4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Makuhari Messe), 1 in Nagoya (Misonoza), 2 on Shikoku island (Kanamaruza) and 1 tour (Zenshinza)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô and Ichikawa Komazô perform at the Kabukiza!

Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô and Nakamura Baishi perform at the Misonoza !

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Kikaku, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Shûchô, Bandô Kamezô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Matsue, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Seiko, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Omezô, Onoe Ukon, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Onoe Sakon

The April Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Ten'ichibô: tales of wise magistrates are common in Asia and if China has Judge Dee, Japan has Ôoka, Lord of Echizen. Became popular as kôdan storytelling and have long been a staple of television. In the late 19th century, the success of these stories as kôdan inspired Kabuki versions, including this one, written by Kawatake Mokuami. In remote province of Kishû, there is an old wet nurse. Her daughter fell in love with the Shôgun Yoshimune and bore his child. The mother and child soon died, but the old wet nurse has a sword and document signed by the Shôgun. An evil priest (Ichikawa Ennosuke) learns her secret, kills her and takes the sword and document. He goes to Edo and poses as the son of Yoshimune under the name Ten'ichibô. He gathers an army of out of work samurai and collects money from supporters, all eager for advantage when Ten'ichibô becomes Shôgun. Ten'ichibô's plot seems unstoppable until he meets the wise magistrate Ôoka (Onoe Shôroku), Lord of Echizen. Featuring also Kataoka Ainosuke.

Arakawa no Sakichi: a modern classic by Mayama Seika, this play set in the late Edo period combines tears and laughter as it focuses on a gang member caught between the bitter territorial battles of the people around him, and his fierce determination to raise his child. Starring Ko9 and Matsumoto Hakuô in the roles of Arakawa no Sakichi and Sagamiya Masagorô. Featuring also Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun and Kataoka Takatarô.

Hototogisu Hana Aru Sato:
('A Cuckoo in a Field of Flowers')
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Nakamura Baigyoku) and his retainers are on their way from Daimotsu Bay to Mt. Yoshino, and rest here along the road to Yamato Province. Miyoshino (Nakamura Senjaku), a shirabyôshi court dancer, and Terukichi (Nakamura Matagorô), a puppet player, pass by. Each dances in a lively manner and comforts Yoshitsune. This is a lively dance accompanied by the Nagauta lyrical ensemble. Featuring also Nakamura Ganjirô as Washio Saburô.

Jiisan Baasan: based on a short story by Mori Ôgai, this modern play by Uno Nobuo shows a loving young couple. The samurai Iori travels to Kyôto with his lord, leaving Run, his beloved wife, behind. While there, he attacks another man in a fight over a sword and is forced into house arrest, separating him from his wife. Many years later, he returns to his home as an old man. There he meets an elderly woman and they do not recognize each other until she sees the one thing that has not changed with age, Iori's peculiar habit of putting his hand to his nose. Starring Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as Iori and Run. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku.

Omatsuri: the gallant commoners of Edo's neighborhoods loved nothing better than a festival, and this performance is a dance based on one of the biggest festivals in Edo. In this dance, a geisha appears on stage with a group of young men in a display of their 'Edo-style' spirit. The geisha, who has become a little tipsy, performs a beautiful and enticing dance, and caught up in her performance, the young festival goers put on a brilliant display as they all dance together. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the geisha.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Kangyoku, Kamimura Kichitarô

A Spring Kabuki program in Nagoya at the Misonoza. The same program is staged twice a day, at 12 and at 16.

Aioi Jishi: shishi (mythical lion-like spirits) are usually thought of as vigorous masculine creatures, but when shishi dances were first adapted for Kabuki from the classical Nô theatre, they were danced by actors portraying an elegant, feminine atmosphere. This dance is one of the earliest in the genre and stars onnagata female role specialists. Featuring Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Kangyoku.

Yuki: Onoe Kikunosuke appears as an Ôsaka courtesan named Soseki, expressing her feelings of loneliness after having been jilted by her lover and who has decided to become a nun. This jiuta dance is performed in a restrained chamber style.

Kabuki no Mikata: literally how to view Kabuki. A lively presentation by Nakamura Mantarô of some aspects of the art of Kabuki.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Onoe Kikunosuke) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Bandô Hikosaburô). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Nakamura Mantarô) take his place while he visits Hanako. He returns, giddy from a night of pleasure and tells his story to his servant in dance, unaware that his wife has discovered his deception and has taken his servant's place.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shidô, Hatsune Miku

The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collide for the 8th time in Kabuki history! Resulting from this spectacular collision, a new genre, the Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), was born in 2016 [more details]. Nakamura Shidô shares the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They perform "together" in the newly-created Chôkabuki drama "Towa no Hana Homare no Isaoshi". The choreography was made under the guidance of Fujima Kanjûrô VIII. It is staged at the Makuhari Messe as part of the Niconico Chôkaigi 2022 event, an important yearly event for the otaku tribes [dedicated website].

Arashi Yoshisaburô, Nakajima Kôtarô, Watarai Motoyuki

A March and April dance tour all over Japan for the Zenshinza troupe.

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Watarai Motoyuki) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Nakajima Kôtarô) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Arashi Yoshisaburô) 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

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The 36th edition of the Spring Kabuki performance Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai at the Kanamaruza on Shikoku Island has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis.