3 shows in Kyôto (ROHM Theatre, Shunjûza), 4 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre) and 1 in Nagoya (Chûnichi Theatre)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Hidetarô and Bandô Yajûrô perform at the ROHM Theatre!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the National Theatre

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Kamimura Kichiya, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Sawamura Sônosuke and Nakamura Baishi perform at the Kabukiza!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the Chûnichi Theatre!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Shinnosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke

The traditional kaomise in Kyôto. As the Minamiza is closed, it is staged at the ROHM Theatre. Nakamura Shikan VIII and his three sons celebrate their shûmei in this theater.

Soga no Taimen: this is one of the oldest and most classical of all Kabuki plays. In the Edo period, every January, plays appeared about the vendetta carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô after eighteen years of hardship. In "Soga no Taimen" the brothers confront Kudô Suketsune, the man responsible for their father's death. More ceremony than play, it features each of the important Kabuki character types, including the bombastic aragoto style of Gorô and the soft wagoto style of Jûrô. This month features a cast headed by Nakamura Baigyoku as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Nakamura Hashinosuke as Gorô and Nakamura Shichinosuke as Jûrô. Featuring also Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke as courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover), Kobayashi no Asahina, courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover), Ômi no Kotôta and Yawata no Saburô.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura: these are two scenes from one of the greatest classics of the puppet theatre, which has also become a classic of Kabuki. After the wars between the Genji and Heike clans, the Genji are victorious and their leader Yoritomo is now Shôgun. But there is a falling out between Yoritomo and his brother Yoshitsune, the brilliant general responsible for the victory. Now Yoshitsune is fleeing through the country and this play fancifully has him encounter several famous warriors from the Heike clan, who are not dead, as history has it. Yoshitsune (Kataoka Hidetarô) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Nakamura Shikan), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war, but in this play, Tomomori is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid (Nakamura Tokizô). At one moment the captain is a gallant commoner, but in the next, he is Tomomori, a high ranking general close to the emperor. His wife as well is a cheerful commoner who shows her true identity as a high-ranking lady-in-waiting in the magnificent robes of the imperial court. Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to get his revenge on Yoshitsune but is defeated again. Finally Tomomori holds a giant anchor and plunges into the sea. Featuring also Nakamura Ganjirô, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Kankurô in the roles of Sagami Gorô, Musashibô Benkei and Irie Tanzô.

Ninin Wankyû: the fabulously wealthy Wan'ya Kyûbê (nicknamed Wankyû) is disowned by his family for falling in love with the courtesan Matsuyama. Then, when she dies, he goes mad with grief and wanders through the countryside. This dance shows him as he imagines meeting Matsuyama again and there is a lively dance recalling their happiness together before the vision fades and he is left alone. Starring Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Wankyû and his son Kataoka Takatarô as Matsuyama.

Rôben Sugi no Yurai: this play deals with the legendary origins of the priest Rôben, one of the founders of the great Tôdaiji temple in Nara. Once as a farm woman was watching over her child, he was stolen away by a giant bird. She wandered for years looking for him and was driven mad by her desperate search. In the scene that will be presented, finally she comes to Tôdaiji where the head priest considers a certain tree very precious since that is where he was found as a child. A Buddhist priest took care of him and now he has risen to this great status. When she realizes that Rôben is none other than her long lost child, the mother recovers her senses and there is a happy reunion. Starring Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô as Rôben's mother and his son Nakamura Ganjirô as Rôben.

Niwaka Jishi: this lively dance evokes the atmosphere of an Edo period festival. The highlight of the piece is the lion dance performed by two of the handsome young men of the neighborhood. Featuring Nakamura Tokizô and Kataoka Takatarô as the geisha and Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke as the firefighters.

Bunshichi Mottoi: Chôbê spends his days and nights gambling, but is finally made aware of his family's problems when his daughter takes a job in the pleasure quarters. Having received the money for her contract, he shows his good side to save a young man on the edge of suicide after losing a large sum of money, but nobody believes Chôbê, thinking that he has gambled the money away. The performance stars Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Senjaku and Nakamura Shichinosuke in the roles of Chôbê, Chôbê's wife Okane and Bunshichi. This 5-star casting features also Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Kazutarô.

Ôeyama:
(The Demon of Mt. Ôe)
One of the most famous stories about demons is about Shuten Dôji, the demon of Mt. Ôe, who loved sake and terrorized Kyôto by kidnapping beautiful women and forcing them to serve him before he ate them. Finally, he is defeated by the famous demon-quelling warrior Minamoto no Raikô and his four followers. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as Shuten Dôji and Nakamura Shichinosuke as Raikô. Based on a classical Nô play, this is a dance that was created by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII. Also featuring Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ôtani Keizô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke

Revival of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" (commonly called "Ume no Yoshibê"), which was staged for the last time in September 1878 at the National Theatre. The zagashira is Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon.

Imayô Sanbasô: this is a dance adapted from a Nô play "Okina" which is performed to pray for world peace. The white banner of Minamoto clan which was dedicated to Hakone Gongen Shrine is stolen and young warriors look for it around the shrine. At midnight, they encounter a woman Soga no Ninomiya (Nakamura Jakuemon) holding the white banner. She begins to dance sanbasô and dedicate imayô (popular style of song at the end of the Heian era) at the shrine. She drives back the warriors who are going to seize her, brandishing the long white banner and at last, reveals her identity as Taira no Tadanori’s daughter, Princess Kisaragi.

Ume no Yoshibê: this play was written by Namiki Gohei, portraying a real person in the Edo era in Ôsaka though adapted to a chivalrous man in Edo (old name for Tôkyô). Umebori Yoshibê (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon), alias Ume no Yoshibê, who once served Mishima Haito, an important retainer of Chiba clan, is looking for the lost heirloom of Chiba clan of which Haito was in charge. With the aid of his old friend Shigaraki Kanjûrô (Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô), he also makes every effort to raise enough money to ransom Haito’s daughter Kosan (Nakamura Jakuemon) who ran away with Kanaya Kingorô (Nakamura Kinnosuke) who also served Chiba clan. He sees through the intrigue by Genbê (Nakamura Karoku) and his conspirators and examines it. Yoshibê’s wife Koume (Onoe Kikunosuke) secretly asks her brother Chôkichi (Onoe Kikunosuke), an apprentice of a rice dealer, to raise money to ransom Kosan. Yoshibê encounters Chôkichi whom he has never met a few days later at the side of the Sumida River and robs him of the money by killing him. Yoshibê makes up his mind to surrender to justice, then Koume tries to take over his guilt. Before she does so, he retrieves the heirloom by confronting Genbê and lets Kosan and Kingorô return to the service of Chiba clan.

Source: National Theatre

Nakamura Yonekichi

21st Training Recital at the National Theatre produced by the Organization for the Preservation of Kabuki. "Otanoshimi Zadankai" (literally "Enjoyable Roundtable Discussion") is a stage speech with Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô.

Jusshukô: Princess Yaegaki is mourning the death of his fiance Katsuyori, but as she burns incense in his memory, she notices the resemblance between the new gardener and her fiance's portrait. The gardener is in fact Katsuyori, who has entered the household of Yaegaki's father to regain the possession of a stolen family treasure, a famous helmet, with the help of Nureginu, a woman who also mourns for the man that died in the place of the real Katsuyori. Unfortunately, Yaegaki's father has also seen through the disguise and plans to kill Katsuyori. The role of Princess Yaegaki, one of the most important onnagata roles, is played by Nakamura Yonekichi.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Kamimura Kichiya, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichimura Takematsu, Nakamura Kamenojô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Onoe Sakon, Bandô Kamesaburô

The programs for the December Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza use the sanbusei tripartite system, which is mainly used in August.

Sanemori Monogatari: a play about the early days of the rivalry between the Genji and Heike warrior clans. The warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori (Kataoka Ainosuke) has been charged by the leaders of the dominant Heike clan with finding Aoi Gozen, the pregnant wife of the leader of the enemy Genji clan. He is to kill her child if it is a son who can succeed to head of the clan, but old loyalties to the Genji lead him to protect the boy. Sanemori tells the story of how Koman, the daughter of the old couple who is protecting Aoi Gozen, bravely fought to protect the sacred standard of the Genji from the Heike. Koman mysteriously comes back to life when her severed arm is rejoined to it. Featuring also Kataoka Kamezô as Senoo Jûrô.

Tsuchi-gumo: a dance play adapted from the classical Nô theatre. The samurai Lord Minamoto Raikô is famous in legend for ridding Kyôto of demons. While Raikô is confined to bed with illness, a priest (Onoe Shôroku) from a prominent temple comes to pray for his health. In fact, the priest is actually the spirit of the earth spider which has caused Raikô's illness in the first place and hopes to destroy him. The spider's plan to kill Raikô is defeated by his retainers (the famous shitennô) in an exciting fight. Featuring Bandô Hikosaburô as Raikô.

Rakuda: this is a popular dramatization of a rakugo comic story. A petty gang boss named Rakuda (Kataoka Kamezô) has died after eating blowfish. Hanji, one of his gang members, finds him and hopes to bury him, but has no money. When he tries to get the neighbors to contribute, everyone is overjoyed that such a nuisance is dead, but won't contribute a cent towards his burial. Finally Hanji pulls in a passing waste paper collector named Kyûroku (Ichikawa Chûsha) and forces him to carry around Rakuda's body and threaten to make it dance if the neighbors won't pay up. They get a great sum of money and start drinking together. But as he drinks, the hapless Kyûroku becomes surprisingly aggressive. Featuring also Kataoka Ainosuke.

Ranpei Monogurui: in order to recover a treasure, Ranpei claims to go mad at the sight of a sword. But he is unmasked and the play ends with one of the most spectacular fight scenes in Kabuki including a struggle on top of a high ladder held up on the hanamichi runway. Starring Onoe Shôroku as Ranpei, a role closely associated with the Onoe Shôroku line.

Mabuta no Haha:
(The Remembered Mother)
first performed in 1931, "Mabuta no Haha" is a play by Hasegawa Shin (1884~1963), who specialized in gritty realistic representations of the lower classes in the Edo period. Banba no Chûtarô (Ichikawa Chûsha) is a rough gangster, but has always regretted not knowing his mother (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô). After helping a friend and his mother, he decides to search for his own. He believes to have found her in Ohama, the mistress of a restaurant, but she refuses to acknowledge him to protect the reputation of her daughter, who is about to be married. Unable to meet his mother, he closes his eyes and tries to imagine her as the beautiful woman he remembers, not the horror of reality.

Yôkihi: this is a rare performance of a play by Osaragi Jirô, the novelist most famous for the Robin Hood-like character Kurama Tengu. The play was originally written for a Shinpa troupe and dramatizes one of the most famous incidents in Chinese history. Yang Guifei (Yôkihi in Japanese) was a beautiful woman from a humble family who became the mistress of the Tang emperor. His love for her was such that the entire empire nearly crumbled. The play focuses on Yôkihi's rise and her relationship with the young court official that loves her, first brings her to the emperor and serves her faithfully as a court eunuch. Finally he begs to be the one to kill her when rebellion and a coup d'etat threaten the empire. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of Yôkihi. Featuring also Ichikawa Chûsha.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Fujikawa Yanosuke, Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Tadamura Shin'ya, Matsunami Kihachirô, Tamaura Yûnosuke

Special performances of the Zenshinza troupe in Nagoya at the Chûnichi Theatre. This theater will stop its activities at the end of March 2018 as it is located inside the Chûnichi Building, which will be destroyed and rebuilt due to its old age. The kôjô is about the old performances of the Zenshinza in this theater.

Ayatsuri Sanbasô:
(The Puppet Sanbasô)
The Sanbasô is part of the ritual Nô play "Okina", a prayer for prosperity and in Kabuki the vigorous Sanbasô dance is often performed separately. To make the dance especially auspicious, the old man Okina and attendant Senzai appear as well. In Kabuki, the Sanbasô dance appears in all kinds of versions. In this particular version, the Sanbasô is actually a giant marionette, dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer.

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 line-up assemble to evocate memories of performances in Nagoya at the Chûnichi Theatre.

Bunshichi Mottoi: Chôbê spends his days and nights gambling, but is finally made aware of his family's problems when his daughter takes a job in the pleasure quarters. Having received the money for her contract, he shows his good side to save a young man on the edge of suicide after losing a large sum of money, but nobody believes Chôbê, thinking that he has gambled the money away. The performance stars Fujikawa Yanosuke, Kawarasaki Kunitarô and Tadamura Shin'ya in the roles of Chôbê, Chôbê's wife Okane and Bunshichi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

A short Buyô program with 4 young Kabuki actors and Buyô dancers, under the supervision of the dance master Fujima Kanjûrô VIII and Ichikawa Ennosuke.