4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Nissay Theatre), 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza), 1 in Kyôto (Enryakuji), 1 in Matsumoto (Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre) and 2 tours (Eastern Provinces, Central Provinces)!

Bandô Tamasaburô, Ichikawa Ebizô and the Omodakaya guild perform at the Kabukiza!

Kataoka Nizaemon, Sakata Tôjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Kataoka Gatô and Kataoka Hidetarô perform at the Shôchikuza!

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke and Nakamura Senjaku perform at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre!

Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Tokizô and Nakamura Baigyoku are on tour in the Central Provinces!

Ichikawa Danshirô and his son Ichikawa Kamejirô are on tour in the Eastern Provinces!

Nakamura Kashô and Ichikawa Komazô are at the National Theatre!

Bandô Tamasaburô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kataoka Ichizô

July at Kabukiza features some of the most famous acts of one of Kabuki's greatest classics "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, with two of the hottest stars in Kabuki, Ichikawa Ebizô and onnagata superstar Bandô Tamasaburô. The program also features the young stars of Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe of actors. The evening program is a rare presentation of two plays by the fantastic writer Izumi Kyôka (1873~1939), including a second-time performance of a dramatization of Kyôka's most famous novel, "Kôya Hijiri". He created a fantastic world of demonic gods, princesses, handsome warriors under the sea, on top of a castle tower or at the bottom of a cold mountain lake and a world of geisha and their patrons that is the heart of the repertory of the Shinpa theater. No actor knows every facet of Izumi Kyôka's works better than Bandô Tamasaburô, who has acted in his plays, directed his works on stage and in film. The evening program is a rare program of two plays by Izumi Kyôka. The entire program is supervised by Bandô Tamasaburô who also stars in "Kôya Hijiri".

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura:
(Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)
This play was first performed in the Bunraku puppet theatre and is an epic story about the famous 12th century general Yoshitsune fleeing from the wrath of his brother Yoritomo, after the end of the war. Although Yoshitsune is the title character, the main characters of the play are actually different and this month features the three acts of the play about the magical fox Tadanobu.

Torii Mae:
(In Front of the Fushimi Inari Shrine)
Yoshitsune (Ichikawa Danjirô) is forced to flee from the troops sent by his brother Yoritomo. The trip will be hard and he decides that he must leave behind his lover Shizuka Gozen (Ichikawa Shun'en), despite her passionate pleas to remain with him. As a reminder of himself, he presents her with a precious hand drum that he had received from the emperor. Yoshitsune's retainer Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ebizô) rescues Shizuka from Yoritomo's troops and Yoshitsune decides to leave her in his care.

Yoshinoyama:
(Mt. Yoshino)
The story continues with a musical travel scene. Hearing that Yoshitsune has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino, Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ebizô) and Shizuka (Bandô Tamasaburô) go to try to meet him there. Although Tadanobu keeps disappearing, he always appears when Shizuka plays the precious drum that she received from Yoshitsune. In dance Tadanobu recounts episodes from the Genpei war, including the battle in which his brother died.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata:
(The Mansion of the Priest Kawatsura)
Yoshitsune (Ichikawa Monnosuke) has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino at the mansion of an old ally. Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ebizô) arrives but has no recollection of Shizuka being placed under his care. Shizuka (Bandô Tamasaburô) herself soon arrives with the other Tadanobu and after an investigation they discover that he is actually a fox (Ichikawa Ebizô). In a touching story, the fox tells how he took on human form to be close to the hand drum which is made from the skins of his fox parents. Moved, Yoshitsune gives the fox the drum and he flies away joyously. This scene features the Kabuki technique of flying through the air.

Yasha-ga-Ike: a cold, forbidding lake deep in the mountains contains a secret. It is ruled by a fierce beauty, Princess Shirayuki, who longs to join her lover in another mountain lake. But she is constrained by a promise to stay there and keep the waters of the lake tame as long as the temple bell is rung regularly each day. To keep this promise and drawn by the beauty of Yuri, a village girl, Hagiwara Akira, a scholar from Tôkyô, has become the bell ringer. He was drawn by the folklore of the countryside, little knowing that fate is about to transform him into one of its legends. Starring Ichikawa Shun'en as Yuri, Ichikawa Emisaburô as Princess Shirayuki and Ichikawa Danjirô as Hagiwara Akira.

Kôya Hijiri: this is a staging of Izumi Kyôka’s most famous novel with new direction. A Buddhist priest named Shûchô (Ichikawa Ebizô) tells the story of a strange encounter with a beautiful woman (Bandô Tamasaburô) deep in the mountains. Although she seems to be married and have a family, they have a sensuous meeting by a waterfall as she wipes the sweat and dirt of the road from his body. But she also seems to have the power to turn unwanted men into animals, the creatures that fill her stable. Also starring Kataoka Ichizô and Nakamura Karoku.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kataoka Nizaemon, Sakata Tôjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Shinnosuke

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

Kimura Nagato-no-Kami: ???

Meiboku Sendai Hagi: this play is about the attempt to take over one of the most famous samurai households in the Edo period, a scandal that caused a sensation in its day.

Hanamizubashi: the daimyô Yorikane (Onoe Kikunosuke) has fallen in love with a courtesan and has neglected responsibilities, causing high ranking retainers to plot the takeover of his domain. Returning from the pleasure quarters, he is attacked at Hanamizu Bridge, but is able to escape thanks to the help of a sumô wrestler retainer.

Take-no-Ma/Goten: Masaoka (Sakata Tôjûrô), a loyal maidservant, is taking care of the lord's young heir. Afraid he will be poisoned, she refuses to let anyone see him who might try to assassinate him. She even fixes his meal in her quarters using her delicate tea ceremony implements to cook rice. The plotting faction does not give up, though, and sends poison in the form of candy as a present from the Shôgun. Masaoka's son sacrifices his life for the young lord by eating the poisoned candy, and when he is killed, she thinks only of protecting her lord. Her fierce devotion to duty convinces the plotters that she is on their side. Masaoka's actions help save the young lord, and only when she is alone can she grieve for her son. With Kataoka Nizaemon as the villainous Yashio, a court woman who kills Masaoka’s son.

Yukashita: Another faithful retainer Otokonosuke (Onoe Shôroku), stands guard underneath the room, but the evil Nikki Danjô (Kataoka Nizaemon) appears as a giant rat, but then slips away, walking calmly through the clouds.

Taiketsu/Ninjô: the elderly Geki (Ichikawa Sadanji), a faithful retainer, brings charges against Danjô. Danjô cleverly protests his innocence, but his lies are seen through by the wise judge Katsumoto (Onoe Kikugorô). Condemned to death, Nikki tries to take his revenge on Geki.

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 Kataoka Nizaemon as Kumagai, with Kataoka Hidetarô as Kumagai's wife Sagami, Kataoka Takatarô as Fuji-no-Kata, Sakata Tôjûrô as Yoshitsune and Kataoka Gatô as Midaroku.

Kurotegumi Sukeroku: this play by the 19th century playwright Kawatake Mokuami combines the sunny world of the Kabuki classic "Sukeroku", the handsome hero Sukeroku and his lover Agemaki, the top courtesan in the Yoshiwara, with his own dark world of thieves and absconding clerks and the ironic twists of karma. Featuring Onoe Kikugorô as Sukeroku and the comic clerk Gonkurô and Nakamura Kaishun as Agemaki. Also starring Ichikawa Sadanji, Sawamura Tanosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku.

Hagoromo: the legend of the angel who came to earth to bathe and then had her heavenly feathered robe stolen by a fisherman is famous in all forms of Japanese theater. This month features an elegant dance version of the story with Onoe Shôroku as the fisherman and Onoe Kikunosuke as the angel.

Dango Uri:
(The Dumpling Peddlers)
the mortar and pestle used for pounding rice cakes and dumplings are a symbol of a happily married couple. This short, lively dance shows a couple peddling dumplings with a series of songs and dances. Starring Kataoka Ainosuke and Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of the husband and the wife.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Kashô, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Tanetarô

Educational program at the National Theatre called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki Appreciation Class"). This is a very interesting formula for the beginners because there is lively presentation of Kabuki (or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes) on stage, followed by the drama "Shi-no-Kiri":

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Sasano Takashi

The Heisei Nakamuraza troupe, led by the star Nakamura Kanzaburô, performs for the first time in the city of Matsumoto. This exceptional program is called Shinshû Matsumoto Ôkabuki (Shinshû is an old name for the province of Nagano, whose main city is Matsumoto):

Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Baishi

Nakamura Kinnosuke celebrates his shûmei in the Central provinces, playing the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Keya-mura".

Hashi Benkei:
(Benkei on the Bridge)
There are many legends about Benkei, the warrior-priest who was the faithful companion of the general Yoshitsune. This dance shows the first meeting of Benkei and Yoshitsune. Benkei goes nightly to the bridge at the Fifth Avenue of Kyôto, defeating men night after night and taking their swords. Finally he encounters a delicate young man that he thinks will be an easy opponent, but is defeated himself instead. This young man was Yoshitsune, under his childhood name of Ushiwakamaru. Benkei is so impressed that he becomes Yoshitsune’s retainer, right there and then. Starring Nakamura Matsue as Benkei and Nakamura Baishi as Ushiwakamaru.

Kôjô: there is a close relationship between the stage and the audience in Kabuki and this is shown by these ceremonial stage announcements where the top stars of the company address the audience directly. For this tour, the actors celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Kinnosuke.

Keya-mura: Rokusuke (Nakamura Kinnosuke), a sword master who lives a simple country life, is taking care of a small foundling child. He hangs the boy's kimono outside his house in the hope that the boy's relatives will see it and know where he is. One day he finds himself attacked by a woman named Osono (Nakamura Tokizô) who turns out to be the aunt of the child. As they talk, they find that they are in fact linked by promises of marriage although they have never met directly. Osono is searching for the killer of her father, Rokusuke's master, and Rokusuke promises to help in her vendetta.

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 Umekichi (Nakamura Baigyoku) displays on stage his 'Edo-style' spirit. In the end, young men come out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Danshirô, Ichikawa Kamejirô, Bandô Takesaburô, Nakamura Kikaku, Ôtani Keizô, Bandô Minosuke

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 (Ichikawa Kamejirô), dancing lightly until his antics tangle his strings, creating problems for his puppeteer (Nakamura Kikaku).

Kôjô: there is a close relationship between the stage and the audience in Kabuki and this is shown by these ceremonial stage announcements where the top stars of the company address the audience directly.

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. Ichikawa Kamejirô stars as Benten Kozô, with Ichikawa Danshirô as Nippon Daemon, Nakamura Kikaku as Nangô Rikimaru, Ôtani Keizô as Tadanobu Rihei and Bandô Minosuke as Akaboshi Jûzaburô.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kazutarô

Original outdoors Kabuki performance, in the precincts of the famous Enryakuji temple which is located on mount Hiei.

Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Kanjaku, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Shûchô, Nakamura Kazutarô

Short program called International Family Festival, aiming at gathering together children and parents to enjoy Kabuki.