2 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza), 2 on Shikoku island (Kanamaruza) and 2 tours (Yôshun Special Tour, Shungyô Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Kotarô and Onoe Ukon perform at the Kabukiza!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Kanamaruza!

The Nakamuraya brothers Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke are on the Yôshun Special Tour and the Shungyô Special Tour!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Kotarô, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Ôtani Keizô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichikawa Otora, Onoe Maholo, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Baika, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Bandô Kamesaburô, Nakamura Hidenosuke

The April Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Hikimado: originally written for the puppet theater, this play shows a tragedy of commoners caught between their duty and their feelings toward their loved ones. A sumô wrestler named Nuregami Chôgorô (Onoe Shôroku) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku) has been ordered to arrest him. All of these complicated conflicts are symbolized by the lightness and darkness created by the humble skylight (hikimado in Japanese) as a rope is pulled to move a wooden shutter. Featuring also Nakamura Senjaku in the role of Ohaya.

Shichi Fukujin:
(The Seven Gods of Good Fortune)
A treasure ship on which the Seven Gods of Good Fortune pose appears on the waves. They get excited after toasting again and again. They portray a courtesan and her lover in the pleasure quarters in dance and then dance praying for peace across the land. Featuring 7 young actors.

Natsu Matsuri: this grisly murder story became a smashing hit when it was first performed in 1745 because of the chivalrous spirit of the many Ôsaka characters appearing in this story, the contrast between a brutal murder and the jovial mood of a summer festival, and the splashing of real water used on the stage. Danshichi, a gallant fishmonger, does everything he can to protect the weak young son of his patron with the help of his companion Tokubê and the older Sabu. Although even Tokubê's wife Otatsu heroically helps out, in the end, Danshichi is betrayed by his evil father-in-law Giheiji and, in the most famous scene of the play, must kill him in a mud-covered fight in a lonely alley with the shouts of the local festival nearby. This program stars Kataoka Ainosuke as Danshichi, with Onoe Kikunosuke, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Arashi Kitsusaburô and Kataoka Ainosuke as Issun Tokubê, Tsuribune Sabu, Mikawaya Giheiji and Otatsu.

Dote no Oroku/Kimon no Kihê: this is a play written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, and these scenes in particular reflect the decadence and corruption found in the underbelly of ordinary society at that time. The scenes portray two outwardly charming characters who are filled with wickedness. There are several typical role types that appear in Kabuki, and akuba (wicked lady) is one of them. Oroku is an akuba and although beautiful, she is truly wicked. Trying to extort 100 gold coins, Oroku and her husband Kimon no Kihê visit a pawnshop carrying the dead body of Oroku's brother. The two insist that her brother died from an injury he incurred in a quarrel with its apprentice. However, the dead body suddenly becomes conscious and the extortion ends in failure. Although disappointed, the two leave the pawnshop without flinching in the slightest. Starring Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon in the roles of Oroku and Kihê. Featuring also Nakamura Kinnosuke and Bandô Hikosaburô.

Kanda Matsuri:
(The Kanda Festival)
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 (Kanda Matsuri). In this dance, a gallant fireman (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) and a geisha (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) appear on stage and display their 'Edo-style' spirit. In the end, a young man comes out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Shiki: this dance portrays the four seasons in Japan beautifully. Paper dolls representing a happy couple in spring, the emotional dance of a young proprietor and others against the background of giant bonfires on the mountainside in summer, a young wife who thinks of her husband in autumn, as a poem by Li Po describes, as well as whirling leaves in a cold wind in winter. Featuring Nakamura Shikan, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kotarô and Bandô Kamezô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Kikaku, Matsumoto Kingo, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Kichinojô

The 37th edition of the Spring Kabuki performance Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai at the Kanamaruza on Shikoku Island. The 36th edition was expected to happen in April 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 crisis, it has been cancelled a few times. In April 2020, Matsumoto Hakuô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô X were supposed to celebrate their shûmei at the Kanamaruza. Due to all these cancellations, in April 2023, it is not a shûmei program but Matsumoto Kôshirô is on the Kanamaruza stage.

Numazu: a dramatization of one of the most famous historical vendattas of the Edo period. "Numazu" is one act that tells of the sacrifices of those not directly involved in the vendetta itself but members of the same family who are indebted to the two opposing sides. The kimono merchant Jûbê (Matsumoto Kôshirô) meets a porter Heisaku (Nakamura Ganjirô) as he travels west on business. They find that not only are they long-separated father and son, but that they also lie on opposite sides of the vendetta. Their loyalties prevent them from openly acknowledging their relationship. Heisaku sacrifices his life to get information from his son essential to his side's cause. Featuring Nakamura Kazutarô in the role of Heisaku's daughter Oyone.

Hagoromo: the legend of the angel who came to earth to bathe and then had her heavenly feathered robe stolen by a fisherman is famous in all forms of Japanese theater. This month features an elegant dance version of the story with Ichikawa Somegorô as the fisherman and Nakamura Jakuemon as the angel.

Yushima no Kakegaku: Oshichi was a grocer's daughter who fell in love with a temple page named Kichisaburô when her family took refuge in a temple after a fire. She so wanted to see him that she set a fire, even though the penalty for arson was death. The story of Oshichi is famous in many theatrical versions, but this particular one features the antics of the middle-aged man Beniya Chôbê (commonly called Benchô) who is in love with her. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Benchô, Nakamura Kazutarô as Oshichi and Ichikawa Somegorô as Kichisaburô.

Yoshiwara Suzume: in this dance, a husband and wife come to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters to sell caged sparrows for a ceremony to gain Buddhist merit by releasing living things. Caged sparrows were also images for the courtesans of the pleasure quarters, and the two dance a romantic meeting between a courtesan and her lover, showing the lively and erotic atmosphere of the pleasure quarters. Starring Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Jakuemon and Matsumoto Kôshirô as a male bird seller, a female bird seller and a bird catcher (in reality a samurai practicing falconry).

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô

A Spring Tour of the Nakamuraya guild with performances in 6 venues.

Tôku Kônâ: Literally 'Talk Corner'. A speech on stage with Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke.

Tsuru Kame: the crane (tsuru) is said to live for a thousand years, the tortoise (kame) is said to live for ten thousand years. Together, they are a traditional symbol of longevity. There is no particular plot to this play, but simply shows a visit by the empress to the Moon Pavilion where two courtiers dance as the spirits of the crane and tortoise. Starring disciples of the Nakamuraya guild.

Bukaku Setsugekka: a modern series of dances featuring Nakamura Shichinosuke as the spirit of the cherry blossoms ("Sakura"), Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kantarô and Cho3 as autumn insects under the full moon ("Matsumushi") and Nakamura Kankurô as a snowman ("Yuki Daruma Goyomi").

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Sanzaemon, Nakamura Ichô, Sawamura Kunihisa, Nakamura Nakasuke, Nakamura Nakanosuke, Nakamura Nakaji

The 5th edition of the Spring Tour of the Nakamuraya guild with performances in 15 venues. There is a website dedicated to this tour.

Tôku Kônâ: Literally 'Talk Corner'. A speech on stage with Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke.

Wakazuru Irodori Kisô Sato Geshiki: a gorgeous and lively production directed by the Nakamuraya guild and based on "Niwaka Jishi". It evokes the atmosphere of an Edo period festival in Yoshiwara with stylish Edo people. Featuring Sawamura Kunihisa, Nakamura Nakasuke, Nakamura Nakanosuke and Nakamura Nakaji.

Bukaku Gojôbashi: this is a dance play originally written for the actor Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII. Hearing the rumor that Ushiwakamaru (Nakamura Tsurumatsu) is slaying many people every night at Gojô Bridge, his mother Tokiwa Gozen (Nakamura Shichinosuke) tells him to stop killing or she will disown him. However, she forgives him when he tells her that he is striving to excel at the military arts in order to restore of the Genji clan. One night, he encounters Benkei (Nakamura Kankurô) on Gojô Bridge, and Ushiwakamaru knocks him down with his sword. Impressed by his strength and skill, Benkei finally swears allegiance to Ushiwakamaru.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website