2 shows in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 4 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô)!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato & Ichikawa Chûsha perform at the Minamiza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Shôroku & Bandô Hikosaburô perform at the Kabukiza!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Somegorô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô & Ichikawa En'ya perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Kikaku, Kataoka Shinnosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Toranosuke

The traditional kaomise in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Danko, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Kamezô, Kamimura Kichiya, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Ichimura Takematsu, Nakamura Tamatarô, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Ichimura Hikaru, Nakamura Haruki, Nakamura Natsuki, Sawamura Kiyoshirô, Onoe Kikushirô, Onoe Kikuichirô

The December Grand Kabuki in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza. Sawamura Tôjûrô's heyago Sawamura Kuniya takes the name of Sawamura Kiyoshirô II.

Arashi no Yoru ni: it is a series of picture books written by Kimura Yûichi. The first edition was published in 1994. As many people wanted to read a sequel to the story, it lasted to the seventh volume and became a best seller. More than 3,000,000 books have been sold. It became so popular that it has been turned into a game and made into plays. In 2005, it was made into an animated movie (the voice for the main character Gabu was supplied by Nakamura Shidô) by Sugii Gisaburô, an esteemed movie producer in the animation industry. On the night of a storm, a wolf Gabu (Nakamura Shidô) and a goat Mei (Onoe Kikunosuke) encounters in a mountain hut in pitch darkness by chance. They talk through night not knowing their identity and become friends. They determine their password as 'On the night of a storm' and promise to meet again. They are shocked when they meet again, but they nurture friendship keeping it secret to their each group. But their friendship is at last known to both groups and meets with violent opposition. The two are pushed to the edge... Featuring also Onoe Shôroku, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Kamezô and Ichikawa Monnosuke.

Kagatobi: this is a sewamono play, a work portraying in a realistic way the lives of ordinary people in the Edo period. A big fight has broken out over a trivial matter between the firemen of Kaga Domain and the fire fighters under the direct control of the Edo shogunate. All the firemen of Kaga including Matsuzô of Hikage-chô (Nakamura Kankurô) gather at the town gate of Hongô to beat the fire fighters of the Edo shogunate, but Umekichi of Tenjin-chô (Onoe Shôroku) persuades his impetuous colleagues to withdraw. A masseur Takegaki Dôgen (Onoe Shôroku) kills the farmer Tajiemon at the embankment of Ochanomizu and steals the money he possessed. Matsuzô, who has happened to pass by, picks up a tobacco pouch which Dôgen dropped. Dôgen hears that his niece Oasa (Nakamura Tsurumatsu) received money from the Iseya pawn shop where she is an apprentice, and thinks of extortion. He visits Iseya with his lover Okane (Nakamura Jakuemon), a masseuse, and tries to extort 100 gold coins. But Matsuzô shows the tobacco pouch to Dôgen and they scuttle off. Finally, his evil deeds are discovered and pursuers are sent after him. In the end he is arrested before the front gate of the mansion of the Kaga Domain. Enjoy the speeches in seven-five syllabic meter which is typical of the playwright Kawatake Mokuami, as well as how a single actor plays both Umekichi and Dôgen. Featuring also Nakamura Shidô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Omezô, Nakamura Matsue and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

Sagi Musume: one of the most famous dances in Kabuki, this figure is familiar through pictures and Japanese dolls. A beautiful young woman all in white appears in the snowy landscape. She dances lightly of love, but then reveals that she is the spirit of a bird, a magnificent heron that struggles wounded through a snowstorm. Starring onnagata superstar Nakamura Shichinosuke in a dance that he has made famous through performances around the world.

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

Tenshu Monogatari: Izumi Kyôka's "Tenshu Monogatari" creates the romantic and fantastic atmosphere for which the playwright is famous. Princess Tomi (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô), a mysterious immortal spirit in Himeji Castle, lives in an elegant feminine world of her own at the top of the castle tower. But an encounter with the handsome young warrior Zushonosuke (Ichikawa Danko) brings her into the world of human beings and she is moved to sacrifice all to help him. Featuring also Nakamura Shichinosuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô and Kamimura Kichiya.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Somegorô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ôtani Hirotarô, Sawamura Sônosuke

A brand new genre was born in the Kabuki world in 2015: After Kabuki, Shinkabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki II and Roppongi Kabuki (Sci-Fi Kabuki), we got Kabuki NEXT. The first Kabuki NEXT drama was "Aterui", which was written by Nakajima Kazuki for Ichikawa Somegorô VII. It was staged for the first time in August 2002 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, starring Ichikawa Somegorô with a non-Kabuki cast. In 2002, it was not a Kabuki or a Kabuki NEXT production. In 2015, it was revised to become the first Kabuki NEXT drama in Kabuki history, with a full Kabuki cast. It was staged in July 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô and in October 2015 at the Shôchikuza. The second Kabuki NEXT drama, "Oboro no Mori-ni Sumu Oni" is also written by Nakajima Kazuki and it is directed by Inoue Hidenori.