7 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, New National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô) & 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza, Shôchikuza)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Shingo & Onoe Ukon perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Rakuzen, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Mantarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Kamezô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô & Ichimura Manjirô perform at the New National Theatre!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô & Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon 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,Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Omezô & Ichikawa Kudanji perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Komazô, Matsumoto Kingo, Bandô Shingo, Onoe Ukon, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kikaku, Ôtani Hirotarô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Jûjirô, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Seiko, Sawamura Kiyoshirô

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

Soga no Taimen: this is one of the oldest and most classical of all Kabuki plays. In the Edo period, every January, plays appeared about the vendetta carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô after eighteen years of hardship. In "Soga no Taimen" the brothers confront Kudô Suketsune, the man responsible for their father's death. More ceremony than play, it features each of the important Kabuki character types, including the bombastic aragoto style of Gorô and the soft wagoto style of Jûrô. This month features a cast headed by Nakamura Shikan as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Bandô Minosuke as Gorô and Nakamura Yonekichi as Jûrô. Featuring Onoe Ukon, Sawamura Sônosuke, Bandô Shingo and Ichikawa Chûsha as Kobayashi no Asahina, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover), the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).

Ômukade Taiji: (Slaying a Giant Centipede)
Fujiwara no Hidesato (Onoe Shôroku), a warrior famed for his valor, sets out from the capital to subjugate Taira no Masakado who has risen in the east in rebellion against the emperor. He received an arrow as a parting gift from the Court Astrologer Abe no Seimei. Passing by Mt. Mikami in Ômi Province on Seimei's advice, he encounters a giant centipede (Bandô Kamezô). Featuring also Nakamura Kaishun as Princess Naganagi.

Kanawa: (Iron Tripod)
Princess Tokuko (Nakamura Kazutarô), who is fond of the tone of Hiromasa's flute (Nakamura Kankurô), was betrayed by the man she loves and was made a demoness through the sorcery of Ashiya Dôman. Abe no Seimei (Matsumoto Kôshirô) tries to break the spell, and the time soon comes when he must confront Ashiya Dôman (Matsumoto Hakuô).

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 (Kataoka Takatarô), the money courier Kameya Chûbê (Nakamura Ganjirô (2nd~14th) & Nakamura Senjaku (15th~26th)) breaks the seals on a package of money entrusted to him after being taunted by his rival Tanbaya Hachiemon (Nakamura Senjaku (2nd~14th) & Nakamura Ganjirô (15th~26th)), even though the use of such money is punishable by death. Featuring also Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô as Tsuchiya Jiemon and Nakamura Kaishun as Oen, the proprietress of the teahouse.

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 Onoe Shôroku as Kumagai, with Nakamura Manju as Kumagai's wife Sagami, Nakamura Jakuemon as Fuji-no-Kata, Nakamura Shikan as Yoshitsune and Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku as Midaroku.

Ninin Wankyû: the fabulously wealthy Wan'ya Kyûbê (nicknamed Wankyû) is disowned by his family for falling in love with the courtesan Matsuyama. Then, when she dies, he goes mad with grief and wanders through the countryside. This dance shows him as he imagines meeting Matsuyama again and there is a lively dance recalling their happiness together before the vision fades and he is left alone. Starring Onoe Ukon as Wankyû and Nakamura Kazutarô as Matsuyama.

Daifugô Dôshin: (Millionaire Samurai Constable)
Unokichi (Nakamura Hayato), the grandson of Mikuniya Tokuemon (Nakamura Ganjirô), one of the wealthiest merchants in Edo, leads a dissipated life. Unable to overlook this, Tokuemon buys him a position as a constable with his immense wealth, but Unokichi is physically weak and so unreliable that he faints when he sees edged tools. Meanwhile, the Shôgun Iemasa (Bandô Shingo) lies ill in bed and summons his younger brother Yukichiyo (Nakamura Hayato) to Edo. At the New Year, as Unokichi spends time at pleasure at the Hachiman Shrine accompanied by the jester Ginpachi (Onoe Ukon), he passes by a man who is the spitting image of himself. The historical novel 'Millionaire Samurai Constable' by Ban Daisuke is a very popular series, selling over a million copies, and its plot unfolds in an unexpected way. A millionaire becomes a constable and solves difficult cases. The volume 'Yamaki Unokichi acts as a Double,' which has been adapted for this month's production, has a thrilling story concerning the succession dispute of the Shôgun, in which several attractive characters appear. Featuring also Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Bandô Minosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Rakuzen, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Mantarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Kamezô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Onoe Ushinosuke, Onoe Maholo, Kamimura Kichitarô, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Kamesaburô, Ichimura Hikaru, Nakamura Tanetarô, Nakamura Hidenosuke

No performance at the National Theatre, which was destroyed in 2024, but there is a subsitute theater: the New National Theatre!

Hikosan Gongen: the story revolves around Rokusuke (Onoe Kikunosuke), a master swordsman who helps the daughter of his assassinated mentor, Osono (Nakamura Tokizô), seek vengeance. This will be the first tôshi kyôgen performance of the play in Tôkyô in 22 years, making it a rare and valuable opportunity. The play features the tragic death of Rokusuke's master Ichimisai (Nakamura Matagorô), a dynamic battle between the villain Kyôgoku no Takumi (Bandô Hikosaburô) and Osono (it is rare in Kabuki for a female character to fight with a weapon), a heart-warming scene where the two characters unknowingly meet as engaged partners, and the final unification of Rokusuke and Osono as they join forces in pursuit of justice. These elements are all unique to the full-length format, offering many captivating moments. Rokusuke, a skilled swordsman with deep filial piety; Osono, a charming woman with the strength to rival men; and Kyôgoku no Takumi, a nihilistic character driven by his own ambition, all offer distinct and unforgettable performances. Starring Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô in the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi.

Source: National Theatre

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 delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Zangetsu:
(A Morning Moon)
This work is said to have been composed in memory of the premature death of the daughter of Matsuya, a pupil of Minezaki Kotô, and the title of the piece is said to have been inspired by her posthumous Buddhist name. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô stars in an exquisite Jiutamai dance, which quietly portrays the imagery of a moon that appears and disappears, and the fleeting fragility of the young woman's life.

Nagasaki Jûnikei:
(Twelve Views of Nagasaki)
This dance drama combines dance and music from the suite ‘Twelve Views of Nagasaki’ by Yuize Shin'ichi, based on a masterpiece by Takehisa Yumeji, a painter who gained popularity in the early 20th century. The first performance of this dance in 1979 was well received for its portrayal of women who looked as if they had stepped straight out of a Yumeji painting, and it was performed again in December the following year, with more performances after that. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in a role with rich with delicate charm, poignant beauty and a touch of melancholy.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Matsunosuke

A special Kabuki program starring starring the goruden konbi Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon.

Dote no Oroku/Kimon no Kihê: this is a play written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, and these scenes in particular reflect the decadence and corruption found in the underbelly of ordinary society at that time. The scenes portray two outwardly charming characters who are filled with wickedness. There are several typical role types that appear in Kabuki, and akuba (wicked lady) is one of them. Oroku is an akuba and although beautiful, she is truly wicked. Trying to extort 100 gold coins, Oroku and her husband Kimon no Kihê visit a pawnshop carrying the dead body of Oroku's brother. The two insist that her brother died from an injury he incurred in a quarrel with its apprentice. However, the dead body suddenly becomes conscious and the extortion ends in failure. Although disappointed, the two leave the pawnshop without flinching in the slightest. Starring Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon in the roles of Oroku and Kihê. Featuring also Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Kinnosuke.

Kanda Matsuri:
(The Kanda Festival)
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 (Kanda Matsuri). In this dance, a gallant fireman (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) and a geisha (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) appear on stage and display their 'Edo-style' spirit. In the end, a young man comes out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Baika, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Botan

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

Narabegaki Manete Mimasu:
(Two Sides of "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers
Kô no Moronô (Ichikawa Danjûrô), the second most powerful man in the Ashikaga clan after the Shôgun, abuses his authority, sheltering behind its influence. En’ya Hangan (Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku) is insulted by Moronô and commits ritual suicide, leaving his unfulfilled grudge to Yuranosuke. Ôboshi Yuranosuke (Ichikawa Danjûrô), having lost his lord, En’ya Hangan, vows to avenge his lord’s death on Moronô. Lady Kaoyo (Ôtani Hiromatsu), by refusing Moronô’s illicit advances, causes her husband to commit ritual suicide by disembowelment. Okaru’s pure love for Kanpei leads to the downfall of the En’ya clan. Hayano Kanpei (Ichikawa Danjûrô) is sincere at heart, but his ill fate causes his failure to do what he should. Ono Sadakurô (Ichikawa Danjûrô) rejects the 'good' in the world and clings desperately to life. Each character, differing in social rank and way of thinking, selects their own way of life and seeks their own 'loyalty,' so that their fates cross. Why has "Chûshingura," which was based on the true Akô Incident in the Edo period, continued to enthrall audiences in different forms such as the Bunraku puppet theatre, Kabuki and movies for over 300 years? The life stories of those fated few and their passion are revived now. Featuring Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Udanji and Nakamura Kashô in the roles of Okaru, Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Teraoka Heiemon,

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Hashinosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Kamenojô

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).

Amagasaki Kankyo: Akechi Mitsuhide (known in this play as Takechi Mitsuhide) is known as the "three day ruler of Japan", having only control for a brief time after attacking and killing Oda Nobunaga (known in this play as Harunaga) and before being defeated in turn by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (known in this play as Mashiba Hisayoshi). In the most famous act of this play, after assassinating Harunaga, Mitsuhide comes to see his mother, but she refuses to forgive him for betraying his lord. Mitsuhide sees his son and mother both die before his eyes as he tries to defeat his rival Hisayoshi, but instead is confronted with the drama of his own immediate family. Starring Ichikawa Somegorô and Nakamura Kangyoku as Mitsuhide and Hisayoshi. Featuring also Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Kamenojô and Onoe Sakon as Mitsuhide's wife Misao, Mitsuhide's son Jûjirô, Jûjirô's fiancee Hatsugiku, Mitsuhide's mother Satsuki and Satô Masakiyo.

Michiyuki Tabiji no Hanamuko: here are few plays more popular in Kabuki than "Kanadehon Chûshingura" ('The Treasury of Loyal Retainers'). This is based on a true incident in which a feudal lord attacked another in the Shôgun's palace and was immediately sentenced to commit ritual suicide and his domain was confiscated. In this dance, after the death of his lord, the retainer Kanpei (Nakamura Hashinosuke) and his lover, the lady-in-waiting Okaru (Nakamura Kangyoku) flee to Okaru's home, a farmer's house in the country. Kanpei feels responsible for the calamity which befell his lord because at the crucial time he was having a romantic tryst and was not at his master's side. He tries to commit suicide but Okaru stops him and convinces him that they should go to her home as husband and wife and wait for the right moment for him to apologize.

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

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

Amagasaki Kankyo: Akechi Mitsuhide (known in this play as Takechi Mitsuhide) is known as the "three day ruler of Japan", having only control for a brief time after attacking and killing Oda Nobunaga (known in this play as Harunaga) and before being defeated in turn by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (known in this play as Mashiba Hisayoshi). In the most famous act of this play, after assassinating Harunaga, Mitsuhide comes to see his mother, but she refuses to forgive him for betraying his lord. Mitsuhide sees his son and mother both die before his eyes as he tries to defeat his rival Hisayoshi, but instead is confronted with the drama of his own immediate family. Starring Nakamura Hashinosuke and Ichikawa Somegorô as Mitsuhide and Hisayoshi. Featuring also Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Kamenojô and Nakamura Takanosuke as Mitsuhide's wife Misao, Mitsuhide's son Jûjirô, Jûjirô's fiancee Hatsugiku, Mitsuhide's mother Satsuki and Satô Masakiyo.

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Nakamura Hashinosuke) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Ichikawa Somegorô) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Nakamura Takanosuke) into demonstrating his skill at stick fighting, tying him to the stick. The master then ties up Tarôkaja as well. But he is outsmarted when the two still manage to drink his wine while tied up. Their happy singing and dancing while tied up is a dazzling display of virtuoso dancing and star two of the finest young dancers in Kabuki.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website