2018 in figures:

680 actors

480 summaries

485 actors lines

88 playwrights

85 lesser known actors

30 playwrights lines

1900 entries in the Kabuki play list

200 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 Boar (i) 2019. 2019 will also be the end of the Heisei era the 30th of April 2019.

ACTORS: Yamamura Kazaemon and Yamamura Sôzaemon.

PLAYS: "Ryôkan to Komori".

ACTORS LINES: Yamamoto Matsusaburô, Yamamura Takumi, Yamashita Mangiku and Yamatoya Jinbê.

KAOMISE: Kyôto 1718 (Miyako Handayû's theater), Kyôto 1718 (Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater) and Kyôto 1718 (Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Yamamura Ichitarô and Yamamura Utanosuke.

PROGRAMS: January 2019 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shôchikuza and Shinbashi Enbujô programs), February 2019 (Kabukiza), March 2019 (Hakataza, Nakamura Shichinosuke Special Tour) and April 2019 (Misonoza, Kanamaruza, Central Provinces Tour, Classics Tour).

OTHERS: 19 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 42 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Morita Kan'ya XIII, Morita Kan'ya XIV and Yamamura Giemon I 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, Nakayama Kiraku I, Nakayama Kiraku II, Onoe Shôju and Ôtani Hikosaburô; an illustration page for the actors Miyazaki Giheita, Murayama Heijûrô II, Yamatoya Jinbê II and Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I; jô-jô-jû, jô-jô-kokichi, mari, maritsuki, ryôkan taigu and shinbuyô have been added to the glossary.

PLAYWRIGHTS: Dontsû Yosabê I.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Dontsû Yosabê.

KAOMISE: Ôsaka 1718 (Naka no Shibai), Ôsaka 1718 (Ônishi no Shibai) and Ôsaka 1718 (Higashi no Shibai).

PROGRAMS: December 2018 (details for the Minamiza, National Theatre and Kabukiza programs), January 2019 (Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô), February 2019 (flyer for the 9th edition of the Sistine Kabuki) and March 2019 (Minamiza, EX THEATER, Orix Theater, Waku Waku Holiday Hall).

OTHERS: 22 new roles in the bilingual list of roles.

ACTORS: Miyazaki Giheita.

PLAYS: "Migawari Oshun".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Mimasuya Shirô.

KAOMISE: Edo 1718 (Nakamuraza), Edo 1718 (Ichimuraza) and Edo 1718 (Moritaza).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Miyazaki Takesaburô and Miyazaki Tan'emon.

PROGRAMS: November 2018 (details for the National Theatre , Kabukiza, Heisei Nakamuraza, Hakataza and Yachiyoza programs), December 2018 (Kabukiza), January 2019 (Shôchikuza, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô) and February 2019 (EX THEATER, Ôtsuka Museum of Ar).

OTHERS: 14 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 15 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new dictionary for guilds; the completion of "Kiyomasa Seichûroku" (summary); the pages on Mimasu Daigorô I, Mimasu Daigorô II, Mimasu Daigorô III, Mimasu Daigorô IV and Mimasu Daigorô V have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); a new illustration for Mimasu Tanin III and Mimasu Tanin IV; amida-ga-mine, dokumanjû, hanakawado, hôkokubyô, manjû, minamoto noriyori, nawate, kaba no kaja noriyori, ogi, ôno dôken, ôno harutane, oshun-denbêmono, tachiyaku-handôgata, takeda kaidô, tarai-mawashi, todana and yu-gaeri have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Komai Shôzaemon, Matsumoto Nazaemon III and Yamakawa Hikozaemon.

PLAYS: "Kiyomasa Seichûroku" and "Nijô-jô no Kiyomasa".

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Namiki Eisuke, Namiki Shôzô, Tsuuchi Denjûrô and Tsuuchi Kuheiji.

PROGRAMS: October 2018 (National Bunraku Theatre, Daisen Park, Bunka Sôgô Center Ôwada, details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, Misonoza and Shôchikuza programs), November 2018 (Kabukiza), December 2018 (Minamiza, National Theatre) and January 2019 (Kyôto Gekijô).

OTHERS: 16 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 15 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Matsumoto Nazaemon II and Matsumoto Shigemaki have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustration for some of them); asano yoshinaga, hatsu kyôgen, hatsu shibai, honda masanobu, ii naotaka, ikaruga nobuyoshi, nijô-jô, katagiri katsumoto, komai, sakakibara yasumasa, tôdô takatora and wataya have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Nakamura Denpachi.

PLAYS: "Maboroshi Wankyû" and "Wankyû Sue no Matsuyama".

ACTORS LINES: Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kôemon, Matsumoto Kôzô and Matsumoto Sumizô.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Nagawa Chikuyô, Nagawa Harusuke, Nagawa Kamesuke and Nagawa Tokusuke.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Nakamura Tokichô, Nakamura Tokie, Nakamura Tokiju and Nakamura Tokisaburô.

PROGRAMS: September 2018 (details for the Kabukiza and the western provinces tour programs, Kôtô Ward Cultural Center, National Bunraku Theatre, Tôdaiji Temple), October 2018 (Kabukiza), November 2018 (Heisei Nakamuraza, a new flyer for the Minamiza) and December 2018 (flyer for the Minamiza).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 6 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 11 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Nagawa Issen I, Nagawa Kamesuke I, Nakamura Karoku V, Nakamura Matagorô III, Nakamura Tokizô IV and Nakamura Tokizô V 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 Mimasu Daigorô V and Onoe Tamizô II; an illustration page for the actors Anegawa Shinshirô IV and Arashi San'emon IX; bansotsu, kôraiya sandai shûmei, shonichi, shuran, sumiyoshi no hama, tayû, uemachi daichi and wan'ya kyûemon have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Shinpan Utazaimon" and "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Chikamatsu Hanji and Chikamatsu Monkyô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Chikamatsu Kannosuke.

PROGRAMS: August 2018 (Nissay Theatre, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô, details for the Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô and National Theatre programs), September 2018 (Kabukiza, Classics Tour, NHK Hall), October 2018 (Shôchikuza, Eirakukan, Yachiyoza) and November 2018 (Minamiza, Hakataza, Classics Tour, Yachiyoza).

OTHERS: 3 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Sawamura Sôjûrô VII, Suketakaya Takasuke III and Suketakaya Takasuke IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); the completion of "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" (summary); ashikaga takauji, bôshû, hokuchô, hyôtan, kawarayabashi, kirishitanmono, kumode takoashi no hikkomi, nagamachi, nanbokuchô jidai, nanchô, nitta-shi, nitta yoshioki, nozaki-mura, seki, sôka, suô, taisho, uchimizu, yaguchi no watashi and zama jinja have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Onoe Kikuzô VI.

PLAYS: "Shinshû Kawanakajima Kassen".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Muraoka Kôji I.

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Denzô, Ichikawa Enjaku, Ichikawa Ginnosuke, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Ichikawa Shinsha and Ichikawa Ukon.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Fukumori Kyûsuke, Kimura Enji, Muraoka Kôji, Sakurada Jisuke, Shinoda Kinji and Tsuuchi Jihê.

PROGRAMS: July 2018 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, eastern and central provinces tours programs), August 2018 (Kabukiza, National Theatre), September 2018 (National Nô Theatre) and October 2018 (National Theatre).

OTHERS: 5 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; the pages on Bandô Hikosaburô II and Yamanaka Heikurô I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); a new illustration for the actor Bandô Yasosuke I; shimai has been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Hamazaki Isogorô and Katsuyama Matagorô.

PLAYS: "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Kadota Sorobê, Kema Nanboku and Kimura Enbu.

ACTORS LINES: Arashi Kangorô, Ichikawa Dangorô, Nakamura Kichigorô, Saigoku Hyôgorô and Tsuruya Nanboku.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Tsuruya Nanboku.

KABUKI VISUAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Gama.

STROLLING AROUND: Stars Hands 2012 (Jitsukawa).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Saigoku Hyôsuke.

PROGRAMS: June 2018 (details for the Kabukiza and National Theatre programs, Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre), July 2018 (Kabukiza), August 2018 (National Theatre, National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan) and September 2018 (Kabuki Tour in the western provinces).

OTHERS: 5 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Bandô Mitsugorô IX, Saigoku Hyôgorô I and Tsuruya Nanboku I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); a new illustration page for the actors Ichikawa Danjûrô III, Ikushima Shingorô, Saigoku Hyôgorô I and Tsuruya Nanboku I; hikosan gongen, hikosan jingû, kadozuke and kengô have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Fukuoka Yagoshirô, Ichinokawa Hikoshirô I, Ikushima Jûshirô and Miyazaki Jûshirô II.

PLAYS: "Nezumi Kozô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Fukuoka Yagoshirô.

ACTORS LINES: Miyazaki Jûshirô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Ikushima Tôgorô and Ikushima Tôzaburô.

PROGRAMS: May 2018 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre and Theatre Cocoon programs), June 2018 (Kabukiza), July 2018 (Shôchikuza, National Theatre) and August 2018 (Shinbashi Enbujô, Daimaru Shinsaibashi Gekijô).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 12 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 40 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Nakamura Noshio I and Nakamura Noshio II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); a new illustration for the dramas "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" and "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"; three pictures (picture 1; picture 2; picture 2) of the special celebration curtain in February 2018 at the Kabukiza for the for the shûmei of Matsumoto Hakuô II, Matsumoto Kôshirô X and Ichikawa Somegorô VIII; two pictures (picture 1; picture 2) of the special celebration curtain in April 2018 at the Misonoza for the shûmei of Matsumoto Hakuô II and Matsumoto Kôshirô X; a new picture for the Misonoza; asakusa okura, bokusha, hachiman, hachiman-jin, katanaya, nakamura jirokichi, nezumi kozô, shijimi, shijimi-uri, tomioka hachimangû and tsujiban have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Bandô Toyosaburô I, Jitsukawa Enzaburô II and Tamagawa Genzaburô.

PLAYS: "Yayoi no Hana Asakusa Matsuri".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Katsu Genzô III.

ACTORS LINES: Kataoka Gakusaburô, Nakamura Kichisaburô and Takenaka Hatsusaburô.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Katsu Genzô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Asao Tamesaburô, Hanagiri Tokusaburô and Takeshima Takisaburô.

PROGRAMS: April 2018 (Shôchikuza, Makuhari Messe, details for the Kabukiza and Kanamaruza programs), May 2018 (Misonoza, a flyer for the Kabukiza), June 2018 (National Theatre) and July 2018 (Kabuki Tours in the Eastern and Central Provinces).

OTHERS: 3 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration for the actors Anegawa Daikichi I, Asao Tamejûrô I, Fujikawa Hachizô I and Nakayama Shinkurô II; a new illustration for the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; a new illustration for the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; a new illustration page for the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi"; a new illustration page for the actors Sanogawa Hanazuma III and Yoshizawa Ayame III; the pages on the Kataoka Ainosuke and Kataoka Chôdayû lines of actors have been reworked (contents); aku, asakusa jinja, asuka jidai, ebisu, haji no nakatomo, hakusai, hinokuma hamanari, hinokuma takenari, jingû kôgô, kôrai, miyatogawa, ôjin tennô, shinra, takenouchi no sukune, tsûjin, yabo daijin, yakusha yoyo no tsugiki, yayoi and zen have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Mikuni Hikosaku II and Nanboku Sabu II.

PLAYS: "Ninin Sanbasô" and "Taikô Sanbasô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Kawatake Nôshin II.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Matsumoto Kôjaku.

ACTORS LINES: Mikuni Hikosaku and Nanboku Sabu.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Kasanui Sensuke and Katsu Hyôzô.

NI-NO-KAWARI: Ôsaka 1778 and Kyôto 1778.

PROGRAMS: March 2018 (Kanagawa Arts Theatre, details for the Kabukiza and National Theatre programs), April 2018 (Kabukiza), May 2018 (Kabukiza, Tango Bunka Kaikan) and June 2018 (Hakataza).

OTHERS: 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; 1 new nickname in the bilingual list of nicknames or common names; a new illustration for the actors Arashi Koroku II, Arashi Raishi I, Kagaya Kashichi I, Kasaya Matakurô II and Onoe Kikugorô II; a new illustration page for the actors Anegawa Kikuhachi, Anegawa Shinshirô III, Arashi Bungorô I, Arashi Kichisaburô I, Asao Tamejûrô I, Bandô Iwagorô, Mimasu Tokujirô I, Nakayama Bunshichi I, Nakayama Bunshichi II, Nakayama Shinkurô II, Nanboku Sabu I, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Yamashita Kamenojô IV; a new illustration page for the drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen"; the pages on Arashi Kiyosaburô I and Nanboku Sabu I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); aizamoto, chacha, daikôin, kita-no-mandokoro, kôdaiin, nene, shosadate, sugihara yasuko, taikô and yodo-dono, yodogimi, yodo-no-kata have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Ichimura Tamagashiwa I.

PLAYS: "Soga no Ishidan".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Ichioka Sadanori.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Matsumoto Kôemon and Matsumoto Kôzô.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Ichioka Washichi.

SOGAMONO: Nakamuraza 1778.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Ichimura Danzô.

PROGRAMS: February 2018 (Enjukai, details for the Kabukiza and Chûnichi Theatre programs), March 2018 (details for the Shungyô Special Tour), April 2018 (ROHM Theatre, Noda City Culture Center, details for the Shungyô Special Tour) and May 2018 (National Theatre, Cocoon Kabuki).

OTHERS: 7 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki play dictionary; two pictures (picture 1; picture 2) of the special celebration curtain in January 2018 at the Kabukiza for the for the shûmei of Matsumoto Hakuô II, Matsumoto Kôshirô X and Ichikawa Somegorô VIII; fujisan, ishidan, kariba, kewaizaka, kudô saemon suketsune, soga gorô tokimune, soga jûrô sukenari and tsurugaoka hachimangû have been added to the glossary.