5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Theatre Cocoon) and 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza)!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Hidetarô and Ichikawa Monnosuke perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Jakuemon, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Karoku and Bandô Takesaburô perform at the Hakataza!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Shidô and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the Theatre Cocoon!

Nakamura Hashinosuke performs at the National Theatre!

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Komazô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emiya, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Kashô, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Takeda Takeru

The classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" is staged in 3 parts and Ichikawa Ukon's son Takeda Takeru makes his first stage appearance (omemie) in the role of Rokudai. Each part of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" is dedicated to one hero of this drama: Taira no Tomomori in the first part, Igami no Gonta in the second part and Tadanobu in the third part. In the first part, Masuyama Kinpachi I's Nagauta-based drama "Hototogisu Hana Aru Sato" is revived. This dance-drama is commonly called "Tadanobu" and it stars Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Kaishun in the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the shirabyôshi Miyoshino.

Ikari Tomomori: the roles of Tomomori, Suke-no-Tsubone and Minamoto no Yoshitsune are played by Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Ennosuke and Onoe Matsuya.

Igami no Gonta: the roles of Gonta, Kokingo, Osato and Yasuke (in reality Taira no Koremori) are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô, Onoe Matsuya, Ichikawa Ennosuke and Ichikawa Somegorô.

Kitsune Tadanobu: the role of Tadanobu (in reality the fox Genkurô) are played by Ichikawa Ennosuke. The role of Shizuka Gozen is played by Ichikawa Somegorô in "Michiyuki Hatsune no Tabi" and Ichikawa Emiya in "Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata". The role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune is played by Ichikawa Monnosuke. This program ends with a spectacular chûnori, which is a trademark of the Omodakaya guild.

Ikari Tomomori: these are two scenes from one of the greatest classics of the puppet theatre, which has also become a classic of Kabuki. After the wars between the Genji and Heike clans, the Genji are victorious and their leader Yoritomo is now Shôgun. But there is a falling out between Yoritomo and his brother Yoshitsune, the brilliant general responsible for the victory. Now Yoshitsune (Onoe Matsuya) is fleeing through the country and this play fancifully has him encounter several famous warriors from the Heike clan, who are not dead, as history has it. Yoshitsune books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Ichikawa Somegorô), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war, but in this play, Tomomori is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid (Ichikawa Ennosuke). At one moment the captain is a gallant commoner, but in the next, he is Tomomori, a high ranking general close to the emperor. His wife as well is a cheerful commoner who shows her true identity as a high-ranking lady-in-waiting in the magnificent robes of the imperial court. Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to get his revenge on Yoshitsune but is defeated again. Finally Tomomori fastens a cable of a giant anchor to his body as he plunges to death in the sea.

Hototogisu Hana Arusato: Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Nakamura Baigyoku) and his retainers are on their way from Daimotsu bay to Mt. Yoshino and rest here along the road to Yamato Province. A shirabyôshi court dancer (Nakamura Kaishun) and a puppet player (Ichikawa Somegorô) pass by. Each dances lively and comforts Yoshitsune. It is a lively dance with Nagauta lyrical ensemble.

Igami no Gonta: Wakaba-no-Naishi (Ichikawa Komazô), the wife of the Heike warrior Koremochi, travels with her young son and their retainer Kokingo (Onoe Matsuya), searching for her husband. While resting in a small mountain village, they are met by Gonta (Matsumoto Kôshirô), a local bully who skillfully cons them out of their money. Later, they are attacked by Genji forces, and, in a spectacular fight, Kokingo sacrifices himself to save his mistress and her son. Gonta's father Yazaemon (Matsumoto Kingo) runs a sushi shop, but was formerly a retainer of Taira Koremochi. With his clan defeated, Koremochi (Ichikawa Somegorô) now lives with Yazaemon's family disguised as a humble apprentice. Innocently, Yazaemon's daughter, Osato (Ichikawa Ennosuke) is in love with him. But knowing of the bounty on Koremochi's head, her brother Gonta kills him and turns his wife and child over to the Genji commander. Furious at his son, Yazaemon stabs him, but before his death, Gonta reveals that he only pretended to kill Koremochi and sacrificed his own wife and son to save the real Koremochi and his family.

Kitsune Tadanobu: hearing that Yoshitsune has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino, Yoshitsune’s loyal retainer Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ennosuke) and his lover Shizuka Gozen (Ichikawa Somegorô) go to try to meet him there. Although Tadanobu keeps disappearing, he always appears when Shizuka Gozen 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 to save Yoshitsune’s life. Featuring Ichikawa En'ya in the role of the comical villain Hayami no Tôta. Yoshitsune (Ichikawa Monnosuke) has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino at the mansion of an old ally. Tadanobu (Ichikawa Ennosuke) arrives but has no recollection of Shizuka Gozen being placed under his care. Shizuka Gozen (Ichikawa Emiya) herself soon arrives with the other Tadanobu and after an investigation they discover that he is actually a fox. 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 play ends with a spectacular chûnori.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Jakuemon, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Takesaburô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Onoe Ukon

Nakamura Jakuemon V celebrates his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza!

Kimi-ga-Yo Shôchikubai: the program begins with a graceful dance evoking three plants that are regarded as auspicious symbols of prosperity and long life. Featuring Ôtani Tomoemon as the spirit of the pine, Nakamura Kinnosuke as the spirit of the bamboo and Ôtani Hiromatsu as the spirit of the plum.

Kenuki: in this play, which retains the light, festive atmosphere of early-period Kabuki, a princess has a mysterious ailment that makes her hair stand on end, an ailment that prevents her from carrying out her long-awaited marriage. Kumedera Danjô comes from the groom's household to investigate and finds a plot to take over the household when his tweezers float in mid-air. Onoe Shôroku stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting. Featuring also Ichikawa Danzô, Kataoka Takatarô and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

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 Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Kumagai, with Nakamura Jakuemon as Kumagai's wife Sagami, Onoe Kikunosuke as Fuji-no-Kata, Nakamura Tokizô as Yoshitsune and Nakamura Karoku as Midaroku.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Ichikawa Sadanji). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Onoe Shôroku) take his place while he visits Hanako. He returns, giddy from a night of pleasure and tells his story to his servant in dance, unaware that his wife has discovered his deception and has taken his servant's place.

Hikimado: originally written for the puppet theater, this play shows a tragedy of commoners caught between their duty and their feelings toward their loved ones. A sumô wrestler named Nuregami Chôgorô (Ichikawa Sadanji) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) has been ordered to arrest him. All of these complicated conflicts are symbolized by the lightness and darkness created by the humble skylight (hikimado in Japanese) as a rope is pulled to move a wooden shutter. Featuring also Kataoka Takatarô in the role of Ohaya.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. In this case, all the stars of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Jakuemon V. Featuring Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô.

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 Jakuemon, supported by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô and Ichikawa Sadanji in the roles of Katsuyori, Nureginu and Nagao Kenshin. Featuring also Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku in the roles of the warriors Shirasuga Rokurô and Hara Kobunji.

Onna Date: Onoe Kikunosuke stars as a woman in the pleasure quarters who swaggers and fights in the finest gallant style but who has a delicate sense of femininity as well.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Sasano Takashi, Manako Keiji, Ômori Hiroshi

15th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki performance, which recreates the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Yotsuya Kaidan" is revised by the playwright Kushida Kazuyoshi and this new production is based on the second version (kitaban), which was staged in March 2006/April 2006 in the same theater and included the rarely-staged act IV, with its 2 scenes "the Misumi House in Fukagawa" and "the Refuge of the Oshioda Family" [more details].

Yotsuya Kaidan: this play is a famous ghost story and at the same time a story written as the microcosms of human society under the historical background that the warrior class is falling down. Tamiya Iemon (Nakamura Shidô), a masterless samurai and ex-retainer of the En'ya family, asks his father-in-law Yotsuya Samon to allow his wife Oiwa (Nakamura Senjaku) to come back to him whom Samon took back to his house. But as he sees his wish not accepted and himself blamed for embezzling public money in the past, he kills Samon with his sword. Naosuke (Nakamura Kankurô) who fell in love with Oiwa's sister Osode (Nakamura Shichinosuke) bears a grudge against Osode's husband Yomoshichi (Nakamura Senjaku) and murders him cruelly. Oiwa and Osode hurry to the place where Samon and Yomoshichi were murdered. Iemon promises Oiwa to avenge her father while Naosuke promises Osode to avenge her husband. A few months later as Oiwa is doing poorly after childbirth, Iemon is tired of his poverty and becomes bitter to her. At the moment a medicine and a present for their child's birth is sent from Iemon's neighbor Itô Kihê (Sasano Takashi). As Iemon visits Itô to express his gratitude, Ito Kihê's granddaughter Oume (Nakamura Tsurumatsu) pines for Iemon and Kihê appeals to him to marry Oume. As Kihê is a retainer of Kô family, the enemy of the En'ya family, Iemon once declines the offer, but finally agrees to marry her. Taking the medicine from Itô not knowing it is a poison Oiwa's face becomes disfigured. Finally Oiwa knows the truth and dies having a grudge. Osode who has lived with Naosuke as a provisional couple finally gives herself to him. Her husband Yomoshichi who should have died earlier appears there. Oiwa's spirit torments Iemon while Naosuke and Osode fall by the irony of fate. What will become of them in the end?

Source: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Muneo

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. It is followed by the drama "Sakanaya Sôgorô".