2 shows in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 3 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre)!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Tomijûrô perform at the Minamiza!

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Kankurô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukusuke and the Omodakaya guild perform at the Kabukiza!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Shibajaku and Ichikawa Somegorô perform at the National Theatre

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danshirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Kataoka Shinnosuke

Ichikawa Ebizô celebrates his shûmei in Kyôto, playing the roles of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa and Sukeroku in the dramas "Shibaraku" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Kankurô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Shinjirô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Danjirô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Juen

A great December program, with a few classics, whose 2 highlights are:

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Somegorô

Revival of the short drama "Hana Fubuki Koi no Tekagami", commonly called "Chichi Morai" (literally "begging for mother’s milk"), written by the 19th century star Nakamura Utaemon III (under his pen name of Kanazawa Ryûgoku I): "this shows handsome young Kanô Shirojirô who prefers playing with courtesans to spending time with his wife Koyuki. In fact, he’s never slept with her. And he isn’t even ashamed to beg for money from her to pay his mountain of debts. But after she selflessly gives him money, unknown to him, she is abducted. Some months later, Shirojirô is given a baby to care for, because it will bring him some money. But in the Edo Period, it was very difficult for a man to raise a baby, because the only way to feed the baby was to find a woman with extra milk willing to feed the child. Shirojirô finds a woman who will feed the baby and discovers that it is Koyuki and that the baby is hers. This is an opportunity for Shirojirô to be very elaborately jealous before the riddle of the baby’s father and the identity of the man keeping Koyuki is revealed and everything ends happily." (from Earphone Guide website)