5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Theatre Cocoon, EX THEATER), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza) and 1 in Naruto (Ôtsuka Museum of Art)!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Hayato and Bandô Minosuke perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Hakataza!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Kamezô and Ichimura Manjirô perform at the Theatre Cocoon!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji and Nakamura Kotarô perform at the EX THEATER!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kangyoku, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Mantarô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Onoe Sakon, Onoe Ushinosuke

The February Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza. Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon does his isse ichidai performance for the role of the Heike warrior Taira no Tomomori in "Tokaiya"/"Daimotsu no Ura". Due to people infected with coronavirus, cancellation of the third program from the 14th to the 19th of February 2022.

Ohama Goten: there are few plays more popular in Kabuki than "Chûshingura" or the Treasury of the Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers. In the modern period, this play was reworked by Mayama Seika as "Genroku Chûshingura", a play focusing on different incidents and different characters in this revenge classic adding historical details reflecting the Genroku period. One of the most popular parts of this play shows the man that will be the next Shôgun, seemingly detached from the vendetta, but in fact, intensely interested in the progress of the quest of the band of loyal retainers. Starring Nakamura Baigyoku as Lord Tsunatoyo and Onoe Shôroku as Tominomori Suke’emon. With Nakamura Kangyoku as Okiyo, Nakamura Kaishun as Ejima and Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô as Tsunatoyo’s teacher Arai Kageyû.

Shakkyô:
(The Stone Bridge)
There are many plays about shishi or lion spirits in the Asian tradition, but the shishi is not actually a lion, it is a mythical animal that guards the stone bridge (Shakkyô) leading to the Buddhist paradise of Monju, the god of wisdom. Featuring Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke and Onoe Sakon in the roles of the shishi.

Musume Nanakusa: in the Edo period, every New Year, plays appeared about the medieval vendetta carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô. This colorful, old-fashioned dance mixes this tradition with that of eating porridge containing seven auspicious herbs on the seventh day of the new year. As the brothers Jûrô (Nakamura Baishi) and Gorô (Nakamura Mantarô) prepare to face their father's murderer and take revenge, along with beautiful Shizuka Gozen (Kataoka Sennosuke), they cut the herbs, as a symbolic act of vengeance.

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 (Nakamura Tokizô) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon), 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 (Kataoka Takatarô). 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 Matagorô, Ichikawa Sadanji and Nakamura Hayato in the roles of Sagami Gorô, Musashibô Benkei and Irie Tanzô.

Oniji Hyôshimai: this is a classical dance filled with the stylized beauty of gesture and pose and including a fight scene. Osada no Tarô (Nakamura Shikan), a warrior of the Heike clan who is disguised as a woodcutter, encounters a shirabyôshi dancer (Nakamura Jakuemon) in the mountains in Kyôto. They struggle with each other for the possession of a valuable flute.

Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi: The sword dealer Shinsuke (Bandô Minosuke) and the geisha Omoto (Bandô Shingo) love each other. However, an evil samurai who also loves Omoto but whose love is unrequited, tricks Shinsuke out of one hundred gold coins and a sword, and the couple decides to commit double suicide. Hearing of their circumstances, Inaba Kôzô (Onoe Kikunosuke) promises them to raise the money before disappearing. He is, in reality, the chivalrous robber Nezumi Kozô who steals money from the rich and gives it to poor people. A few days later, Omoto's younger brother Sankichi (Onoe Ushinosuke) calls on Kôzô who is in hiding making a living as a fortuneteller. This human drama explores the themes of duty and compassion. Featuring also Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Yonekichi and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Kawai Yukinojô

A special Buyô program in Fukuoka at the Hakataza starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by stage announcements, usually lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. This month at the Yachiyoza, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

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 Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the empress, Nakamura Utanosuke as the spirit of the crane and Nakamura Fukunosuke/Nakamura Hashinosuke as the spirit of the tortoise.

Nihon Furisode Hajime: this dance is a rare example of a story from ancient Japanese mythology in a puppet play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon adapted for the Kabuki theater. As part of an annual ritual, Princess Inada has been chosen to be sacrificed to a fierce serpent that lives in the mountains of Izumo. The serpent arrives in the guise of a beautiful princess, but before it can attack it is attracted to eight jars full of sake. The jars are a trap planted by the god Susanoo, who confronts the beast in its true form as an eight-headed serpent, to save the princess. Starring ACT as the serpent, with Nakamura Hashinosuke/Nakamura Fukunosuke and Kawai Yukinojô in the roles of Susanoo and Princess Inada.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Toranosuke, Komatsu Kazushige, Sasano Takashi

18th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki performance, which recreates the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Tennichibô" was written by Kudô Kankurô, based on Kawatake Mokuami's masterpiece "Ten'ichibô", and is directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi. It was staged for the first time in the 2012 Cocoon Kabuki. Cancellation of the Cocoon Kabuki performances the 25th and the 26th of February 2022 due to the illness of a member of staff.

Tennichibô: Cocoon Kabuki began in 1994 in the bustling district of Shibuya, enrapturing the audience and continuously evolving since its first presentation. The thirteenth project is based on a work by Kawatake Mokuami (1816~1893) who is known as one of the greatest Kabuki playwright of the Tokugawa Period (1603~1867). Since its premiere 150 years ago, the play is rewritten by the modern popular Japanese scriptwriter Kudô Kankurô and directed by the original founder of Cocoon Kabuki, Kushida Kazuyoshi. The story is centered on Hôsaku, later to be known as Tennichibô (Nakamura Kankurô), who heads towards Kamakura posing as the illegitimate child of the Shôgun Yoritomo. During this journey, he encounters a thief, Jirai Tarô (Nakamura Shidô) and his wife Oroku (Nakamura Shichinosuke) and thus the story unfolds his fateful destiny. Full of hopes and dreams and aiming to be conquerors, the young characters battle their way through. This production features core members of the new generation of Kabuki actors: Nakamura Kankurô returns to Cocoon Kabuki under his newly inherited stage name, with co-stars Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Shidô. A unique collaboration across diverse theatrical genres, this performance will be another epic addition to the repertoire of Kabuki presented at Cocoon Kabuki.

Source: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Totsuka Shôta

Fourth edition of the Roppongi Kabuki performances at the EX THEATER. Based on a script written by Imai Toyoshige, the stage direction is done by the famous movie director Miike Takashi, an expert in violent and bizarre movies who worked twice with Ichikawa Ebizô for the movies "Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai" (2011) and "Over your Dead Body" (2014). "Hanazochiru" is based on Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Benten Kozô" but it has been reformatted in order to fit in a new background reminiscent of the current times and to attract younger audiences.

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The 11th edition of the Sistine Kabuki, a Kabuki program within the Sistine Hall of the Ôtsuka Museum of Art, which is located in the city of Naruto (Tokushima prefecture), has been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.