6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô), 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza)!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Shikan and Nakamura Baigyoku perform at the Kabukiza!

Sakata Tôjûrô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku and Kataoka Hidetarô perform at the Shôchikuza!

Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô and Sawamura Tanosuke perform at the National Theatre!

Ichikawa Ebizô and Nakamura Shibajaku perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the Minamiza!

Lots of young talented actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danshirô, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kashô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Komazô

2008 is an important year for the Kabukiza, which will celebrate its 120th anniversary. The year starts with an amazing program, which includes the revival of "Onna Goemon" and the staging of the great play "Sukeroku":

Shôjô: the shôjô is a mythical sake-loving spirit that lives in the sea. In this dance, a sake seller has a mysterious customer that appears daily and drinks enormous amounts with great satisfaction. The sake seller has a dream with instructions to go by the beach with a large tub of sake. As it turns out, the customer has actually been the shôjô in disguise. The dance shows two shôjô as they drink and dance joyfully. Starring Nakamura Baigyoku and Ichikawa Somegorô as the shôjô and Nakamura Matsue as the sake seller.

Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari: the world is ruled by Taira no Kiyomori, the leader of the Heike clan. Tokiwa Gozen, the widow of the head of the defeated Genji clan and mother of Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, the future leaders of the clan, has become the mistress of the dictator Kiyomori, then the wife of Lord Ôkura, a seemingly simple-minded fool who spends all his time watching pretty women dance. Outraged members of the Genji clan sneak into Lord Ôkura's mansion only to discover that Tokiwa Gozen's immorality and Lord Ôkura's idiocy are a guise, the only way to survive in a world ruled by the enemy. This performance stars Nakamura Kichiemon as Lord Ôkura, Nakamura Fukusuke as Tokiwa Gozen, Nakamura Baigyoku as Yoshioka Kijirô and Nakamura Kaishun as Yoshioka's wife Okyô.

Onna Goemon: the larger-than-life thief Ishikawa Goemon looking out at the world he is going to rule only to be confronted by the great general Hisayoshi, about to take over Japan, is one of the most spectacular scenes in Kabuki. January features a special version of this scene with a courtesan in place of Goemon featuring Living National Treasure Nakamura Jakuemon, the oldest actor on the Kabuki stage today, and Nakamura Kichiemon in the role of Hisayoshi.

Sakanaya Sôgorô: Sôgorô (Matsumoto Kôshirô), a fish seller, has taken a vow to not drink, but when he learns about his sister's unjust murder at the hands of a daimyô lord, a death that they were told was execution for her wrongdoing, he starts to drink again. Drunk, he storms into the lord's mansion to seek an apology. This play by Meiji playwright Kawatake Mokuami is known for its realistic portrayal of members of the common class during the Edo period and highlights their fierce pride and frustration at the privileges of the dominant samurai class.

Omatsuri: Ichikawa Danjûrô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Kakuju Senzai: an elegant dance to celebrate the New Year, with Nakamura Tomijûrô as the male crane and Nakamura Shikan as the female crane.

Renjishi: 2 entertainers dance a tale of the legendary shishi or lion-like spirits that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. There is a comic interlude with 2 Buddhist pilgrims. Then, the shishi themselves appear and perform their dance with wild shaking of their long manes. The dance shows a parent shishi forcing his cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. This theme is often associated with the training a parent actor gives his son. This performance features Matsumoto Kôshirô in the role of the parent shishi and his son Ichikawa Somegorô in the role of the cub.

Sukeroku: the dandy Sukeroku is the most famous patron of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters. But his reputation as the lover of Agemaki, the highest ranking courtesan in the quarter is matched by that of his tendency to pick fights. In fact, Sukeroku is the samurai Soga no Gorô in disguise, and he uses the fights to find a lost heirloom sword. His search takes place in the colorful atmosphere of the Yoshiwara where processions of beautiful courtesans compete with the splendor of cherry blossoms in full bloom. All the top stars in Kabuki appear in a procession of beautiful, exciting and amusing roles. Starring Ichikawa Danjûrô as Sukeroku, one of his most popular roles and featuring Nakamura Fukusuke as the courtesan Agemaki and Living National Treasure Nakamura Shikan as Gorô's mother Mankô.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Sakata Tôjûrô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Shinnosuke

Kuzu-no-Ha: Abe no Yasuna, a court astrologer in disgrace, has married a beautiful woman named Kuzu-no-Ha, not knowing that she is actually a fox that has taken human form to repay his kindness in saving his life. The couple has a child and lives happily together until the real woman whose form the fox borrowed appears. Knowing that she can no longer stay, Kuzu-no-Ha writes a tearful farewell poem on the paper screen and returns to the wilderness. Starring Nakamura Senjaku as Kuzu-no-Ha and Nakamura Kanjaku as Yasuna.

Sasaki Takatsuna: This is a modern play by Okamoto Kidô (1872 - 1939) who is famous for inventing the Edo Period style detective story. Sasaki Takatsuna shows one of the top warriors in the battles that established the Kamakura shogunate and how he gradually becomes disillusioned with the world of lies and political intrigue. Starring Kataoka Gatô in the role of Takatsuna.

Imohori Chôja:
(The Sweet-Potato-digging Millionaire)
The widow of the Matsugae family (Bandô Shûchô) who reigns over the district gives a dance party to choose a husband for her daughter Midori Gozen (Nakamura Senjaku). They plan to choose the man who dances the best. Tôgorô (Bandô Mitsugorô) the potato digger comes with his friend Jirokurô (Nakamura Hashinosuke) pretending to be the best dancer in Japan. In contrast to Tôgorô, Jirokurô is a good dancer and he knows that Tôgorô is ardently in love with Midori Gozen. Jirokurô wears a mask and dances pretending to be Tôgorô. Then asked to dance without a mask, Tôgorô dances badly. The widow accepts Jirokurô's suggestion and orders Midori Gozen to dance with Tôgorô and Jirokurô. Unable to dance well, Tôgorô begins to express potato digging in dance. The people have never seen such an interesting dance and praise his dance to be the best in Japan. Tôgorô reveals his true identity and apologizes to them, but Midori Gozen would rather marry Tôgorô the potato digger than the best dancer. Finally they all dance expressing potato digging and congratulate Tôgorô and Midori Gozen.

Numazu: a dramatization of one of the most famous historical vendattas of the Edo period. "Numazu" is one act that tells of the sacrifices of those not directly involved in the vendetta itself but members of the same family who are indebted to the two opposing sides. The kimono merchant Jûbê (Sakata Tôjûrô) meets a porter Heisaku (Kataoka Gatô) as he travels west on business. They find that not only are they long-separated father and son, but that they also lie on opposite sides of the vendetta. Their loyalties prevent them from openly acknowledging their relationship. Heisaku sacrifices his life to get information from his son essential to his side's cause.

Benkei Jôshi:
(Benkei the Emissary)
Benkei (Nakamura Hashinosuke), the warrior-priest who served Yoshitsune, is the subject of many plays and legends. He is said to have slept with a woman only once and also to never have cried. In this play, he is forced to be the emissary to tell Yoshitsune's wife, Kyô-no-Kimi (Bandô Shingo), that she must die, since the fact that her father was a member of the vanquished enemy clan is throwing a suspicion on the loyalty of Yoshitsune. The others try to find someone to die in Kyô-no-Kimi's place and ask Shinobu (Bandô Shingo), a serving woman. But her mother, Owasa (Nakamura Senjaku), a seamstress in the mansion absolutely refuses until Shinobu meets her father. Benkei says that he is the father and the tragedy reaches a climax as he recalls his one tryst and weeps as having to kill his daughter.

Yoshinoyama: a dance travel scene from the epic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Now in exile and disgrace, Yoshitsune has left his lover Shizuka in the safekeeping of his trusted retainer Tadanobu. But she is unaware that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox who has disguised himself to be near the treasured drum that Shizuka carries, a drum made from the skins of his fox parents. Starring Bandô Mitsugorô as Tadanobu, Sakata Tôjûrô as Shizuka and Nakamura Hashinosuke as Hayami no Tôta.

Fûin Giri:
(Breaking the Seals)
In the pleasure quarters, the most important possessions were money and reputation. In danger of losing his lover, the courtesan Umegawa, the money courier Kameya Chûbê breaks the seals on a package of money entrusted to him after being taunted by a rival, even though the use of such money is punishable by death. Starring Nakamura Kanjaku as Chûbê, Nakamura Senjaku as Umegawa and Nakamura Hashinosuke as Chûbê's treacherous friend Tanbaya Hachiemon.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Sawamura Tanosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku

Revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu", which was staged for the first time in the 11th lunar month of 1789 at the Nakamuraza and was never revived before this 2008 production!

In the Edo period, every November was the beginning of the theatrical year and all the Kabuki plays competed with gala plays to show off the new company for that season. This was the kaomise or "face showing" performance. Since these plays were usually more like spectacular events than fine dramas, most of those plays were never performed again, no matter how good. In January, the National Theatre is boldly reviving one of these plays for the first performance in 219 years. "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shogatsu" was first performed at the Nakamuraza in Edo as the kaomise in 1789 by master playwright Sakurada Jisuke I. It is a spectacular play on a grand scale, showing a struggle between two imperial princes for the imperial throne and the almost magical powers of the great poet Ono no Komachi, also considered one of the greatest beauties of her time. In ancient times, Komachi was such a famous figure that she became the subject of many Nô plays, one in which her poetry called forth rain and another in which a jealous rival tried to defeat her by claiming that a poem she wrote was actually plagiarized from an old poetic anthology. She proved her innocence by washing the book of the anthology and showing that the fresh ink of the supposedly old poem easily washed away. For many years now, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô has opened the year with adventurous new productions and January 2008 looks like it will be the most spectacular of them all. Also featuring Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Shôroku and Onoe Kikunosuke.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ôtani Tomoemon, Sawamura Sônosuke

Tôshi kyôgen production of the spectacular drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which includes "Kenuki", "Narukami" and "Fudô" (which all belong to the Kabuki Jûhachiban). Ichikawa Ebizô plays the roles of Kumedera Danjô, the wicked priest Narukami, Prince Hayagumo, Abe Kiyoyuki and the Deity Fudô Myôô. The role of Princess Taema is played by Nakamura Shibajaku. This program celebrates the 1070 anniversary of the Narita-san Temple, where the Deity Fudô Myôô is worshipped.

Ichikawa Kamejirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kikaku

The yearly show for young promising actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in the heart of Asakusa, a lively and colorful neighboorhood that keeps the scent of old Edo.

Domo Mata: the artist Matahei has been refused a professional name because of his stuttering. He makes a poor life by drawing folk paintings and decides to make one last effort to gain respectability. His wife Otoku, who is given as much to chatter as Matahei is silent, pleads his case. Turned down again by his master, Matahei decides to take his life. He draws a farewell portrait of himself, a painting so skillful that the lines seep through solid rock and this miracle convinces his master to confer a professional name. Starring Nakamura Kantarô as Matahei and Ichikawa Kamejirô as his wife Otoku.

Benten Musume: this play is a sewamono (realistic play about commoners) written by the late 19th century playwright Mokuami who is famous for his plays about thieves. The thief Benten Kozô dresses up as a woman to commit extortion, but his plans are ruined when his disguise is seen through. In the highlight of the play, he undresses, showing his colorful tattoos and introduces himself in a famous poetic speech. Afterwards, he is joined by the members of his gang on a riverbank, and, using the playwright's famous poetic rhythms, in turn, they each boast of their careers as thieves. Nakamura Shichinosuke stars as Benten Kozô, with Kataoka Ainosuke as Nippon Daemon, Nakamura Shidô as Nangô Rikimaru, Ichikawa Kamejirô as Tadanobu Rihei and Nakamura Kantarô as Akaboshi Jûzaburô.

Kinkakuji: "Kinkakuji" retains the epic scale of plays adapted from the Bunraku puppet theater and is full of miracles and larger-than-life characters common on the puppet stage. It is full of the classical forms of all kinds of stylized characters and the role of Princess Yuki is considered to be one of the most difficult and beautiful roles for an onnagata female role specialist. Matsunaga Daizen (Nakamura Shidô) has defeated the Shôgun and has set up base in the Golden Pavilion. The brilliant strategist Hisayoshi, disguised as a disgruntled retainer named Tôkichi (Nakamura Kantarô), pretends to come under Daizen's employ to try to sabotage his plans from within. Princess Yuki (Ichikawa Kamejirô) is being held prisoner by Daizen, but is able to free herself by drawing a mouse in the cherry petals of the tree that she is tied to. It comes to life and chews the ropes holding her. Starring the best of the actors in their prime in a production sure to be full of fire and excitement.

Kirare Yosa: Yosaburô (Kataoka Ainosuke), the refined young son of a wealthy merchant falls in love with Otomi (Nakamura Shichinosuke) the moment he first sees her on the beach. But Otomi is the mistress of a powerful gangster, and when their relationship is discovered, the two are attacked. Yosaburô is cut from head to toe and the two are dumped into the sea. Otomi lives and is taken in by a rich merchant while Yosaburô is now covered with scars. Yosaburô turns into a petty thief and extortionist but one day, finds that the woman he is about to blackmail is none other than Otomi, alive and well.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Segawa Kikunojô, Fujikawa Yanosuke

(Three Thieves Named Kichisa)
The playwright Kawatake Mokuami excelled at portrayals of thieves and this short scene, with its music and poetic lines, is one of his most famous. A beautiful young woman helps out a woman who is lost on the road. But she is actually Ojô Kichisa, a male thief who is disguised as a woman. He steals an immense sum of money that the woman is carrying and this leads to an encounter on this riverbank of three thieves, all with the name Kichisa. The two others Kichisa are Oshô Kichisa, a bonze turned thief, and Obô Kichisa, an ex-samurai turned thief Though they start out as rivals, they decide to become blood brothers and form a gang. Featuring Kawarasaki Kunitarô as Ojô Kichisa, Fujikawa Yanosuke as Oshô Kichisa and Segawa Kikunojô as Obô Kichisa.