5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Warehouse TERRADA, Shinjuku FACE) and 1 in Kyôtango (Tango Bunka Kaikan)!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Baishi, Onoe Matsuya, Kataoka Ichizô and Bandô Hikosaburô perform at the Kabukiza!

The Zenshinza troupe performs at the National Theatre!

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

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Baishi, Onoe Matsuya, Kataoka Ichizô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Onoe Ukon, Onoe Ushinosuke

The great yearly Dankiku festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds, which commemorates 2 great stars of the Meiji era: Dan = Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Kiku = Onoe Kikugorô V. This is also the hatsubutai of Onoe Kikunosuke's son Terajima Kazufumi, who is also the grandson of both Living National Treasures Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Kichiemon. This young boy receives the name of Onoe Ushinosuke VII, a name unheld for 23 years, in May 2019 at the Kabukiza. The new Ushinosuke performs in the dance-drama "Ehon Ushiwakamaru", which was written by the novelist Murakami Genzô and was premiered in February 1984 for the hatsubutai of Onoe Ushinosuke VI.

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 of young actors headed by Onoe Shôroku as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Nakamura Mantarô as Gorô and Nakamura Baishi as Jûrô. Featuring Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Onoe Ukon and Bandô Kamezô as Kobayashi no Asahina, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover), the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).

Kanjinchô: probably the most popular Kabuki play today, it includes dance, comedy and the heart-warming pathos of a band of heroes during their last days. Disguised as a band of traveling priests the fugitive general Yoshitsune and his small band of retainers are stopped at a road barrier. They escape only through the quick thinking of the head retainer, a warrior priest named Musashibô Benkei, who improvises the text of an elaborate imperial decree. Having escaped danger Benkei and the others describe their days of glory and hardships on the road to escape in a moving dance. This program stars Ichikawa Ebizô in the role of Benkei, with Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.

Megumi no Kenka: they used to say that fights and fires were the flowers of the city of Edo and many plays feature the gallent members of firefighting troupes, who were popular heroes. This particular play depicts a rivalry between the members of the Megumi firefighting band and a group of sumô wrestlers, which ultimately is a confrontation between the firefighters, who represent the commoner class and the samurai patrons of the sumô wrestlers. The fight begins with a minor incident, but grows into a situation of such tension, that when Tatsugorô, the leader of the firefighting gang, goes to his final fight, he goes with the full intention that this may be a fight to the death. Before he leaves, he has an emotional parting from his family. Featuring Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô as Tatsugorô and Ichikawa Sadanji as the leader of the group of sumô wrestlers. Featuring also Nakamura Tokizô (Tatsugorô's wife Onaka), Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô and Ichimura Manjirô.

Kakuju Senzai: this is a dance first performed in 1928 to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito. The crane is an auspicious bird which is believed to live happily with its partner and to live a thousand years. Two cranes dance together to celebrate a peaceful new era. This will be performed to commemorate the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito on the 1st of May 2019. Featuring Nakamura Tokizô as the female crane and Onoe Shôroku as the male crane.

Ehon Ushiwakamaru: As the Heike clan is at the height of its prosperity, Ushiwakamaru, son of the late Minamoto no Yoshitomo (general of the Genji clan, the Heike's enemy), is on Mount Kurama where he has become an apprentice swordsman. He is accompanied by his retainer, Benkei and together they embark on a journey to the northern province of Ôshû. Kiichi Hôgen, Ushiwakamaru's master, gives him a book of military strategy as a parting gift. Onoe Ushinosuke will make his debut this month performing the role of Ushiwakamaru, with Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichikawa Ebizô and Onoe Shôroku.

Musume Dôjôji: a beautiful young woman dances under cherry blossoms at a dedication ceremony for a temple bell. She dances the many aspects of a woman in love, but is actually the spirit of a serpent, driven to destroy the bell out of jealousy. In addition to being the most famous of all Kabuki dances, "Musume Dôjôji" is considered to be the pinnacle of the art of the onnagata. The role of the shirabyôshi is played by Onoe Kikunosuke.

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 Onoe Matsuya as Gorozô, Bandô Hikosaburô as his rival in love, Nakamura Baishi as Gorozô's lover, the courtesan Satsuki and Onoe Ukon as Ôshû, a courtesan who is tragically killed.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Arashi Yoshisaburô

The usual Zenshinza May program at the National Theatre!

Sakura Giminden: this play is rare among classics in having a political theme. It depicts a country landlord Kiuchi Sôgô (Arashi Yoshisaburô) 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 (Fujikawa Yanosuke) to let him pass and says a final farewell to his wife Osan (Kawarazaki Kunitarô) 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

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).

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.

Yuki:
(Snow)
Bandô Tamasaburô appears as an Ôsaka courtesan named Soseki, expressing her feelings of loneliness after having been jilted by her lover and who has decided to become a nun. This jiuta dance is performed in a restrained chamber style.

Kosunoto:
(Reed Screen)
A masterpiece of tsuyamono (love story) which sings about the sentiment of love. It begins with description of a woman's heart toward a man she loves and her attachment is described gracefully with the sound of wind blowing through the pine trees, the cry of little cuckoos and the moon in the background which remind us of summer night.

Kurokami:
(Black hair)
A woman's heart lamenting the painfulness and loneliness of sleeping alone is expressed with deep feeling. It is impressive that a woman's feeling of love and jealousy is skillfully expressed from the contrast of black hair, the symbol for the beauty of Japanese women, and white snow, as the words say.

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.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Akahori Masaaki, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi

A new type of Kabuki called Ofushiatâ Kabuki, literally "Off Theater Kabuki", staged at the Warehouse TERRADA and (loosely?) based on Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Abura no Jigoku".

Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Akahori Masaaki, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi

A new type of Kabuki called Ofushiatâ Kabuki, literally "Off Theater Kabuki", staged at the Shinjuku FACE and (loosely?) based on Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Abura no Jigoku".