2 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza), 2 in Ôsaka (Cool Japan Park Ôsaka TT Hall, Ôtsuki Nô Theatre) and 2 tours (Central Provinces, Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the Kabukiza !

Young actors are on tour in the Central Provinces !

Ichikawa Ebizô is on tour (Classics Tour)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô, Arashi Kitsusaburô

Not the usual special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan), which used to be staged at the Kabukiza to commemorate the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I. In 2020, only "Hikimado" will be staged in the spirit of the Shûzan's Festival.

Soga no Taimen: this is one of the oldest and most classical of all Kabuki plays. In the Edo period, every January, plays appeared about the vendetta carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô after eighteen years of hardship. In "Soga no Taimen" the brothers confront Kudô Suketsune, the man responsible for their father's death. More ceremony than play, it features each of the important Kabuki character types, including the bombastic aragoto style of Gorô and the soft wagoto style of Jûrô. This month features a cast headed by Nakamura Baigyoku as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Onoe Shôroku as Gorô and Nakamura Kinnosuke as Jûrô. Featuring Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kaishun and Nakamura Karoku as Kobayashi no Asahina, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover), the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).

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 Ichikawa Ennosuke as Kasane and Matsumoto Kôshirô as Yoemon.

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 (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Onoe Kikunosuke) 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 Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô and Nakamura Jakuemon in the roles of Chôgorô's mother and Ohaya.

Kôjô: Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô greets the audience and explains about his special performance in "Sagi Musume" that merges projected images and dance.

Sagi Musume: Special performance combining projected imagery and dance. 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 Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kazutarô, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ichikawa Ukon

A special Kabuki program in Ôsaka at the Cool Japan Park Ôsaka TT Hall, which is part of the 2020 edition of the Ôsaka Culture and Arts Festival (Ôsaka Bunka Geijutsu Fesu). 3 programs staged following the schedule below:

Kamimura Kichiya, Kamimura Kichitarô, Kamimura Orinosuke

The 1st edition of the gala of the Miyoshiya Guild, led by Kamimura Kichiya. The first item in the program, "Goaisatsu" (literally "Greetings"), is a stage speech. The Ôtsuki Nô Theatre is located near Ôsaka Castle. It was established in 1935 and it is one of the few Nô theaters in Kansai which has survived WWII.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

The Fall Tour of Ichikawa Ebizô with performances in 13 cities, including 5 nights in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza.

Kotobuki Shiki Sanbasô: Okina is the oldest ritual in the Nô theater. This Kabuki version shows Okina, an old man who symbolizes eternal youth, his attendant Senzai and the vigorous Sanbasô, who perform dances solemnly for good fortune. Sanbasô dances vigorously, stamping and shaking bells, praying for agricultural fertility and prosperity for all. This dances features Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu in the roles of the sanbasô, the okina and the senzai.

Kôjô: a formal stage speech made by Ichikawa Ebizô.

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: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Baishi, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Keizô

The September Grand Kabuki Tour in the central provinces.

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 (Nakamura Mantarô), dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer.

Keya-mura: Rokusuke (Onoe Matsuya), a sword master who lives a simple country life, is taking care of a small foundling child. He hangs the boy's kimono outside his house in the hope that the boy's relatives will see it and know where he is. One day he finds himself attacked by a woman named Osono (Nakamura Baishi) who turns out to be the aunt of the child. As they talk, they find that they are in fact linked by promises of marriage although they have never met directly. Osono is searching for Kyôgoku no Takumi (Ôtani Keizô), the killer of her father, Rokusuke's master, and Rokusuke promises to help in her vendetta.

Ninin Wankyû: the fabulously wealthy Wan'ya Kyûbê (nicknamed Wankyû) is disowned by his family for falling in love with the courtesan Matsuyama. Then, when she dies, he goes mad with grief and wanders through the countryside. This dance shows him as he imagines meeting Matsuyama again and there is a lively dance recalling their happiness together before the vision fades and he is left alone. Starring Onoe Matsuya as Wankyû and Nakamura Baishi as Matsuyama.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website