6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre), 2 in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 2 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan)!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kotarô and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Minamiza!

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

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke

Not the usual summer program at the Kabukiza, which used to be entitled Hachigatsu Nôryô Kabuki (literally "the August cool-breeze Kabuki"). The first Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Renjishi: 2 entertainers dance a tale of the legendary shishi or lion-like spirits that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. There is a comic interlude with 2 Buddhist pilgrims. Then, the shishi themselves appear and perform their dance with wild shaking of their long manes. The dance shows a parent shishi forcing his cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. This theme is often associated with the training a parent actor gives his son. This performance features Ai6 in the role of the parent shishi and Kazu1 in the role of the cub. Featuring also Hashi4 and Ut4.

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Sen3) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Mi2) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Kan6) into demonstrating his skill at stick fighting, tying him to the stick. The master then ties up Tarôkaja as well. But he is outsmarted when the two still manage to drink his wine while tied up. Their happy singing and dancing while tied up is a dazzling display of virtuoso dancing and star two of the finest young dancers in Kabuki.

Yoshinoyama: a dance travel scene from the epic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Now in exile and disgrace, Yoshitsune has left his lover Shizuka in the safekeeping of his trusted retainer Tadanobu. But she is unaware that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox who has disguised himself to be near the treasured drum that Shizuka carries, a drum made from the skins of his fox parents. Starring En4 as Tadanobu, with Shichi2 as Shizuka. Featuring also En2 as Hayami no Tôta.

Genjidana: Yosaburô (Ko10) fell in love with Otomi (Ko6) the moment he first saw her on the beach. Otomi was the mistress of a powerful gangster and, when their relationship was discovered, Yosaburô was cut from head to toe and the two were dumped into the sea. Otomi lived and was taken in by a rich merchant (Chu9). Yosaburô, who is now covered with scars, turns into a petty thief and extortionist but one day, finds that the woman he is about to blackmail is none other than Otomi, alive and well. Featuring also Ya1 and Kame4.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Kyôto at the Minamiza. There is a mix of video projection (with video sequences coming from the high-quality Shinema Kabuki, "Cinema Kabuki") and real dancing on stage. Program A is staged from the 1st to the 13th of August. Program B is staged from the 15th to the 26th of August.

22nd edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association'). The first two items in this program are only music performances. The last one, "Nozaki-mura", is performed by young supporting actors.

26th 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.

Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju

The 6th 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).

30th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles.