4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Theatre Cocoon), 2 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Kyôtango (Tango Bunka Kaikan) and 4 in Nagoya (Aichi Arts Center, Heisei Nakamuraza, Heisei Nakamuraza Shienkai)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Kataoka Hidetarô and Bandô Takesaburô perform at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Ichikawa Danzô perform at the Hakataza!

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the Heisei Nakamuraza!

Nakamura Kinnosuke and Kataoka Takatarô perform at the National Theatre!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Aichi Arts Center!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Tango Bunka Kaikan!

Ichikawa Ebizô performs at the Theatre Cocoon!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Emiya, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Takesaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Komazô, Kamimura Kichiya, Bandô Minosuke, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Juen, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Kashô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ôtani Keizô, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ichikawa Otora, Ichikawa Ukon

The traditional two programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Meigetsu Hachiman Matsuri:
(The Autumn Hachiman Festival)
Miyokichi (Ichikawa Emiya) is a spirited geisha in the Fukagawa district with a distinguished lord as a patron and Sanji (Ichikawa Ennosuke), a good for nothing boatman, as a lover. On the occasion of the Hachiman festival, she tries to raise an enormous sum of money for Sanji, but refuses to try to get it from the patron who has been so good to her. Instead, she tries to get it from the merchant Shinsuke (Onoe Shôroku). Shinsuke has long been in love with Miyokichi and brings the money to make her his own, but instead, she gets the money from her patron and so, has no further interest in Shinsuke. When the ardent merchant learns that he has been deceived, love turns to anger and he kills Miyokichi in a beautiful and gruesome scene in the rain, under the full moon of the autumn festival.

Ukiyo Buro: this lively dance evokes the lively atmosphere of the Edo bathhouses. In the Kinoshi-yu bathhouse, the young attendant Sansuke is busy taking care of the customers, pouring hot water on their back. A Japanese slug, shaped as a beautiful woman, nestles close to him and engages Sansuke in a beautiful kudoki. This Nagauta-based dance was premiered in 1937 and starred Ichikawa Ennosuke II. It was added by his grandson Ichikawa Ennosuke III in 1975 in the Omodaka Jûshu collection of dances. Featuring Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Tanenosuke in the roles of Sansuke and the slug.

Benkei Jôshi:
(Benkei the Emissary)
Benkei (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon), the warrior-priest who served Yoshitsune, is the subject of many plays and legends. He is said to have slept with a woman only once and also to never have cried. In this play, he is forced to be the emissary to tell Yoshitsune's wife, Kyô-no-Kimi (Nakamura Yonekichi), that she must die, since the fact that her father was a member of the vanquished enemy clan is throwing a suspicion on the loyalty of Yoshitsune. The others try to find someone to die in Kyô-no-Kimi's place and ask Shinobu (Nakamura Yonekichi), a serving woman. But her mother, Owasa (Nakamura Jakuemon), a seamstress in the mansion absolutely refuses until Shinobu meets her father. Benkei says that he is the father and the tragedy reaches a climax as he recalls his one tryst and weeps as having to kill his daughter.

Kamakura Sandaiki: a rare performance of a classical history play from the Bunraku puppet theatre, which shows a heroic warrior, unbending mother and delicate princess in romance and intrigue on a grand scale. War has placed the young samurai Miuranosuke (Onoe Matsuya) and his fiance Princess Toki on enemy sides. She takes care of his sick mother (Kataoka Hidetarô) despite being on opposite sides, and Miuranosuke slips away from the battle to see his mother one last time. But she refuses to see him when he should be on the battlefield and he must leave, brokenhearted. Princess Toki's father is the leader of the enemy forces and she is faced with a terrible challenge. She will only be allowed to be united with the man she loves if she kills her father. Starring Nakamura Jakuemon as Princess Toki, considered to be one of the most difficult princess roles in the Kabuki repertory. Featuring also Matsumoto Kôshirô in the role of Sasaki Takatsuna.

Gosho no Gorozô: a portrait of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters at the height of its splendor. Rival gangs dressed in the height of fashion exchange stately speeches before fighting in the elaborate poetic cadences of Kawatake Mokuami, the last great playwright of Kabuki. Gorozô is the handsome leader of a gang, but his lover, the top courtesan Satsuki pretends to reject him to save his life. Tragedy strikes when Gorozô is driven to revenge. Starring Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Gorozô, Ichikawa Sadanji as his rival in love, Nakamura Jakuemon as Gorozô's lover, the courtesan Satsuki and Nakamura Yonekichi as Ôshû, a courtesan who is tragically killed.

Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri: this is a modern play by Hasegawa Shin and shows Komagata Mohê (Matsumoto Kôshirô), a starving, would-be sumô wrestler. He encounters a courtesan Otsuta (Ichikawa Ennosuke), who gives him her purse and hair ornaments and makes him promise to become a champion sumô wrestler. In turn, she promises to go see him make his ceremonial entry into the ring. But ten years later, Mohê has become a gangster instead. Now a powerful fighter, he rescues Otsuta and her family. Ironically, this has become the only way that he can repay her kindness and the shameful form that his entry into the ring has taken. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa En'ya, Bandô Minosuke and Onoe Matsuya.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Kotarô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Jûjirô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Baika

The traditional two programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza. Nakamura Shikan VIII and his three sons, Nakamura Hashinosuke IV, Nakamura Fukunosuke III and Nakamura Utanosuke IV, celebrate their shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza!

Kurumabiki: this short scene shows the three brothers that dominate the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", each with a distinctive personality. Sakuramaru (Nakamura Fukunosuke) and Umeômaru (Nakamura Hashinosuke) have been rendered masterless by Kan Shôjô's exile. The third brother Matsuômaru (Nakamura Shikan) serves the villain Shihei (Kawarasaki Gonjûrô), who is responsible for the downfall of Kan Shôjô. Sakuramaru and Umeômaru try to destroy Shihei's carriage but are stopped by Matsuômaru and the magical glare of Shihei. Finally the brothers agree to suspend their disputes until they all meet at their father's seventieth birthday party.

Fuji Musume: the spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of a beautiful young maiden. One of Kabuki's most famous and colorful dances, it will feature the dancing skills of Onoe Kikunosuke.

Keya-mura: Rokusuke (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô), 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 Kyôgoku no Takumi (Kawarasaki Gonjûrô), the killer of her father, Rokusuke's master, and Rokusuke promises to help in her vendetta.

Kôchiyama: the tea priest Kôchiyama (Nakamura Shikan) is a skilled thief and extortionist, but cannot turn down a request to help those in need. He disguises himself as a high-ranking priest to try to gain the freedom of a girl held by a powerful samurai lord (Nakamura Baigyoku) because she will not become his mistress. Using the famous poetic cadences of the late 19th century playwright Mokuami, Kôchiyama not only succeeds in his mission to rescue the girl, but he manages to extort a fair amount for himself. Featuring also Ichikawa Danzô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke.

Terutora Haizen: a rare performance of a historical play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon I. The warlord Nagao Terutora (Nakamura Baigyoku) wants the services of the great strategist Yamamoto Kansuke who is now the strategist for his rival Takeda Shingen. The wife of one of Terutora's retainers is Kansuke's sister and so Terutora invites Kansuke's wife and mother to see her. When the two women arrive, Terutora brings the food tray himself and knowing what he has in mind, the old woman Koshiji (Nakamura Kaishun) kicks it. The furious Terutora wants to kill them all, but is restrained by Kansuke's wife Okatsu (Onoe Kikunosuke), who desperately defends her mother, despite the fact that she cannot speak and must express herself in koto music instead.

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 Shikan VIII, Nakamura Hashinosuke IV, Nakamura Fukunosuke III and Nakamura Utanosuke IV.

Renjishi: 2 entertainers dance a tale of the legendary shishi or lion-like spirits that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. There is a comic interlude with 2 Buddhist pilgrims. Then, the shishi themselves appear and perform their dance with wild shaking of their long manes. The dance shows a parent shishi forcing his cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. This theme is often associated with the training a parent actor gives his son. This performance is unusual because it features 3 cubs instead of one, starring Nakamura Shikan in the role of the parent shishi and his three sons, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke, in the roles of the cubs.

Kôsuke Mochi: based on a classic of Kansai-style rakugo comic storytelling, this was a famous part of the Ôsaka comedian Fujiyama Kanbi's repertory. The play focuses on Daikokuya Kôsuke (Nakamura Ganjirô), the proprietor of a rice cake shop who is forced to sell his wife Okimi (Ichimura Kitsutarô) into prostitution for the money and then the complications when he encounters a famous sumô wrestler (Nakamura Kikaku). Featuring also Nakamura Kaishun.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Mantarô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô

The Heisei Nakamuraza is in Nagoya for the third time. The first time, it was a short stay as part of the long September 2006 tour in the western provinces. The second time occured in September 2009.

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 Bandô Yajûrô as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Nakamura Mantarô as Gorô and Nakamura Baishi as Jûrô. Featuring also Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of Kobayashi no Asahina, Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon.

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, the money courier Kameya Chûbê breaks the seals on a package of money entrusted to him after being taunted by a rival, even though the use of such money is punishable by death. Starring Nakamura Senjaku as Chûbê, Nakamura Shichinosuke as Umegawa, Nakamura Kankurô as Chûbê's treacherous friend Tanbaya Hachiemon and Nakamura Kamenojô as Oen, the proprietress of the teahouse.

Omatsuri: Nakamura Kankurô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: the epic "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura") features many characters around the famous general Yoshitsune, but none more memorable than a magic fox that takes the guise of Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune's most trusted retainers. The fox wants to get close to a precious drum that Yoshitsune has made from the skins of his fox parents. In this excerpt from the longer play, the fox reveals his true identity with a series of spectacular stage tricks and Yoshitsune is moved to grant him the drum. Starring Nakamura Senjaku as the fox Tadanobu. Also featuring Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Kankurô as Shizuka Gozen and Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

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. Nakamura Shichinosuke stars as Benten Kozô, with Bandô Yajûrô as Nippon Daemon, Kataoka Kamezô as Nangô Rikimaru, Nakamura Mantarô as Tadanobu Rihei and Nakamura Baishi as Akaboshi Jûzaburô.

Adayume:
(A False Dream)
Nakamura Kankurô plays a badger in love with the beautiful courtesan Miyuki (Nakamura Shichinosuke) in the Shimabara pleasure quarters in Kyôto. In order to woo her, the badger transforms into the dance teacher (Bandô Shingo) that Miyuki loves, in a role originally created for Nakamura Kankurô's grandfather Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
Sasaguchi Rei for "Adayume"

A trial session within the Heisei Nakamuraza in Nagoya. Only one play is staged at 16:30 with stars' disciples in the leading roles. Otanoshimi zadankai (literally "Enjoyable Roundtable Discussion") is a stage speech with the stars performing at the Heisei Nakamuraza.

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.

Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Shûchô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Umemaru

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 "Kenuki".

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. Nakamura Kinnosuke stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs in Nagoya at the Aichi Arts Center along with the Kodô taiko drummers in a newly-created dance-drama entitled "Yûgen", which features an array of classical Japanese images from plays by Nô founder Zeami Motokiyo, incorporating themes from iconic works such as "Hagoromo" (The Feather Robe), "Dôjôji" (Dôjôji Temple) and "Shakkyô" (The Stone Bridge). Bandô Tamasaburô shares the stage with the dance master Hanayagi Jusuke IV and his disciples.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Kyôtango at the Tango Bunka Kaikan (Tango Culture Center). A place named Mineyama, now part of Kyôtango, had a close connection with the Hagoromo legend.

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 Tango Bunka Kaikan, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Aki no Irokusa:
(The Colors of Autumn)
A beautiful dance about autumn and all its associated images : morning glories, violets, arrowroot, pampas grass, the cry of passing geese sounding over the sailing ships, the sweet cacophony of insects, the moon and winds of autumn. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

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 Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the angel.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakayama Yûma, Maeno Tomoya, Yamada Jundai

Fourth edition of the ABKAI (Ebikai in Japanese), a gala for the young star Ichikawa Ebizô.