6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô), 1 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Nagoya (Misonoza)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Minosuke and Nakamura Hayato perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichimura Manjirô and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the National Theatre

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Shôchikuza!

Ichikawa Ebizô and his troupe perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô and at the Misonoza !

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke

The three programs for the New Year Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

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 Kankurô as Lord Ôkura, Nakamura Senjaku as Tokiwa Gozen, Nakamura Shidô as Yoshioka Kijirô and Nakamura Shichinosuke as Yoshioka's wife Okyô.

Genroku Hanami Odori: This dance is set in the Genroku Period (1688-1704). A party dressed in gorgeous apparel comes to view the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The light of the moon shines upon the flowers, and the people perform elegant dances as they admire the cherry blossoms and rejoice together. This month's performance is a lively celebration of the stage debut of Nakamura Shidô's son Ogawa Haruki.

Haru no Kotobuki: Two dances celebrating the beginning of spring. The sanbasô is an auspicious dance based on the ritual play "Okina" in the classical Nô theater which shows an old man as a symbol of longevity and the energetic sanbasô as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. With Nakamura Baigyoku as the okina, Nakamura Kaishun as the senzai and Nakamura Shikan as the sanbasô. The second dance, "Manzai", is about performers with hand drums that would go from door to door at the New Year to perform auspicious songs and dances. Starring Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Matagorô.

Rosei no Yume: a rare drama, which is the Edo parody of a famous chinese tale, which is called the Tale of Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng was a young man who fell asleep and dreamed of glory but waked to find that the millet at his bedside had not even begun to boil. In this Edo version, Lu Sheng becomes Rosei, the nickname of Roya Seikichi. The oar maker Rosei (Matsumoto Kôshirô) and his wife Ochô (Kataoka Takatarô) are in debt, and have moved to Ueno Ikenohata in Edo. Hearing their circumstances, the landlord Rokuemon (Nakamura Karoku) comes up with a plan to trick a samurai into a compromising situation with Ochô and then to blackmail him. Soon afterwards, Yokoshima Tomozô (Nakamura Kinnosuke) arrives and falls victim to their scheme. Later, Seikichi takes a nap, resting his head on the luggage left behind, and dreams of the pleasures of contemporary Edo: greeting sunrise in boat on Edo Bay, feasting in a famous restaurant, being entertained to classical music or joining the procession of top-rank courtesan under cherry-blossom.

Iwato no Kagekiyo: Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo (Onoe Matsuya), a valiant warrior of the Heike clan who burns with the desire to wreak vengeance on his arch enemies, the rival Genji clan, secludes himself in a rock cave at Enoshima. He curses Minamoto no Yoritomo, the head of the Genji clan, and as a result the world becomes dark. Then, daimyô lords allied to the Genji clan, Chichibu no Shigetada (Nakamura Kashô), Hôjô no Tokimasa (Bandô Minosuke) and others, gather in front of the rock cave and begin a Shintô ritual to dispel the darkness...

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: the epic "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura") features many characters around the famous general Yoshitsune, but none more memorable than a magic fox that takes the guise of Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune's most trusted retainers. The fox wants to get close to a precious drum that Yoshitsune has made from the skins of his fox parents. In this excerpt from the longer play, the fox reveals his true identity with a series of spectacular stage tricks and Yoshitsune is moved to grant him the drum. This play ends with a spectacular chûnori. Starring Ichikawa Ennosuke as the fox Tadanobu. Featuring also Ichikawa Monnosuke (Yoshitsune), Nakamura Jakuemon (Shizuka Gozen) and Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô (Kawatsura Hôgen).

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichimura Manjirô, Kataoka Kamezô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Mantarô, Ichimura Takematsu, Onoe Sakon, Ichimura Hikaru, Ichimura Kitsutarô

The New year Kabuki performances at the National Theatre with a troupe led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô.

Hakkenden:
(The Eight Dog Warriors)
the original novel is an immense epic by 19th century novelist Takizawa Bakin published over many years, but eventually reaching one-hundred and sixty volumes. The Satomi clan is being attacked and its lord offers his daughter Princess Fuse to the warrior that will bring him the head of the enemy. It is his loyal dog that kills and beheads the enemy and, saying that her father must not go back on his word, Princess Fuse goes with the dog. Nevertheless, the Satomi clan is defeated and one of its loyal retainers goes to rescue Princess Fuse, shooting the dog, but unfortunately shooting Princess Fuse as well. The eight crystal beads of her rosary, each engraved with the Chinese characters of one of the Confucian virtues, goes flying through the air. Miraculously, each will be found with a newborn baby. These eight children, all of whom have the character inu for "dog" in their names, eventually meet and join together to restore the Satomi clan. The play features all the stars of the company and follows the adventures of the eight dog warriors as they meet and gradually join together, leading to a climactic fight on the roof of a dizzyingly high tower.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program at the Shôchikuza 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.

Fuji Musume: the spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of a beautiful young maiden. One of Kabuki's most famous and colorful dances, it will feature the dancing skills of Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Omatsuri: the gallant commoners of Edo's neighborhoods loved nothing better than a festival, and this performance is a dance based on one of the biggest festivals in Edo. In this dance, a geisha (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) appear on stage and show her Edo-style spirit.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Ichimura Kakitsu, Nakamura Kotarô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Horikoshi Kangen, Ichikawa Botan, Ôchi Yôsuke

The traditional New Year Kabuki at the Shinbashi Enbujô with a troupe led by the young star Ichikawa Ebizô. They perform in a newly-created Kabuki drama entitled "Puperu", which is based on Nishino Akihiro's children's picture book "Poupelle of Chimney Town". This drama is directed by Fujima Kanjûrô VIII.

Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichikawa Shinzô, Ichikawa Shinjûrô, Nakamura Shinobu, Ichikawa Tsutanosuke, Ichikawa Fukutarô, Ichikawa Fukunosuke, Ichikawa Masusaburô, Ichikawa Ujaku

2nd edition of a special Kabuki program under the guidance of Ichikawa Ebizô and starring Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu. Due to to people infected with coronavirus, this 2nd edition was not staged!

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 (Ichikawa Fukutarô) and Gorô (Ichikawa Fukunosuke) prepare to face their father's murderer and take revenge, along with beautiful Shizuka Gozen (Nakamura Shinobu), they cut the herbs, as a symbolic act of vengeance.

Genjidana: Yosaburô (Ichikawa Kudanji) fell in love with Otomi (Ôtani Hiromatsu) the moment he first saw her on the beach. Otomi was the mistress of a powerful gangster and, when their relationship was discovered, Yosaburô was cut from head to toe and the two were dumped into the sea. Otomi lived and was taken in by a rich merchant. Yosaburô, who is now covered with scars, 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.

Masakado: after the death of Masakado, the great pretender to the imperial throne, the only one to carry on his cause is his daughter, Takiyasha (Nakamura Kotarô). She appears mysteriously in the ruins of her father's palace and tries to seduce Mitsukuni (Ichikawa Tsutanosuke), a warrior sent to investigate mysterious happenings at the mansion. In dance Takiyasha tells of how she fell in love with Mitsukuni, then, also in dance, Mitsukuni tells the story of how the traitor Masakado was killed. Takiyasha breaks down in tears, revealing her true identity. After a dance-like fight, the mansion collapses and Takiyasha poses on the roof with the banner of her clan.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

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The yearly show for young promising actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in Asakusa, a lively and colorful neighboorhood that keeps the scent of old Edo, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

A 2-day New Year special program in Nagoya at the Misonoza starring Ichikawa Ebizô.