of the combined spirits of Hôkaibô and Princess Nowake, each questing for love even after death. Featuring also Kataoka Nizaemon as Jinzaburô.

Amagasaki Kankyo: Akechi Mitsuhide (known in this play as Takechi Mitsuhide) is known as the "three day ruler of Japan", having only control for a brief time after attacking and killing Oda Nobunaga (known in this play as Harunaga) and before being defeated in turn by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (known in this play as Mashiba Hisayoshi). In the most famous act of this play, after assassinating Harunaga, Mitsuhide comes to see his mother, but she refuses to forgive him for betraying his lord. Mitsuhide sees his son and mother both die before his eyes as he tries to defeat his rival Hisayoshi, but instead is confronted with the drama of his own immediate family. Starring Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon and Nakamura Karoku as Mitsuhide and Hisayoshi. Featuring also Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tôzô and Nakamura Matagorô as Mitsuhide's wife Misao, Mitsuhide's son Jûjirô, Jûjirô's fiancee Hatsugiku, Mitsuhide's mother Satsuki and Satô Masakiyo.

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 Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of the parent shishi and his grandson Kataoka Sennosuke in the role of the cub. Featuring also Nakamura Kinnosuke and Nakamura Matagorô.

Gosho no Gorozô: a portrait of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters at the height of its splendor. Rival gangs dressed in the height of fashion exchange stately speeches before fighting in the elaborate poetic cadences of Kawatake Mokuami, the last great playwright of Kabuki. Gorozô is the handsome leader of a gang, but his lover, the top courtesan Satsuki pretends to reject him to save his life. Tragedy strikes when Gorozô is driven to revenge. Starring Ichikawa Somegorô as Gorozô, Onoe Shôroku as his rival in love, Nakamura Shibajaku as Gorozô's lover, the courtesan Satsuki and Ichikawa Komazô as Ôshû, a courtesan who is tragically killed. Featuring also Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Matsue and Matsumoto Kingo.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ôtani Tomoemon, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Bandô Kamesaburô, 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. The roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada (Kagekiyo's enemy), Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover), Mionoya Shirô, Nitta Shirô and Iwanaga Saemon are played by Nakamura Kanjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ôtani Tomoemon and Kataoka Ichizô.

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Tsukinosuke, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Ichikawa Juen

Ichikawa Ennosuke IV and Ichikawa Chûsha IX celebrate their shûmei touring in the western provinces!

Ogurusu no Chôbê: a modern comedy by Okamoto Kidô (1872~1939) about a famous historical event. The village of Ogurusu is famous as the place where Akechi Mitsuhide met his death. Mitsuhide assassinated his master, the warlord Nobunaga, but after only three days of ruling Japan, was killed himself, passing control to Hideyoshi. The farmer Chôbê (Ichikawa Chûsha) is the bad boy of the village and the object of everyone's laughter and contempt, until a samurai comes and hails Chôbê as a hero for killing Mitsuhide.

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 Ichikawa Ennosuke IV and Ichikawa Chûsha IX.

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. Starring Ichikawa Ennosuke as the fox Tadanobu. Featuring also Ichikawa Emiya (Shizuka Gozen) and Nakamura Baigyoku (Yoshitsune).

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Shingo

1st edition of a gala program called Yago no Kai for Bandô Yajûrô and his son Bandô Shingo (Ya comes from Yajûrô and Go from Shingo). All Bandô Yajûrô's disciples will be part of the cast.

Tsuru Kame: the crane (tsuru) is said to live for a thousand years, the tortoise (kame) is said to live for ten thousand years. Together, they are a traditional symbol of longevity. There is no particular plot to this play, but simply shows a visit by the empress to the Moon Pavilion where two courtiers dance as the spirits of the crane and tortoise. The empress, the spirit of the crane and the spirit of the tortoise are played by Bandô Yajûrô's disciples.

Tsubosaka: this play stars Bandô Yajûrô as Sawaichi, a blind masseur who has become utterly depressed by the prospect of never recovering his eyesight. His faithful wife, played by Bandô Shingo, has been praying to the Kannon goddess daily for several years for his recovery, and Sawaichi agrees to accompany her to the Kannon shrine to pray. Once there he announces he will stay to pray and fast for three days, and so his wife leaves to pick up some supplies for them, but in her absence, Sawaichi throws himself off a cliff. When she returns, the distraught wife decides to join her husband in death. The final scene shows the Kannon goddess, who miraculously saves the couple and cures Sawaichi's blindness.

Seki no To:
(The Snowbound Barrier)
A snow-covered barrier decorated by a mysteriously blooming cherry tree provides the background for the larger-than-life story of a traitorous aristocrat disguised as a barrier guard and the beautiful woman, actually a supernatural spirit in disguise, that will defeat him. Featuring Bandô Shingo(the keisei Sumizome, in reality the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree) and Bandô Yajûrô (Sekibê, in reality Ôtomo no Kuronushi).

Source: Earphone Guide website