2 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza), 1 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Okinawa (Nakagusuku Castle)!

Nakamura Jakuemon, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Kankurô and Onoe Shôroku perform at the Kabukiza!

Ichikawa Ennosuke and the Omodakaya guild perform at the Shôchikuza!

Nakamura Jakuemon, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Kankurô, Onoe Shôroku, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Kametoshi, Nakamura Matsue, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Kotarô, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ichimura Kitsutarô

Nakamura Jakuemon V celebrates his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Princess Toki and Princess Yuki in "Kinugawa-mura Kankyo" and "Kinkakuji". These two roles were atariyaku for both Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Jakuemon IV.

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 Nakamura Hashinosuke as Kudô and some of the most popular young stars in Kabuki with Onoe Shôroku as Gorô and Nakamura Kankurô as Jûrô. Featuring also Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku and Ôtani Tomoemon.

Onna Modori Kago: a usual practice was celebrated female impersonators to have famous male roles rewritten for them. Numerous titles of already popular plays to which the character onna (“woman”) was added appeared in the Kabuki repertory over the centuries, such as "Onna Narukami" ("Female Narukami") or "Onna Shibaraku" ("Female Shibaraku"). "Onna Modori Kago" is a female parodic dance based on "Modori Kago". The two palanquin bearers Naniwa no Jirosaku and Azuma no Yoshirô are replaced by two courtesans, Naniwaya Okiku (Onoe Kikunosuke) and Azumaya Otoki (Nakamura Tokizô). The kamuro is replaced by a yakko named Manpei (Nakamura Kinnosuke).

Niwaka Jishi: this lively dance evokes the atmosphere of an Edo period festival. The highlight of the piece is the lion dance performed by two of the handsome young men of the neighborhood. Featuring Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun and Kataoka Takatarô.

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 (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô ^[*]) 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 Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon in the role of Sasaki Takatsuna.

Dango Uri:
(The Dumpling Peddlers)
the mortar and pestle used for pounding rice cakes and dumplings are a symbol of a happily married couple. This short, lively dance shows a couple peddling dumplings with a series of songs and dances. Starring Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and his son Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of the husband and the wife.

Sumôba: "Futatsu Chôchô" means "two butterflies" and also comes from the fact that two sumô wrestlers who play important roles in the full length play have names beginning with "chô": Chôkichi and Chôgorô. In order to help his master Yamazakiya Yogorô (Onoe Kikunosuke) buy out the contract of the beautiful Azuma (Ichikawa Komazô), the senior wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô throws a match, letting the younger wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi win, hoping to get his help. But Chôkichi loses his temper and the two end up competing in a test of pride. Starring popular actor Nakamura Hashinosuke as Chôgorô and Onoe Kikunosuke as Chôkichi.

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.

Kinkakuji: "Kinkakuji" retains the epic scale of plays adapted from the Bunraku puppet theater and is full of miracles and larger-than-life characters common on the puppet stage. It is full of the classical forms of all kinds of stylized characters and the role of Princess Yuki is considered to be one of the most difficult and beautiful roles for an onnagata female role specialist. Matsunaga Daizen (Matsumoto Kôshirô) has defeated the Shôgun and has set up base in the Golden Pavilion. The brilliant strategist Hisayoshi, disguised as a disgruntled retainer named Tôkichi (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon), pretends to come under Daizen's employ to try to sabotage his plans from within. Princess Yuki (Nakamura Jakuemon) is being held prisoner by Daizen, but is able to free herself by drawing a mouse in the cherry petals of the tree that she is tied to. It comes to life and chews the ropes holding her. Starring the best of the actors in their prime in a production sure to be full of fire and excitement. Featuring also Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô in the role of the ama Keijuin.

Sekisan Yakko: there are many dances featuring yakko, the boisterous footmen to samurai lords who accompanied their masters to the pleasure quarters or formed part of his ceremonial parade carrying ornamental spears decorated with white fringe. This particular dance is named after Seki Sanjûrô II, the actor who created it and features a vigorous dance with these ceremonial spears. Starring Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Kankurô and Onoe Shôroku in the roles of the three yakko.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

[*] Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô fell ill (stomach ulcer) before the opening day of these March Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza. He was replaced by his son Onoe Kikunosuke to play the role of Miuranosuke in "Kamakura Sandaiki" up to the 11th of March. He was back on stage the 12th of March.

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Bandô Takesaburô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Ukon

Oda Eiichirô's internationally popular manga "ONE PIECE" gets his first Kabuki adaptation by Ichikawa Ennosuke. Premiered in October 2015/November 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, it is staged this month in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. Technically and artistically speaking, it is not Kabuki but Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando (the second generation of Sûpâ Kabuki), a genre created by Ichikawa Ennosuke III and continued by his nephew Ichikawa Ennosuke IV. Most of the actors are Kabuki actors, with 3 non-Kabuki guest actors : Hira Takehiro, Kashima Noritoshi and Asano Kazuyuki.

ONE PIECE: "ONE PIECE", a big hit comic of Japan, and Super Kabuki II by Ichikawa Ennosuke IV make a miraculous collaboration! The largest-scale project ever begins! "ONE PIECE" has started since the July 1997 issue of Weekly Shônen Jump. As a book, the first volume was published in December 1997 and gained a national reputation soon. The series reach 77 volumes and the number of copies printed of the series is more than the world record 320,000,000, so it was awarded Guinness World Record as the most printed comic series by a writer in June 2015. Ichikawa Ennosuke IV is one of star Kabuki actors who will bear the next generation. He challenges aggressively to classic kabuki and new kabuki with rich expression and unique personality. He succeeded to the spirit of Super Kabuki which had been originated by his uncle Ichikawa Ennosuke III (Ichikawa En’ô II) and performed "Sora o Kizamu Mono" [A Man who sculptures the Sky] as the first play of Super Kabuki II in March and April 2014, which resulted in a great success. It is a marine adventure roman by the hero Luffy (Ichikawa Ennosuke) who explores the ocean with his diverse crew of pirates, named the Straw Hat Pirates, in search of the world ultimate treasure known as ONE PIECE in order to become the next Pirate King. The Straw Hat Pirates broke up in the battle against the navy at Sabaody Islands, the entrance to the new world, the next step to the big navigation in search of the world ultimate treasure. Luffy became alone, hears of his brother Ace’s execution and hurries to rescue him. Luffy is able to break through the navy’s barricade, but Ace has already been transferred to the navy head quarter. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates fight Summit Battle against the navy at its head quarter!

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ichikawa Fukutarô

Special performances in Okinawa within the precincts of the Nakagusuku Castle. Ichikawa Ebizô performs the longevity dance of Musashibô Benkei, a famous section from the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", and the leading role of "Renjishi" (along with Ichikawa Fukutarô). Ichikawa Kudanji performs the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in "Ame no Gorô".