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 Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô & Nakamura Mantarô 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 Komazô, Bandô Shingo, Onoe Ukon

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

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Mantarô

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

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.

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