7 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Hikifune Culture Center, National Nô Theatre), 3 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre, National Bunraku Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan) and 1 tour (Succession Announcement Tour)!

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

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku and Ichikawa Danjûrô are on tour Succession Announcement Tour!

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

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kotarô, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Kataoka Kamezô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Seiko, Sawamura Sônosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Baika, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô

The August Young Actors Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza.

Yûrei Kasha:
(Rent a Ghost)
Yamamoto Shûgorô (1903~1967) is known for his touching stories of nameless commoners in the Edo period striving to live meaningful lives against impossible odds. But this particular story is an outrageous comedy about Yaroku (Bandô Minosuke), a barrel maker who is so lazy that his loving wife Okane (Bandô Shingo) leaves him until he decides to work. But one day, a sexy, vengeful ghost named Someji (Nakamura Kotarô) falls in love with him. They spend night after night drinking together, but finally, to make ends meet, they decide to start a business renting out vengeful ghosts, which is when Yaroku's troubles really begin. Also featuring Nakamura Kankurô and Bandô Yajûrô in the roles of Matazô and Heisaku.

U no Tonosama:
(The Cormorant Lord)
This is a humorous dance drama concerning cormorant fishing in summer in Nagara River. A lord (Ichikawa Somegorô) enjoys dancing with his ladies-in-waiting to stave off the summer heat. As the heat will not let up, he summons his servant Tarôkaja (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and tells him to talk about ukai ('cormorant fishing') in his home village to distract him from the weather. When the lord asks him to demonstrate the act of cormorant fishing, Tarôkaja coaches his master in the role of the cormorant as a way of getting back at him for being pushed about.

Kamiyui Shinza: Shinza is a barber that goes from door to door, but at the same time, he is a villain that kidnaps Okuma, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy household, and even resists the efforts of Yatagorô Genshichi, the most prestigious strongman in town, to get her release. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as Shinza, Matsumoto Kôshirô as Yatagorô Genshichi, Nakamura Tsurumatsu as Okuma, Nakamura Shichinosuke as Chûshichi, Bandô Yajûrô as the landlord Chôbê and Nakamura Senjaku as Otsune.

Benikan: in the late Edo period, Beniya Kanbê (Benikan for short), a peddler of cosmetics, traveled through the streets of Asakusa and the Yoshiwara pleasure district performing with a shamisen made of a broomstick for the neck, a round sieve for the body of the instrument and the paddle used to scoop rice for the plectrum. He also had a drum and gong tied to his waist and played light, entertaining music on his unusual instrument. This dance recreates the figure of Benikan (Nakamura Hashinosuke) and features young actors as a variety of the colorful peddlers to be seen around Asakusa selling fans, morning glories and insects.

Kitsunebana:
(The Equinox Flower)
A mystery story by Kyôgoku Natsuhiko, the top-rated mystery author of modern Japan! This play is set in the Edo period. Oyô (Nakamura Shichinosuke), a maid working in the mansion of Kôzuki Kenmotsu (Nakamura Kankurô), the commissioner of buildings, is so afraid of the man who often appears before her eyes that she has taken to her bed, seemingly suffering from a fatal disease. The man, named Haginosuke (Nakamura Shichinosuke), dresses in kimono dyed crimson with a design of spider lilies (equinox flowers), and such is the eerie beauty of his face that he seems like a man who should not exist in this world. Meanwhile, Kenmotsu, upon learning of the young man's appearance, becomes wary, suspecting that this commotion might be related to his own past misdeeds. To unravel the ghostly situation filled with numerous mysteries, Chûzenji Jûsai (Matsumoto Kôshirô), the guard of Musashi Seimei Shrine who lives by exorcising evil spirits, is invited to Kenmotsu's mansion.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

26th edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association'). The first 3 items in this program are only musical performances.

30th 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 supervision of Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Hikosaburô and the dance master Fujima Kanjûrô VIII.

Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Sakon, Nomura Yûki

9th edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. The long-time NHK announcer Kasai Seiji is the guest in charge of all the talking.

Ninin Sanbasô: the sanbasô is an auspicious dance based on the ritual play "Okina" in the classical Nô theater which shows an old man as a symbol of longevity and the energetic sanbasô as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. Starring Nakamura Takanosuke and the kyôgenshi Nomura Yûki in a special double version with two sanbasô instead of one.

Biwa hikigatari: a biwa recital with Nagasu Tomoka

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Nakamura Kinnosuke) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Onoe Sakon) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Nakamura Takanosuke) 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.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Tôkichirô, Nakamura Kansei, Kataoka Yûjirô, Kataoka Rikiya, Kataoka Toshiya, Kataoka Sentarô, Kataoka Aijirô, Nakamura Gandai

The 10th gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan, which stars mostly disciples of the Matsushimaya guild. These performances are entitled Abeno Kabuki (Abeno is the name of a famous district in Ôsaka). Two performances each day, one at 12:00 and one at 17:00. Under the supervision of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and the dance master Yamamura Tomogorô III.

34th 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 supervision of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô, the dance masters Yamamura Tomogorô III and Umemoto Senshô III.

Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Ichikawa Seiko, Onoe Maholo, Onoe Kikusaburô

8th edition of the Ken no Kai, a 2-day 4-performance gala in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre starring 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. The Ken no Kai is also held the 4th and the 5th of September in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details].

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Kangyoku

A special tour celebrating the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII with performances in 18 cities.

Iwau Narita Shibai no Nigiwai: The gallant commoners of Edo's neighborhoods loved nothing better than a festival. In this dance, two tobigashira (Ichikawa Udanji/Ichikawa Kudanji), a geisha (Ôtani Hiromatsu) and a shibai jaya owner (Kataoka Ichizô) dance together in joy with a festive mood to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. In this case, all the actors of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.

Kôchiyama: the tea priest Kôchiyama (Ichikawa Danjûrô) is a skilled thief and extortionist, but cannot turn down a request to help those in need. He disguises himself as a high-ranking priest to try to gain the freedom of a girl held by a powerful samurai lord (Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku) because she will not become his mistress. Using the famous poetic cadences of the late 19th century playwright Mokuami, Kôchiyama not only succeeds in his mission to rescue the girl, but he manages to extort a fair amount for himself. Featuring also Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu and Nakamura Kangyoku.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Umeno, Tsurusawa Hanji

1st edition of the Enishi no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Umeno and the musician Tsurusawa Hanji. It is staged in Tôkyô at the Hikifune Culture Center (Hikifune Bunka Sentâ), a venue in the Sumida WardThe first item in this program is a stage speech about the enchantment of the art of Gidayû.