2019 in figures:

700 actors

500 summaries

500 actors lines

100 playwrights

100 lesser known actors

45 playwrights lines

2000 entries in the Kabuki play list

400 entries in the list of roles

I would like to thank very much all the friends who helped me building this site. Happy new year of the rat (ne) 2020. The 2nd year of the Reiwa era will be the year of the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.

ACTORS: Yamashita Mansaku, Yamatoya Jinbê IV, Yoshida Jûrobê II and Yoshioka Motome II.

PLAYS: "Yami no Ume Hyaku Monogatari".

ACTORS LINES: Yoshida Jûrobê.

KAOMISE: Kyôto 1719 (Miyako Handayû's theater), Kyôto 1719 (Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater), Kyôto 1719 (Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater) and Kyôto 1719 (Nakamura Hatsudayû's theater).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Yamanaka Naojûrô.

PROGRAMS: January 2020 (National Theatre, details for the Shôchikuza, Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô and Asakusa Kôkaidô programs), February 2020 (Kabukiza, Ôtsuka Museum of Art, Tour in the western provinces), March 2020 (Kabukiza) and April 2020 (Kanamaruza, Misonoza).

OTHERS: 27 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 36 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the page on the Onoe Eizaburô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Matsusuke and Ôtani Oniji lines of actors have been reworked; the pages on Mizuki Tatsunosuke I and Onoe Matsusuke III have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); a new illustration for the actors Karyû Sawaemon, Matsumoto Shigemaki, Onoe Eizaburô IV, Onoe Eizaburô 4.5, Onoe Eizaburô 4.6, Onoe Kikunosuke I, Onoe Kikunosuke III, Onoe Matsusuke V, Sanogawa Hanazuma I, Sawamura Chôjûrô I, Suketakaya Takasuke II, Yagi Niemon and Yamamura Kazaemon; new illustration page for the actors Fujikawa Buzaemon I, Sawamura Otoemon I, Tamagawa Sennojô IV and Yoshizawa Ayame I; gaikotsu, hyaku monogatari kaidankai, karakasa kozô, kasa ippon ashi, kasa obake, kogaikotsu, nopperabô, yomiuri, yuki jorô and yuki onna have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Sagawa Imagorô, Sakata Ichitarô, Sakon Ibê, Sanogawa Senzô and Sawamura Kameemon.

PLAYS: "Shima Chidori" and "Shisen Ryô".

ACTORS LINES: Sawamura Sômaru and Sawamura Tôzô.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Sakakiyama Kansuke and Sone Shôkichi.

KAOMISE: Ôsaka 1719 (Naka no Shibai), Ôsaka 1719 (Ônishi no Shibai) and Ôsaka 1719 (Higashi no Shibai).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Somekawa Harugorô and Somekawa Tsuneyo.

PROGRAMS: December 2019 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre and Shinbashi Enbujô programs), January 2020 (National Theatre, Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô, Misonoza), February 2020 (Misonoza, Urara Theater Komatsu, Kagekiza, Minamiza, Hakataza) and March 2020 (Meijiza, Minamiza).

OTHERS: 11 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 35 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; an illustration page for the actors Hayakawa Hatsuse, Ichikawa Danzô I, Nakamura Denkurô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô I and Ogawa Zengorô I; a new illustration for the actors Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Tsutsui Kichijûrô I and Tsuuchi Monzaburô I; the pages on Iwai Kumesaburô V, Iwai Matsunosuke IV, Iwai Sagenta I and Sakata Hangorô I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); akashi no ura, denmachô rôyashiki, higashi ôrô, icchû bushi, kagurazaka, kami-makichô, kanzake, kanzakeya, kôin, kôjû, kudanzaka, kumagaya-juku, mushuku, myôjin tôge, nishi ôrô, ôshû kaidô, rikisha, rônanushi, rôyashiki, shirakawa-shuku, shizoku, shûjin, tôfuya, tôkyô shôkonsha, udon, udonya, ushigome, utakata, yasukuni jinja, yotsuya and yotsuya mitsuke have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Matsushima Han'ya I and Matsushima Kiyosaki.

PLAYS: "Marubashi Chûya".

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Emino and Nakamura Kangyoku.

ACTORS LINES: Matsumoto Kinshô, Matsumoto Kintarô and Matsumoto Kin'ya.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Matsushima Chôfu.

KAOMISE: Edo 1719 (Nakamuraza), Edo 1719 (Ichimuraza) and Edo 1719 (Moritaza).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Matsushima Heijizaemon.

PROGRAMS: November 2019 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, Heisei Nakamuraza and Yachiyoza programs), December 2019 (Kabukiza, a flyer for the Minamiza and the National Theatre, casting for the Shinbashi Enbujô, details for the Minamiza programs), January 2020 (Shôchikuza, Asakusa Kôkaidô) and February 2020 (Hakataza).

OTHERS: 12 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 12 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; the pages on Ichikawa Danjûrô XI, Ichikawa Danjûrô XII, Matsumoto Kingo II, Matsumoto Kinshô I and Matsumoto Kôemon I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); chûgû, daijin, fuchû-jô, fujiwara sadaie, horibata, inu, matsumoto-ryû, renpanjô, shikishi naishinnô, shizuoka-jô, sunpu-jô and tokugawa ietsuna have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Sengoku Yashiki".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Kanai Yûsuke I.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Kanai Yûsuke, Kyôgendô Sakô, Matsui Yûsuke, Matsumoto Kôji, Segawa Jokô and Uba Jôsuke.

PROGRAMS: October 2019 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, Misonoza and Shinbashi Enbujô programs, Nagame Yokyôjô), November 2019 (Kabukiza), December 2019 (National Theatre) and January 2020 (Minamiza).

OTHERS: 6 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; 38 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Asao Yoroku I and Asao Yoroku II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); the page on the Asao Yoroku line of actors has been reworked; jinmon, muramatsu hidenao, muramatsu kihê, muramatsu kihê hidenao, muramatsu sandayû, muramatsu sandayû takanao, muramatsu takanao, omote shoin, ôtaka gengo, tominomori masayori, tominomori sukeemon masayori, yoshida chûzaemon, yoshida chûzaemon kanesuke and yoshida kanesuke have been added to the glossary.

OTHERS: a few minor and cosmetic things related to the 20th anniversary of kabuki21.com.

PLAYS: "Saigo no Daihyôjô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Tsuuchi Han'emon, Tsuuchi Kuheiji I and Toyo Harusuke I.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Tajima Konosuke, Takeshiba Genzô, Tamamaki Kyûji and Toyo Harusuke.

PROGRAMS: September 2019 (details for the Kabukiza and Minamiza programs, NTK Hall, National Bunraku Theatre, Musashino Shimin Kaikan), October 2019 (Kabukiza, New National Theatre, National Theatre), November 2019 (Eirakukan, Theatre Cocoon) and December 2019 (Minamiza, a flyer for the Shinbashi Enbujô).

OTHERS: 4 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 20 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Arashi Sanjûrô II, Arashi Sanpachi I, Arashi Shichigorô I, Arashi Shichigorô II, Arashi Shichigorô III, Arashi Tokusaburô VII, Arashi Tominosuke I, Arashi Tomisaburô II, Arashi Yoshisaburô IV, Arashi Yoshisaburô V, Arashi Yoshisaburô VI, Asao Jûjirô I, Asao Kunigorô III, Asao Kuzaemon I, Asao Kuzaemon II, Asao Kuzaemon IV, Asao Motogorô I, Asao Tamejûrô I, Asao Tamejûrô II and Asao Tamejûrô III have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); a new illustration for the actor Asao Jûjirô; an illustration for the actor Arashi Shichigorô IV; the page on the Asao Kunigorô line of actors has been reworked; akô-han, akô-jô, horibe taketsune, horibe yasubê taketsune, isogai jûrôzaemon masahisa, isogai masahisa okajima tsuneshige, okajima yasoemon, okajima yasoemon tsuneshige, ôno kurobê, ôno kurobê tomofusa and ôno tomofusa have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Edo-jô no Ninjô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Namiki Jusuke and Namiki Miyosuke.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Kasane Sensuke and Kawatake Nôshin.

PROGRAMS: August 2019 (details for the Kabukiza programs, National Theatre, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô, Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, Megami-no-Mori Central Garden), September 2019 (Kabukiza), October 2019 (Kinshû Special Tour, Yachiyoza) and November 2019 (National Theatre, Heisei Nakamuraza, Yachiyoza).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 6 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; inaba, inshû, kajikawa yoriteru, kajikawa yosobê, kajikawa yosobê yoriteru, kataoka gengoemon, kataoka gengoemon takafusa, kataoka takafusa, matsu no ôrôka, metsuke, okado denpachirô, okado denpachirô shigetomo, okado shigetomo, shôda yasutoshi, tamura tatsuaki, ukyô and ukyôdayû have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Onoe Kôzô II, Onoe Monzaburô IV and Onoe Samon.

PLAYS: "Hane no Kamuro", "Kappore", "Kôya Monogurui", "Nomitori Otoko", "Ôeyama" and "Shôjô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Okamura Shikô.

ACTORS LINES: Onoe Sakon and Onoe Umenosuke.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Onoe Iwagorô, Onoe Jukô, Onoe Karoku, Onoe Senroku, Onoe Tatsuroku and Onoe Yoshigorô.

PROGRAMS: July 2019 (details for the Shôchikuza, Kabukiza and National Theatre programs), August 2019 (Kabukiza, Kintetsu Art Kan, Shunjûza, National Theatre, Theatre Cocoon), September 2019 (National Theatre) and October 2019 (National Theatre).

OTHERS: 2 new links; 7 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; gannin bôzu, hane, kadomatsu, kappore odori, nomi, nôtorimono, ôbeya, ôeyama, sakatsubo, senjô-ga-take, shinshu, shôgatsu and shôjô (nô) have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Ichiyama Dengorô.

PLAYS: "Ii Tairô", "Imohori Chôja" and "Ikite-iru Koheiji".

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Fukuen, Ichikawa Koyone, Ichikawa Sukezô and Ichikawa Teruyo.

DERIVATIVES: Don't overlook crimes!!!

STROLLING AROUND: Sukeroku & Agemaki in Asakusa.

PROGRAMS: June 2019 (details for the Kabukiza and Shimonoseki Shimin Kaikan programs), July 2019 (Kabukiza), August 2019 (National Theatre) and September 2019 (Minamiza, Kabuki Tour in the western provinces).

OTHERS: 4 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 20 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Arashi Rikan II, Arashi Rikan III, Arashi Rikan IV, Arashi Rikan V, Arashi Sangorô I, Arashi Sangorô IV, Arashi Sangorô VI, Ichikawa Monnosuke VII, Ichikawa Sadanji I, Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichikawa Sadanji III have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); ansei no taigoku, asaka no numa, bakumatsu, chôja, edo-jô, hayashi, hayashigata, hikone-jô, ichikawa-kai, ichikawa-ryû, ii naosuke, imohori, imohori no mai, kohata-koheijimono, mai no utage, ôzume, sakurada-mon, sakurada-mon no hen, sandai shûmei, sokushitsu, taiko-uchi, tairô, umibe and zenji have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Hanai Saizaburô I and Hanai Saizaburô III.

PLAYS: "Kurayami no Ushimatsu" and "Ori".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Hasegawa Shin.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Onoe Ushinosuke VII.

ACTORS LINES: Hanai Saizaburô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Hanai Kosanza, Hanai Sanjûrô, Hanaoka Bunzaemon and Hanaoka Sanzaemon.

PROGRAMS: May 2019 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre and Tango Bunka Kaikan programs, a new flyer for Off Theater Kabuki), June 2019 (Kabukiza, details for the Hakataza programs), July 2019 (Shôchikuza) and August 2019 (Minamiza, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô).

OTHERS: 4 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 6 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; abegawa, gyû, itabashi, kanda, kazariya, kurayami, mekura, mitani kabuki, motojime, ori, reiwa, ryôrinin, sakan, senjû, tatami, torigoe, torigoe jinja, yaneya, yugama and yuya have been added to the glossary.

PLAYWRIGHTS: Adachi Saburôzaemon, Sadoshima Saburôzaemon and Takemoto Saburobê III.

PROGRAMS: April 2019 (Makuhari Messe, details for the Kabukiza and Kanamaruza programs), May 2019 (Kabukiza, Warehouse TERRADA, Shinjuku FACE), June 2019 (Hakataza, National Theatre, Shimonoseki Shimin Kaikan) and July 2019 (National Theatre, Kabuki Tour in the Eastern Provinces, date/casting/flyer for the Shôchikuza).

OTHERS: 7 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Arashi Rikaku II and Arashi Rikaku IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); all the Kawarazaki actors have been correctly renamed Kawarasaki (a too long uncorrected mistake); the Kawarazakiza has been renamed Kawarasakiza (same error as the previous one).

ACTORS: Katayama Kozaemon and Kuwabara Sanzaemon.

PLAYS: "Keisei Hama no Masago".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Nishizawa Ippô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Ogino Umenosuke and Onoe Sodenosuke.

PROGRAMS: March 2019 (details for the Kabukiza and Minamiza programs, Zenshinza Tour), April 2019 (Kabukiza, Zenshinza Tour), May 2019 (National Theatre) and June 2019 (Minamiza).

OTHERS: 8 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 6 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; an illustration for the actor Somekawa Rokurôzaemon; the pages on Arashi Otohachi I, Arashi Otohachi II, Arashi Raishi I and Arashi Raishi II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); jurakudai, katada kaidô, mashiba hisaaki, mashiba hisatsugu, toyotomi hidetsugu and yodomachi gozen have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Arashi Kanô.

PLAYS: "Youchi Soga".

ACTORS LINES: Araki Yojibê.

SOGAMONO: Ichimuraza 1779 and Moritaza 1779.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Araki Buhê.

PROGRAMS: February 2019 (details for the Kabukiza programs), March 2019 (Kabukiza, National Theatre), April 2019 (details for the Misonoza programs) and May 2019 (Tango Bunka Kaikan).

OTHERS: 4 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 18 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Arashi Koroku III, Arashi Koroku IV and Arashi Koroku V have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); the pages on the Arashi Hinasuke, Arashi Koshichi, Arashi Sanjûrô, Kanô Hinasuke, Yamashita Matatarô lines of actors have been reworked (some pages have not been completed); a new illustration for Azuma Tôzô II and Osagawa Tsuneyo III; a new illustration page for the actors Arashi Otohachi II, Mimasuya Sukejûrô II, Osagawa Tsuneyo III and Segawa Jokô I; kajiwara genta kagesue, kajiwara kagesue, kajiwara heiji kagetaka, kajiwara heizô kagetoki, kajiwara kagetaka, kajiwara kagetoki, nitta shirô, nitta shirô tadatsune, nitta tadatsune and shikigawa have been added to the glossary.