6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, New National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô), 3 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Kyôto (Kyôto Gekijô)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Fukusuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the New National Theatre

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Shôchikuza!

Lots of young talented actors at the Asakusa Kôkaidô!

Ichikawa Danjûrô performs at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

The Zenshinza troupe perform at the Kyôto Gekijô!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Fukusuke, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Komazô, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Kichinojô

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

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Mantarô, Ichimura Takematsu, Onoe Ushinosuke, Onoe Maholo, Ichimura Hikaru, Bandô Kamesaburô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ogawa Hiroharu

Ishikiri Kajiwara: the Heike general Kajiwara (Kiku5) is asked to test the sharpness of a sword by slicing two live human beings in half. He deliberately makes the sword fail the test to keep the sword, a priceless heirloom belonging to the enemy Genji clan, from falling into the hands of his Taira clan. A miracle has convinced Kajiwara to change sides. Kajiwara finally demonstrates the true power of the sword by cutting a large stone basin in two. Featuring also Hiko9, Baishi4 and Kame4.

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 Baishi4 as Kuzu-no-Ha and his father Toki5 as Yasuna.

Kioi Jishi: this dance shows an Edo festival with its lively lion dance and other entertainments. The festival is full of handsome firemen and attractive geisha who do a series of graceful dances. One of the highlights of this dance is the story of the Soga brothers avenging the death of their father by attacking their enemy during a hunting party for the Shôgun at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Featuring Kiku7 and all the troupe of actors celebrating the opening of Kabuki performances at the New National Theatre.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

No performance at the National Theatre, which will be destroyed and rebuilt, in 2024 but there will be a subsitute theater: the New National Theatre! For the very first in the history of this theater dedicated to opera, ballet or modern dances/dramas, there are Kabuki performances in its playhouse!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata 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 Shôchikuza, it is a stage speech done by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Kurokami:
(Black hair)
A woman's heart lamenting the painfulness and loneliness of sleeping alone is expressed with deep feeling. It is impressive that a woman's feeling of love and jealousy is skillfully expressed from the contrast of black hair, the symbol for the beauty of Japanese women, and white snow, as the words say.

Yukari no Tsuki:
(The moon of Karma)
A dance about a courtesan's sad mental state. While watching the moon, she is lamenting that she has to separate from her lover and to marry another man because of her poverty.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special program starring Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza with the rakugo storyteller Shunpûtei Koasa.

Koshiji Fubuki Monogatari: a conversation on stage with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Shunpûtei Koasa.

Shibahama: A rakugo told by Shunpûtei Koasa.

Yuki: Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô appears as an Ôsaka courtesan named Soseki, expressing her feelings of loneliness after having been jilted by her lover and who has decided to become a nun. This jiuta dance is performed in a restrained chamber style.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Aizaburô

A special program entitled in English and starring Kataoka clan's disciples.

Kabuki no Mikata: a speech on stage about the art of Kabuki with Kataoka Senju.

Ayatsuri Sanbasô:
(The Puppet Sanbasô)
The Sanbasô is part of the ritual Nô play "Okina", a prayer for prosperity and in Kabuki the vigorous Sanbasô dance is often performed separately. To make the dance especially auspicious, the old man Okina and attendant Senzai appear as well. In Kabuki, the Sanbasô dance appears in all kinds of versions. In this particular version, the Sanbasô is actually a giant marionette (Kataoka Senjirô), dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer (Kataoka Aizaburô).

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku

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.

Otoshidama: a special kôjô for new year greetings (nenshi goaisatsu in Japanese).

Jusshukô: Princess Yaegaki is mourning the death of his fiance Katsuyori, but as she burns incense in his memory, she notices the resemblance between the new gardener and her fiance's portrait. The gardener is in fact Katsuyori, who has entered the household of Yaegaki's father to regain the possession of a stolen family treasure, a famous helmet, with the help of Nureginu, a woman who also mourns for the man that died in the place of the real Katsuyori. Unfortunately, Yaegaki's father has also seen through the disguise and plans to kill Katsuyori. The role of Princess Yaegaki, one of the most important onnagata roles, is played by Nakamura Yonekichi, supported by Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Shingo and Nakamura Kashô in the roles of Katsuyori, Nureginu and Nagao Kenshin.

Genjidana: Yosaburô (Nakamura Hayato) fell in love with Otomi (Nakamura Yonekichi) 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.

Dontsuku:
(Juggling to Entertain the Gods)
This lively dance features a crowd of pleasure seekers, male and female, of all kinds of social stations. But the center attraction is a performer of daikagura who does juggling acts and tops off the act with a basketwork cylinder on a pole, which he uses to deftly throw and catch several balls. Featuring Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tanenosuke and Nakamura Kangyoku.

Otoshidama: a special kôjô for new year greetings (nenshi goaisatsu in Japanese).

Kumagai Jin'ya: this play is a dramatization of the clash between the Genji general Kumagai Jirô Naozane and the Heike warrior Taira no Atsumori at the battle of Ichi-no-Tani, one of the most famous passages of the epic "Tales of the Heike". In the Kabuki version, on the cryptic orders of the Genji leader Yoshitsune, Kumagai hides the enemy warrior Atsumori and has his own son take the warrior's place. On the battlefield, Kumagai has to kill his own son in Atsumori's place. Things become worse when his wife Sagami and Atsumori's mother Fuji-no-Kata arrive at his camp. In the highlight of the play, he tells them the story of his mortal battle with Atsumori, keeping Atsumori's well-being and his own sacrifice a secret. He then shows the head of Atsumori for inspection by his leader to see if he has interpreted his orders correctly. This performance stars Nakamura Kashô as Kumagai, with Bandô Shingo as Kumagai's wife Sagami, Nakamura Kangyoku as Fuji-no-Kata and Bandô Minosuke as Yoshitsune.

Ryûsei:
(A Falling Star)
In myth, the heavenly shepherd boy and celestial weaver maid only can meet once a year. They no longer are united than a falling star, or ryûsei appears with an urgent report, which actually turns out to be the story of marital discord in the family of the thunder god living in a poor tenement in heaven. The highlight of this dance is this story with the dancer changing instantly from role to role playing the thunder god, his angry wife, his little son and the elderly thunder goddess from next door who tries to break up the fight. Starring Nakamura Tanenosuke as a falling star.

Sakanaya Sôgorô: Sôgorô (Onoe Matsuya), 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. Featuring also Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tanenosuke and Nakamura Kangyoku.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kotarô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichikawa Otora, Ichikawa Botan

The traditional New Year Kabuki at the Shinbashi Enbujô with a troupe led by Ichikawa Danjûrô.

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Fujikawa Yanosuke

The traditional Zenshinza New Year performances in Kyôto. Not at the Minamiza, as it used to be, but at the Kyôto Gekijô.