4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Theater MILANO-Za, Sunshine Theatre), 2 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza) & 1 tour (Shinryoku Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Yonekichi & Kamimura Kichiya perform at the Shôchikuza!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Tokizô & Onoe Tatsunosuke perform at the Kabukiza!

Ichikawa Chûsha & Ichikawa Danko perform at the Theater MILANO-Za!

Young actors perform at the Minamiza!

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Yonekichi, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Toranosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Hidenosuke, Nakamura Tanetarô

The historic Shôchikuza, located in the vibrant heart of the Dôtonbori district in Ôsaka and affectionately nicknamed the 'Arc de Triomphe of Dôtonbori', will definitively close its doors at the end of May 2026. 2nd of the two Ôsaka Shôchikuza Sayonara Kôen, the Shôchikuza Farewell Performances.

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Danjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Tatsunosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Sawamura Kiyoshirô, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichikawa Ukon, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Onoe Kikuichirô, Bandô Tamao

The great yearly Dankiku festival is back at the Kabukiza! This important festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds commemorates 2 great stars of the Meiji era: Dan = Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Kiku = Onoe Kikugorô V. This month, it celebrates the shûmei of Onoe Tatsunosuke III.

Hakkenden:
(The Eight Dog Warriors)
The original novel is an immense epic by 19th century novelist Takizawa Bakin published over many years, but eventually reaching one-hundred and sixty volumes. Following the dowfall of the Satomi Clan, eight magical crystal, each engraved with the Chinese characters of one of the Confucian virtues, have been scattered into the air. Miraculously, each was finally found with a newborn baby, all of whom have the character inu for "dog" in their names. They eventually meet and join together to restore the Satomi clan. The two scenes from this long play features the spectacular fight on top of a roof between Inuzuka Shino (Onoe Ukon), falsely accused of the stealing of a famous sword, and his pursuer Inukai Genpachi (Bandô Minosuke). They fight without realizing that they are indeed allies. Featuring also Bandô Hikosaburô as Inuyama Dôsetsu.

Rokkasen: a rare full-length performance of a humorous series of dances, which show the ancient poetic geniuses famous from classical Japanese literature, reinterpreted to the tastes of Edo period audiences. Ono no Komachi, the only woman of the six, was famous as a great beauty and in this dance, all the other poets are in love with her. The first dances are filled with the atmosphere of the Heian period imperial court, but then changes to a contemporary scene. Starring Onoe Kikugorô in the five male roles (Henjô, Bun'ya, Narihira, Kisen and Kuronushi) and Nakamura Jakuemon and Nakamura Tokizô in the roles of Okaji and Ono no Komachi.

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 Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Onoe Tatsunosuke as Gorô and Onoe Kikugorô as Jûrô. Featuring Nakamura Manju, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Jakuemon and Ichikawa Danjûrô as Kobayashi no Maizuru, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover), the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).

Kikubatake: it is a great classic of period play Kabuki originally adapted from the Bunraku puppet theatre, full of larger-than-life characters and a stage full of dazzling color. In a garden of brilliant yellow and white chrysanthemums, there is Kiichi (Bandô Hikosaburô), an elderly strategist working for the dictator Kiyomori, his beautiful daughter Minazuru (Nakamura Tokizô) and two footmen, the elegant young Torazô (Onoe Tatsunosuke) and the powerful Chienai (Onoe Shôroku). But in fact, Torazô is a young general from the enemy side here to steal Kiichi’s secrets of strategy. Chienai is his retainer. But Kiichi has realized why they are there and also knows that Chienai is actually his younger brother. At the same time, Minazuru has fallen deeply in love with Torazô.

Sukeroku: the dandy Sukeroku is the most famous patron of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters. But his reputation as the lover of Agemaki, the highest ranking courtesan in the quarter is matched by that of his tendency to pick fights. In fact, Sukeroku is the samurai Soga no Gorô in disguise, and he uses the fights to find a lost heirloom sword. His search takes place in the colorful atmosphere of the Yoshiwara where processions of beautiful courtesans compete with the splendor of cherry blossoms in full bloom. All the top stars in Kabuki appear in a procession of beautiful, exciting and amusing roles. Starring Ichikawa Danjûrô and Onoe Kikugorô as Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki. Featuring also Ichikawa Omezô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Tatsunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Ukon, Onoe Shôroku and Nakamura Takanosuke in the roles of Ikyû, the shirozake seller Shinbê, Mankô Gozen, Fukuyama Katsugi, the courtesan Miuraya Shiratama, the passer-by, Kanpera Monbê and Asagao Senpei.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website, Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website or others sources

Ichikawa Chûsha, Ichikawa Danko

Grand Kabuki right in the heart of the Kabukichô entertainment district near Shinjuku Station! The Theater MILANO-Za is located within the Tôkyû Kabukichô Tower.

Kamimura Kichitarô, Kataoka Senjirô

Young actors performing in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

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The usual Zenshinza Spring program, not at the National Theatre (closed) but at the Sunshine Theatre (Tôkyô)! It celebrates the 95th anniversary of this troupe, founded in 1931!