Names Kokuritsu Gekijô
National Theatre
Théâtre National
City Tôkyô
Management The Japanese State
History

November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theatre in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", from the "Ôuchiyama" scene to the "Kurumabiki" scene, with an amazing casting:

Roles Actors
Kan Shôjô Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Fujiwara no Shihei, Kakuju Nakamura Ganjirô II
Takebe Genzô, Terukuni Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Tonami, Sakuramaru Onoe Baikô VII
Tatsuta no Mae, Yae Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Sukune Tarô, Matsuômaru Bandô Mitsugorô VIII
Prince Tokiyo Kataoka Takao
Princess Kariya Kataoka Hidetarô II
Umeômaru Bandô Minosuke VII, Onoe Kurôemon II
Sonoo-no-Mae, the yakko Takunai Sawamura Tosshô V
Mareyo Ichikawa Nedanji II

December 1966: second month of the opening ceremony of the National Theatre with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", from "Kurumabiki" to the last scene, with an amazing casting:

Roles Actors
Matsuômaru Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII
Sakuramaru, Chiyo Onoe Baikô VII
Umeômaru Nakamura Kichiemon II
Fujiwara no Shihei, Shiratayû Bandô Mitsugorô VIII
Takebe Genzô Morita Kan'ya XIV
Yae Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Tonami Nakamura Matagorô II
Kan Shôjô Ichikawa Chûsha VIII
Shundô Gemba Onoe Kurôemon II
Terukuni, Yodarekuri Yotarô Bandô Minosuke VII
Haru Ichikawa Komazô X

January 1967: revival at the National Theater of "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The wicked priest Narukami, Kumedera Danjô, the deity Fudô Myôô Onoe Shôroku II
Fujiwara no Mototsune, Abe no Kiyoyuki Ichikawa Sadanji III
Princess Taema Nakamura Fukusuke VII
Hayakumo no Ôji Morita Kan'ya XIV
Bun'ya Toyohide, the koshimoto Makiginu Nakamura Senjaku II
Ono Saemon Harumichi Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
The karô Yatsurugi Gemba Nakamura Fukusuke V
Ono no Harukaze, Hakuunbô (the Buddhist monk white cloud) Bandô Minosuke VII
Yatsurugi Kazuma, Sakuramachi Chûjô Kiyofusa Ichikawa Omezô V
Harukaze's sister Nishiki-no-Mae Bandô Tamasaburô V
The page Hata no Hidetarô Bandô Shûka IV
The lady-in-waiting Takino Onoe Taganojô III
The karô Hata no Mimbu, Kokuunbô (the Buddhist monk black cloud) Onoe Kikuzô VI
Ohara no Manbei, in reality Ishihara Sehei Bandô Yagorô II

March 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô". The new script is written by the Kabuki scholar Gunji Masakatsu and the play is is produced with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The priest Seigen Morita Kan'ya XIV
Tsurigane no Gonsuke, Shinobu no Sôta Bandô Mitsugorô VIII
Princess Sakura, Fûrin Ohime Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Shiragikumaru Bandô Tamasaburô V
Iruma Akugorô Bandô Minosuke VII
Matsui Gengo Iwai Hanshirô X
Yoshida Matsuwaka Ichikawa Monnosuke VII
Awazu Shichirô, Sentarô Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
The priest Zangetsu Ichikawa Yaozô IX
Katsushika no Ojû Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Nagaura Sawamura Gennosuke V
Tsunaemon Ichikawa Kuzô V
The yakko Gunsuke Bandô Kôtarô

April 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Yari no Gonza Kasane Katabira", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Sasano Gonza Nakamura Senjaku II
Ichinoshin's wife Osai Nakamura Ganjirô II
Iwaki Chûtabei Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Asaka Ichinoshin Nakamura Fukusuke V
Kawazura Bannojô Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
Bannojô's sister and Gonza's betrothed Oyuki Kataoka Hidetarô II
Iwaki Jimbei Kataoka Takao

May 1968: revival at the National Theatre of "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Yorikane, Kosuke, Yashio, Nikki Danjô Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Masaoka Nakamura Shikan VII
Hosokawa Katsumoto Morita Kan'ya XIV
Arajishi Otokonosuke Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Okinoi Sawamura Tosshô V
Matsushima Bandô Tamasaburô V
Sakae Gozen Onoe Taganojô III
Watanabe Gekizaemon Arashi Kichisaburô VII
Senmatsu Nakamura Kotarô V
Tsuruchiyo Nakamura Shinjirô

April 1971: revival at the National Theatre of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage", in 5 acts divided into 8 scenes (a longer version than the standard one) which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Hôkaibô Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII
Jinzaburô Morita Kan'ya XIV
Jinzaburô's wife Oshizu Onoe Baikô VII
Asayama Shuzen Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
The Eirakuya tedai Yôsuke, in reality Yoshida Matsuwaka Onoe Kikunosuke IV
Okumi Sawamura Kiyoshirô
Princess Nowake Bandô Tamasaburô V
Hitachi Taijô Bandô Shinsui VIII
The Eirakuya widow Oraku Sawamura Gennosuke V
Ôsakaya Gen'emon Ichikawa Yaozô IX

May 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the playwright, which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ogura Hikokurô Ichikawa Somegorô VI
Hikokurô's wife Otane Nakamura Senjaku II
Miyaji Gen'emon Sawamura Tosshô V
Gen'emon's wife Kikuno Sawamura Tanosuke VI
Ofuji Kataoka Hidetarô II
Hikokurô's adopted son Bunroku Nakamura Kikaku I
Sangobei's wife Yura Arashi Tokusaburô VII
Isobe Yukaemon Nakamura Shôjaku
Masayama Sangobei Matsumoto Komagorô II

June 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito", which is staged in 5 acts (13 scenes) with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Honjô Tsunagorô Nakamura Kichiemon II
The courtesan Koito, Otoki Onoe Baikô VII
Omatsuri Sashichi, Hantoki Kurobei Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII
Ofusa Onoe Kikunosuke IV
Kaze-no-Kami Kizaemon, Anoya Jûbei Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
Kambara Sagorô Bandô Kamezô II
The tedai Sagobei Nakamura Matagorô II
Yamazumi Goheita Ichikawa Sumizô VII
The doctor Tôrin Ichimura Tsuruzô
The widow Oritsu Bandô Shûchô IV
Orai Onoe Taganojô III

March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Jiraiya Onoe Kikugorô VII
Tsukikage's daughter Princess Tagoto Sawamura Kiyoshirô
Yashagorô, Tsukikage Gunryô Miyukinosuke Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
Takasago Yûminosuke Onoe Baikô VII
Senso Dôjin Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
Fûki Tarô Bandô Kamezô II
Ayame Ichikawa Monnosuke VII
Kumadeya Yokushirô Kataoka Ichizô V
Bandô Yamatonosuke Bandô Minosuke VII
Yakama Shikaroku Iwai Hanshirô X
Kumadeya's daughter Takane Ichimura Manjirô II

April 1976: revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri", with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ishikawa Goemon Jitsukawa Enjaku III
Konomura Ôinosuke Nakamura Ganjirô II
Hayakawa Takakage, Daibutsu Mochiya Sôemon Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Sonoo-no-Kata, Goemon's wife Oritsu Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Segawa Uneme Nakamura Tomijûrô V
The courtesan Hanatachibana, Ogiku, Mashiba Hisayoshi Nakamura Senjaku II
Kuretake Kataoka Gadô V
The yakko Yatahei, Junkikan, Katô Masakiyo Kataoka Gatô V
Mashiba Hisatsugu Ichimura Yoshigorô II
Mashiba Hisaaki Ôtani Tomoemon VIII
The courtesan Kokonoe Arashi Tokusaburô VII
Osai Onoe Kikujirô IV

August 1977: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi", which is staged with the following casting:

September 1978: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ume no Yoshibei Sawamura Sôjûrô IX
Kosan, Chôkichi Sawamura Tôjûrô II
Koume Sawamura Tanosuke VI
Kanaya Kingorô Ichikawa Danshirô IV
Gengobei Kataoka Gatô V
Shinraku Kanjûrô Kataoka Roen VI
Okimi Ichimura Kakitsu IX
Chôgorô Ichikawa Juen II
Dote no Toburoku, Jûheiji Nakamura Yonekichi IV

August 1979: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Murai Chôan, the Iseya bantô Kyûhachi Nakamura Kichiemon II
Iseya Sentarô, Dôjûrô's wife Oriyo Sawamura Sôjûrô IX
Fujikake Dôjûrô, the courtesan Chôjiya Sayoginu Sawamura Tanosuke VI
Jûbei's wife Osoyo Nakamura Mannojô
Hayanori Sanji Ichikawa Nedanji II
Kaisaka no Chûzô Ichikawa Danshirô IV
Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Ichikawa Sadanji IV

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Danshichi Mohei Nakamura Senjaku II
Iwai-buro Jisuke Nakamura Tomijûrô V
The playwright Namiki Shôzô Nakamura Ganjirô II
The courtesan Otomi Sawamura Tôjûrô II
Arashi Sangorô Bandô Takesaburô V
Sawamura Kunitarô Nakamura Tomotarô
Jisuke's wife Okaji Kataoka Gadô V
Takaichi Kazuemon Kataoka Ichizô V
Manriki Ichiemon Nakamura Kikaku I
Daimonjiya Jihei (commonly called Sakai no Daiji) Ichikawa Yaozô IX
The owner of the Naniwa chaya Kawakyû Ichikawa Sumizô VII

April 1981: revival at the National Theatre of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Keisei Hama no Masago", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The keisei Ishikawaya Masagoji (in reality Akechi Mitsuhide's daughter Princess Satsuki), Goemon's widow Gion-no-Okaji Nakamura Utaemon VI
Taikô Hisayoshi, Kishida Minbu (in reality Shihôten Tajima-no-Kami) Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Saitô Kuranosuke, Toyotomi Hisayori Jitsukawa Enjaku III
Yodo-no-Kata Nakamura Shikan VII
Sanni no Goroshichi, Toyotomi Hisatsugu Ichikawa Ebizô X
Oda Nobuo Kataoka Gatô V
Maeda Toshiie Nakamura Matagorô II
The ashigaru Kinzô, in reality Yasuda no Sakubei Nakamura Fukusuke VIII
Princess Gô Nakamura Matsue V
Takayama Ukon Nakamura Tôzô VI

For this revival, the drama's sekai being the Taikôki, it was decided to use the real names for the historical figures. The spectacular "Onna Goemon" scene was the opening act of this drama.

January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban and is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Mita no Genji Takeru Onoe Shôroku II
Ôtomo no Kachimaro Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
The priest Gazenbô Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
Mita's brother Ryûômaru Onoe Tatsunosuke I
Princess Yayoi Nakamura Kotarô V
Horikawa Kageyu Iwai Hanshirô X
The old woman Takekawa Kataoka Gadô V
The widow Atago-no-Mae Nakamura Shikan VII
Funakata Kôza Nakamura Hashinosuke III
Aoimaru Onoe Sakon II

January 1983: revival at the National Theatre of "Nanatsu Men", which uses a new script written by Tobe Ginsaku and is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The mask-maker Kagose Akaemon, in reality Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo Onoe Shôroku II
Ema no Koshirô Yoshitoki Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
The keisei Akoya Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Kagose Akaemon's disciple, in reality Mionoya Shirô Kunitoshi Onoe Tatsunosuke I
Hatakeyama Shigetada Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III
Minamoto no Yoritomo Bandô Hikosaburô VIII
Shigetada's sister Princess Kinugasa, in reality Kagekiyo's daughter Hitomaru Nakamura Tokizô V
Yoritomo's daughter Princess Ô Nakamura Shibajaku VII
Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka Iwai Hanshirô X

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the Genroku drama "Sankai Nagoya", with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Fuwa Banzaemon Terumasa, Shôki Daijin Onoe Shôroku II
Umezu Kanimori Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
La courtisane Katsuragi Nakamura Jakuemon IV
Ôgimachi Dazainojô Nakamura Tomijûrô V
Fuwa Banzaemon's wife Fujikae Sawamura Sôjûrô IX
Nagoya Sanzaburô Onoe Tatsunosuke I
Nagoya Sanzaemon Kataoka Ichizô V
Yokogawa Unzai Bandô Hikosaburô VIII
La princesse Man'yo Nakamura Tokizô V
Ashikaga Haruô Onoe Sakon II
Nikki Genzai Iwai Hanshirô X

January 1997: tôshi kyôgen revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo, the priest Sekigahara Jinnai (in reality Iba-no-Jûzô Kazuyoshi) Ichikawa Danjûrô XII
Kagekiyo's lover Akoya Bandô Tamasaburô V
Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada Nakamura Baigyoku IV
Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura Kataoka Gatô V
Shigetada's sister Shiraume Nakamura Matsue V
Mionoya Shirô Kunitoshi Ichikawa Sadanji IV
Hanzawa Rokurô Nakamura Tôzô VI
Jûzô's mother Matsuno Nakamura Matagorô II
Honda Jirô Chikatsune Ichimura Kakitsu IX
Mitsumine Hachirô Tadakiyo Ichikawa Unosuke III
Hanaôgiya Toheiji Iwai Hanshirô X

January 1999: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Yosaburô Ichikawa Danjûrô XII
Otomi Sawamura Sôjûrô IX
Tajimaya Seikichi Sawamura Tanosuke VI
Seikichi's wife Onaka Nakamura Shibajaku VII
Tajimaya Tazaemon Bandô Mitsugorô IX
Kômori no Yasuzô Ôtani Tomoemon VIII
Aoimaru Bandô Minosuke II

January 2002: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been performed in its full length since 11th lunar month of 1864; the play is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Kogitsune Reizaburô Onoe Kikugorô VII
Funadama Osai Nakamura Tokizô V
Nippon Daemon Nakamura Tomijûrô V
The courtesan Miyuki, Tsukimoto Enshû Sawamura Tanosuke VI
La courtisane Kagetsu Onoe Kikunosuke V
Araki Samonnosuke, Kibazô Bandô Hikosaburô VIII

October 2003: revival in 3 acts (11 scenes) at the National Theater with the Omodakaya guild of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ki no Aritsune, Natora's ghost Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Somedono, Koyoshi Nakamura Tôzô
Dainagon Muneoka Nakamura Karoku
Ariwara no Narihira, Isonokami Mameshirô Ichikawa Monnosuke
Kujaku Saburô (later Ban no Yoshio) Ichikawa Ukon
Akinobu's sister Takako (later Nijô no Kisaki), Katsura Kingo (in reality Fuchibe no Harundo) Ichikawa Emiya
Princess Izutsu, Shinobu Ichikawa Emisaburô
Shigarami, Suma no Konohei (in reality Ôe no Otondo) Ichikawa Juen
Yukihira's wife Minase Gozen Ichikawa Shun'en
Naidaijin Akinobu, Nyôhachi Ichikawa En'ya
Imperial Prince Korehito Ichikawa Komazô

November 2005: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Yanagi's drama "Ehon Taikôki", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Takechi Mitsuhide Nakamura Hashinosuke III
Mashiba Hisayoshi Nakamura Shikan VII
Oda Harunaga Kataoka Gatô V
Takechi Jûjirô Nakamura Kaishun II
Misao Nakamura Tôzô VI
Satsuki Nakamura Kichinojô II
Satô Masakiyo Ichikawa Omezô VI
Mori Ranmaru, Hatsugiku Kataoka Takatarô

January 2008: revival at the National Theater of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-Mura Shibai no Shôgatsu". "It is a spectacular play on a grand scale, showing a struggle between two imperial princes for the imperial throne and the almost magical powers of the great poet Ono no Komachi, also considered one of the greatest beauties of her time. In ancient times, Komachi was such a famous figure that she became the subject of many Nô plays, one in which her poetry called forth rain and another in which a jealous rival tried to defeat her by claiming that a poem she wrote was actually plagiarized from an old poetic anthology. She proved her innocence by washing the book of the anthology and showing that the fresh ink of the supposedly old poem easily washed away" (source: Earphone Guide website). This revival is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ôtomo no Kuronushi, Fukakusa no Shôshô, Yanagihara Goromata Onoe Kikugorô
Ono no Komachi, Goromata's wife Otsuyu Nakamura Tokizô
Goinosuke Kanemichi, The flowers-selling girl Otatsu, Omiki, Natora's sister Hatsune, a female fox Onoe Kikunosuke
Ki no Natora, Kujaku Saburô, Shôgatsuya Shôbei Onoe Shôroku
Shinomiya Hyôdô Taketaru Ichikawa Danzô
Ono no Yoshizane Bandô Hikosaburô
Sekidera no Ôtoji Baba Sawamura Tanosuke
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa Kawarazaki Gonjûrô
Koretaka Shinnô, the landlord Tarobei Kataoka Kamezô
Tarobei's wife Otora Ichimura Manjirô
Korehito Shinnô Onoe Matsuya
Princess Katori Nakamura Baishi
Toraômaru Takeyasha Bandô Kamesaburô
Kumaômaru Tsukiyasha Bandô Kametoshi

January 2009: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban and is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Mita no Genji Takeru Ichikawa Danjûrô XII
Ôtomo no Kachimaro Bandô Mitsugorô X
The priest Gazenbô Nakamura Hashinosuke III
Princess Yayoi Nakamura Fukusuke IX
Horikawa Kageyu Kataoka Ichizô VI
The widow Atago-no-Mae Ichimura Kakitsu IX
The long façade of The National Theatre
 
Search this site powered by FreeFind
  Site map
Contact | Main | Top | Updates | Actors | Plays | Playwrights | Programs | Links | FAQ | Glossary | Chronology | Illustrations | Prints | Characters | Derivatives | Theaters | Coming soon | News