Japanese words are romanized according to the Hepburn system most of the times, using carets (instead of macrons) on long vowels. From the 31st of January 2015, we decided to get rid of an old anomaly: names like Tokubei, Chôbei, Gombei or Sôbei are now written Tokubê, Chôbê, Gonbê or Sôbê within kabuki21.com.

The Japanese names of all Kabuki actors (stage/real names) or of all roles have retained traditional Japanese order (surname first, given name last) on kabuki21.com - we will never use the Western order (given name- surname).

We use Roman numerals for the line number of a Kabuki actor. It is quite unbelievable, isn't it ?

Photographs, prints, illustrations and texts: I have tried to give credits and to display copyrights for most of the images and texts used on kabuki21.com and integrated within this website. If I have missed yours - please let me know ! (check the Contact page). My intent is to give proper credit to all parties. This is an amateur project, not a commercial one, and my only goal is to provide people interested in Kabuki with data about actors, plays, theaters or Kabuki programs. The purpose of kabuki21.com is not to steal anything from anybody. If you wish to have your item removed please contact me so I can comply with your wishes immediately.
Important: photographic images published before the 31st of December 1956, or photographed before 1946 and not published for 10 years thereafter, under jurisdiction of the Government of Japan, are considered to be public domain according to article 23 of old copyright law of Japan and article 2 of supplemental provision of copyright law of Japan.

To students working on a Kabuki-related school project : this is not an easy subject. I helped a few students in the past and ... to tell the truth, it was rather disappointing as I did not get even a simple "thank you" mail in 85% of the cases. Gathering/checking/counter-checking data is time-consuming so I've finally decided to stop helping students systematically. I might help but it will depend strongly on the contents of the request. Precise questions will be answered more easily. It will be in a best effort mode which might not be compatible with your report dead-line. Feel free to send you request but don't be upset if you don't get an answer. By the way, you can use any data within kabuki21.com at one simple condition: do not forget to put kabuki21.com in your list of references at the end of your school report.

To print-collecting people: I do not collect prints and I am not a print connoisseur. I don't think I would be able to help you identifying your Kabuki-related prints ... but I can give it a try.

To travellers going to Japan and interested in enjoying Kabuki : do check my performances pages. I keep them as updated as possible and you'll find details on the performances in Tôkyô, Ôsaka, Kyôto, Nagoya or Fukuoka. I don't give practical details (access, ticketing, ...) but you'll find them on the Shôchiku website, the Earphone Guide website or the National Theatre website.

English is not my mother tongue. I do the best I can to make kabuki21.com in English. I will be grateful if you report any grammar or misspelling issue. I'll correct it as quick as possible.

I do not belong to the Kabuki world. I have no connection at all with any actor, playwright or producer. I won't be able to ask anybody for an interview in the Kabukiza backstages or to help you bringing a Kabuki troupe in your theater or your festival. I wish I could but I can't.

Who is "I" ? "I" is Shôriya Aragorô.

Calendars issue: with the year 1873, the Gregorian calendar was introduced to Japan. Before 1873, the lunar calendars, which were originally imported from China, were used in Japan for many centuries. The lunar calendars were based on the cycle of the moon, resulting in years of twelve months of 29 or 30 days. Years were also numbered using the era name system (nengô in Japanese). In Kabuki21.com, for dates before 1873, we've decided to mix both, the western year with the lunar calendar system. There is an issue with the 12th lunar month: let's take the case of "the 12th lunar month of 1818". It has to be understood as the 12th lunar month of the 15th year of the Bunka era. Depending on the day, it might be either "December 1818" or "January 1819". The 1st day of the 12th lunar month of the 15th year of the Bunka era was the 27th of December 1818 in the western calendar. The 30th day of the 12th lunar month of the 15th year of the Bunka era was the 25th of January 1819 in the western calendar. Keep this issue in mind for every date starting with "12th lunar month of".