2 shows in Tôkyô (National Theatre, Theatre Cocoon), 1 in Nagoya (Chûnichi Theatre), 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza) and 1 tour (Kansai)!

Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Fukusuke perform at the Hakataza!

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke and Nakamura Senjaku perform at the Theatre Cocoon!

The Omodakaya guild performs at the Chûnichi Theatre!

Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Shidô perform at the Minamiza!

Kataoka Ainosuke and Kataoka Takatarô perform at the National Theatre!

Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Karoku

Ono no Tôfû: Ono no Tôfû is famous as one of the greatest calligraphers in the history of Japan and legend has it that he was inspired by the sight of a frog jumping onto a tall willow tree in the rain. This image has made it onto a hanafuda card and was a stock story of pre-war moral education. This month there is a very rare performance of a play that shows Ono no Tôfû not only as a great calligrapher, but also as a powerful fighter. After elegant court noble Ono no Tôfû (Nakamura Baigyoku) witnesses this scene, he fights with Daroku (Nakamura Kanjaku) a red-faced warrior like a sumô wrestler. The two unlikely combatants are evenly matched and this fight is an omen of disturbances in the land and the two joining forces to bring peace.

Momijigari: the general Taira Koremochi (Ichikawa Somegorô) travels to the mountains to view the autumn leaves when he suddenly encounters a beautiful princess (Nakamura Fukusuke) and her entourage. Aided by the elegant dancing of the princess and a large amount of sake, Koremochi falls asleep, not knowing that she is actually a fierce demon. The god of the mountain (Onoe Shôroku) dances vigorously to try to wake up Koremochi. But as the demon appears in its true form, Koremochi is saved by the magical power of his sword.

Ishikawa Goemon: in the time of the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishikawa Goemon was a famous larger-than-life thief. When he was executed by being boiled alive, he is said to have defiantly said that the sands on the beach may run out but thieves will never disappear from this world. In this play, a rare revival, Goemon hides in a giant basket, which then flies through the air. As the basket goes to the ceiling of the theater, suddenly Goemon burst out and travels triumphantly through the sky. This production stars Nakamura Kichiemon as Ishikawa Goemon. Featuring also Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Kashô.

Shiokumi: in the classical Nô Theatre, there are few plays as evocative as Matsukaze, the story of a court noble exiled to the seacoast where he falls in love with two fisher women. The women make their living scooping up heavy buckets of sea water to make salt and this has become a famous dance. Starring Sakata Tôjûrô as the shiokumi Matsukaze.

Ôkawa no Inkyo: Onihei Hankachô is a popular series of novels, written by Ikenami Shotarô from 1967, and successfully adapted to television. In all, 135 stories were published. The hero is Hasegawa Heizô, head of the special police who had jurisdiction over arson and robberies in Edo. His nickname is "Onihei," which means "Heizô the Devil". He leads a band of law-enforcers and cultivates reformed criminals as informants to solve difficult crimes. This episode, "The Retired of the Ôkawa River" is about the stealing of Onihei's precious silver kiseru, a souvenir from his late father. The investigations lead Onihei to the old boatman Tomogorô, who used to be a thief but he's supposed to have retired. Featuring Nakamura Kichiemon and Nakamura Karoku in the roles of Onihei and Tomogorô. Featuring also Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kashô and Ichikawa Somegorô.

Kezori: one of the most spectacular plays in Kabuki, "Kezori" shows a man who has grown wealthy as a smuggler and shows his exotic lifestyle and expansive spirit. A merchant named Sôshichi (Sakata Tôjûrô) is in love with a courtesan named Kojorô (Nakamura Fukusuke). He boards a boat unaware that it is owned by the smuggler Kezori (Nakamura Kichiemon) who is also his rival in love. Sôshichi happens to see illicit merchandise being unloaded and Kezori has him thrown into the sea. The boat revolves and Kezori poses on its prow, gazing proudly out at the world he rules. However, Sôshichi survives and goes to Kojorô for help. She says that she will ask one of her patrons for money and Sôshichi greets the patron only to find that it is Kezori. Magnanimously, Kezori forgives Sôshichi and will help him, but on the condition that Sôshichi become a member of his gang. Featuring also Nakamura Kanjaku, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Somegorô and Nakamura Tôzô.

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 Onoe Shôroku and Ichikawa Somegorô.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Sasano Takashi, Nakamura Shichinosuke

11th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki performance, which recreates the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience.

Sakura Giminden: this play is rare among classics in having a political theme. It depicts a country landlord Kiuchi Sôgô (Nakamura Kanzaburô) who cannot stand the suffering of the farmers around him. A series of bad harvests has made things very hard, but corrupt officials refuse to lower taxes or relent in any way. Finally, Sôgô decides to bring the case directly to the Shôgun, a move punishable by death. The play shows Sôgô as he persuades the old keeper of the river crossing to let him pass and says a final farewell to his wife Osan and children. Meanwhile, he is watched by a villainous informer, Maboroshi no Chôkichi. Finally, Sôgô brings his case directly to the Shôgun, knowing that whether he is successful or not, he will be executed.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Danjirô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Kôtarô

Kanadehon Futae Zôshi: a combination of Kabuki's greatest classic of loyalty with a ghost play that is Kabuki's greatest classic of disloyalty. When "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) first appeared in 1748 it was a tremendous hit because it dramatized a historical incident in 1703 that showed that feudal values were still alive. A samurai lord suddenly attacked a senior advisor to the Shôgun inside the Shôgun's palace and was punished by being forced to commit ritual suicide. After great hardship, forty-seven of his loyal retainers banded together to avenge their lord's death by attacking his enemy. But by 1825 when "Yotsuya Kaidan" first appeared, the world was a great deal more cynical about all the samurai values. "Yotsuya Kaidan" was actually performed together with "Kanadehon Chûshingura" and its characters are disloyal members of the clan. It is also the story of Iemon (Ichikawa Danjirô), a former member of the clan who is in love with Oiwa (Ichikawa Emisaburô), also a former member of the clan. But her father takes her away when he knows that lemon has stolen money from the clan. Iemon kills her father and then promises her to help her avenge her father's death. They live together in poverty, but at this point, the Oume, the granddaughter of a wealthy doctor who belongs to the enemy clan, falls in love with him. To get Iemon, the doctor gives Oiwa a poison that disfigures her horribly. Iemon decides to betray Oiwa and she becomes a vengeful ghost. Ennosuke has combined these two classics with his customary spectacle and speed with his trademark flight through the air as well. Ennosuke is not part of the cast but he has supervised the production, which stars Ichikawa Ukon in the roles of the ghost of Nitta Yoshisada, Naosuke Gonbê and Amakawaya Gihei. Featuring also Ichikawa Monnosuke in the roles of Akatsuki Hoshigorô (in reality Kiryûmaru), Satô Yomoshichi and Gihei's wife Osono.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Hayato

A special Kabuki dance-program starring Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Shidô.

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. Starring Bandô Tamasaburô.

Seki no To:
(The Snowbound Barrier)
A snow-covered barrier decorated by a mysteriously blooming cherry tree provides the background for the larger-than-life story of a traitorous aristocrat disguised as a barrier guard and the beautiful woman, actually a supernatural spirit in disguise, that will defeat him. Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shidô and Nakamura Hayato star in what is considered to be one of the greatest Kabuki dance-dramas.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Sawamura Sônosuke

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 on stage of Kabuki or some aspects of the art like music, stage tricks or fighting scenes, followed by the drama "Narukami".

Narukami: one of the most popular and universally appealing plays in the Kabuki Jûhachiban collection of plays featuring the bombastic aragoto style of acting. The holy man Narukami (Kataoka Ainosuke) is angry at the Imperial Court and has taken refuge in the mountains where he has imprisoned inside a waterfall the dragon that brings rain, bringing a severe drought to the country. Princess Taema (Kataoka Takatarô) is sent by the Imperial Court to try to seduce Narukami, destroying his magical powers and release the rain. When he finds that he has been betrayed, anger transforms Narukami into a Thunder God.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kataoka Gatô, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Shinnosuke, Bandô Shinsha

35th edition of an educational Kabuki tour in Kansai. The first item is a speech about Kabuki and the second the drama "Ninokuchi-mura":

Ninokuchi-mura:
(Ninokuchi Village)
Chûbê (Kataoka Shinnosuke) and Umegawa (Kamimura Kichiya) couple on their way to love suicide goes through the snow covered landscape on their way to the man's home town where they will meet their end. They travel throughout the countryside with the stolen money, hoping for a few fleeting moments of happiness before the money runs out and they are captured and punished. Featuring Kataoka Gatô in the role of Magoemon.