9 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô, Theatre Cocoon), 2 in Kyôto (Minamiza, Shunjûza), 2 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan) and 1 in Hokuto (Megami-no-Mori)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Ichikawa Chûsha and Bandô Minosuke perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Shidô and Hatsune Miku perform at the Minamiza!

All the others great Kabuki actors are on vacation ...

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Somegorô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Ichikawa Danko

The usual summer program at the Kabukiza! It is entitled Hachigatsu Nôryô Kabuki (literally "the August cool-breeze Kabuki").

Meiboku Sendai Hagi: this play is about the attempt to take over one of the most famous samurai households in the Edo period, the Date clan ruling Sendai, a scandal that caused a sensation in its day. After the death of the lord of the clan, his young heir is the target of villains. Masaoka (Nakamura Shichinosuke), the boy's nurse is desperately afraid that he will be poisoned. She refuses to let anyone see him who might try to assassinate him and attempts to keep him safe in the women's quarters where men are forbidden. She even fixes his meal in her quarters using her delicate tea ceremony implements to cook rice. The plotting faction does not give up, though, and sends poison in the form of candy as a present from the Shôgun. Masaoka's son Senmatsu sacrifices his life for the young lord by eating the poisoned candy, and when he is killed by the evil Yashio (Matsumoto Kôshirô), Masaoka thinks only of protecting her lord. Her fierce devotion to duty convinces the plotters that she is on their side. Masaoka's actions help save the young lord, and only when she is alone can she grieve for her son. As another faithful retainer Otokonosuke (Bandô Minosuke), stands guard underneath the room, the evil Nikki Danjô (Matsumoto Kôshirô) appears as a giant rat, but then slips away, walking calmly through the clouds. Featuring also Nakamura Kotarô (Okinoi) and Nakamura Senjaku (Sakae Gozen).

Yami no Ume Hyaku Monogatari:
(The Game of a Hundred Lights)
This is a dance drama based on a popular game in former times to light one hundred lanterns and tell ghost stories. At the conclusion of each story a light was extinguished. When the last remaining lantern was extinguished a real ghost, it was believed, would appear. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as skeleton/a peddler of commercial news-sheet by reading it aloud, Nakamura Senjaku as the snow fairy, Bandô Shingo as the maid servant Shiraume and Bandô Yajûrô as Ôuchi Yoshihirô.

Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige: "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige", also known as "Yaji Kita" after its two main protagonists Yajirobê (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and Kitahachi (Ichikawa Ennosuke), is a famous comic novel written in the Edo period. It has often been adapted as Kabuki and has always been a popular and humorous story reflecting the contemporary topics of the age. This is the third work in a series of popular plays first staged in 2016. Many incidents happened to them along the great Tôkaidô Highway as they were heading from Edo city to the Ise Shrine. Once, Yaji and Kita were blown all the way to Las Vegas by a whale. Somehow, they got back to Edo city and then worked as black-robed stagehands at the Kabukiza. There they even solved a murder case in the theatre, but they blundered onto the stage again and again and, as ever, were scolded. Now, once more, they set off on a journey through Japan for the Ise Shrine, but what will happen to them this time?! Featuring also Nakamura Shichinosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Minosuke and Ichikawa Monnosuke.

Yukinojô Henge: this is a historical novel written in 1934 by Mikami Otokichi which has been adapted for the cinema and the theatre several times. The story first takes place in the latter half of the Edo period. Matsuuraya Seizaemon, the top shipping agent in Nagasaki, was loved by the local people for his gentle personality. However, duped by the Nagasaki magistrate Dobe Sansai (Ichikawa Chûsha) and Hiromiya Tôbê, he meets a tragic end. His son Yukitarô leaves Nagasaki promising to avenge his death. Twenty years later in Edo, Yukitarô has studied under the master Nakamura Kikunojô (Ichikawa Chûsha), and has become tremendously popular as the leading actor Nakamura Yukinojô (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) who specialises in female roles. To avenge his father’s death, he learns the secrets of swordsmanship from his master Wakita Isshôsai (Ichikawa Chûsha). Sansai’s daughter Lady Namiji, who is much favoured by the Shôgun, sees Yukinojô on stage and is captivated. Taking advantage of this, Yukinojô drinks alone with her so as to get close to Sansai, the man who caused his father to die in agony. Featuring also Nakamura Shichinosuke in the role of Akizora Hoshisaburô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku

A special Chôkabuki program in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 5th time in Kabuki history (for the first time in a major Kabuki theater)! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), which combines Kabuki with advanced ICT technology, was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. The main program will is staged either once or twice. The limited edition is staged the 4th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 21st and 23rd of August in the afternoon at 15:30 (4th, 12th, 16th, 21st) or in the evening at 18:00 (7th, 9th, 19th, 23rd).

Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Umemaru, Nakamura Umezô, Nakamura Umeno, Nakamura Umeaki, Nakamura Umetoshi

1st edition of the Takasago Gala for the disciples of Nakamura Baigyoku in the Takasagoya guild.

Ichikawa Tsutanosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Umemaru, Ichikawa Aragorô, Onoe Otoichirô

2nd edition of the Tsuta no Kai (literally "the Ivy Association"), which stars Ichikawa Tsutanosuke.

21st edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association'). The first three items in this program are only music performances. The last one, "Koi no Odamaki", is performed by Nakamura Jakuemon's three disciples Nakamura Kyôtae, Nakamura Kyôsumi and Nakamura Kyôyuki.

25th edition of the common program for 2 associations, the Chigyokai (the Young Fishes Association) and the Kabukikai (the Kabuki Association), which stars stars' disciples in the leading roles of all the items in the program under the guidance of Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shikan and Bandô Yajûrô.

Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Umemaru, Bandô Kamesaburô

5th edition of the Ken no Kai, which stars Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon. Ken no Kai literally means 'Ken's Association' with Ken being the first ideogram in Onoe Ukon's real first name Kensuke.

Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Yûjirô, Kataoka Rikiya, Kataoka Tôjûrô, Kataoka Toshiya, Kataoka Tôkichirô, Nakamura Kansei

The 5th gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan, which stars mostly disciples of the Matsushimaya guild. Sora no Kai literally means "Sky Association". These performances are entitled Abeno Kabuki (Abeno is the name of a famous district in Ôsaka). Katsu Genzô II's rarely-produced 1877 drama "Higo no Komageta" is staged under the guidance of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Hidetarô and the furitsuke Yamamura Tomogorô III. This drama was staged for the last time in June 1952 at the Nakaza.

29th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles under the guidance of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô and Kataoka Hidetarô.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Jukô, Ichikawa Suisen, Ichikawa Botan

A sandai shûmei for the Ichikawa-ryû school of Buyô in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon. Ichikawa Kôbai II, the daughter of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI and sister of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII, takes the name of Ichikawa Jukô. Ichikawa Botan III, the daughter of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII and sister of Ichikawa Ebizô XI, takes the name of Ichikawa Suisen IV. Horikoshi Reika, the daughter of Ichikawa Ebizô XI, takes the name of Ichikawa Botan IV. The dance masters Fujima Kanjûrô VIII, Onoe Kikunojô III, Hanayagi Juraku III and Nishikawa Minosuke will also perform in "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji".

Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

1st edition of the Kudanji Hiromatsu no Kai, a gala which stars Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu. The first item in the program, "Kaki Yamabushi" (The Persimmon Thief), is a Kyôgen supervised by the kyôgenshi Shigeyama Ippei. The second item is a 3-act dance-drama including "Chô no Michiyuki" and "Shakkyô".

Onoe Matsuya, Onoe Matsumushi, Onoe Otoichirô, Ichikawa Tsutanosuke, Onoe Tokumatsu, Onoe Takamatsu

1st edition of a gala entitled Hyakka Ryôran, literally a gathering of many talented people, in Hokuto (Yamanashi Prefecture) at the Megami-no-Mori Central Garden. The first item in the program is a talk on stage (Kobuchisawa is the name of the district where Megami-no-Mori was built).