| Dates |
3 ~ 27 March 2017 (Sangatsu Ôkabuki)
March Grand Kabuki |
| Matinée |
Meikun Gyôjôki
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Tokaiya
Funayagura
Daimotsu no Ura
Kagura Uta Kumoi no Kyokumari (Dontsuku)
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| Evening |
Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki (Hikimado)
Keisei Hama no Masago (Onna Goemon)
Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura
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| Casting |
Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Danzô, Ôtani Tomoemon, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Udanji,
Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Shûchô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Omezô, Nakamura Matsue, Bandô Kametoshi, Sawamura Sônosuke, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Kamenojô, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa En'ya,
Kataoka Matsunosuke, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Kotarô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Jûjirô, Ichikawa Otora, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Ukon
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| Comments |
The highlights of these two programs for the March Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza are listed below:
The dance-drama "Dontsuku" staged to commemorate the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of the passing away of Bandô Mitsugorô X.
Meikun Gyôjôki: this play was written by Mayama Seika in 1937 and
belongs to the genre known as 'New Kabuki' (Shinkabuki).
The lord of Okayama Castle Ikeda Mitsumasa (Nakamura Baigyoku) is known as a wise ruler. Mitsumasa's close attendant
Aochi Zenzaemon (Bandô Kamesaburô) has shot and killed a bird without knowing that hunting was forbidden in that area.
When a foot soldier blames him for his actions he slays him. Zenzaemon requests to be judged by his lord,
thinking it would be a good opportunity to know Mitsumasa's true character about which Zenzaemon had felt
some doubt. Zenzaemon asks for severe punishment, but Mitsumasa wants to save him. Hearing that Rinsuke
who had originally handed the gun to Zenzaemon has hanged himself, Mitsumasa summons Zenzaemon.
He gives him the gun used on that day and orders him to shoot at Mitsumasa's eye supposing it to be a wild goose.
Zenzaemon cannot bear this and throws down the gun. Mitsumasa declares that since Rinsuke killed himself,
there is no evidence and that without it one cannot be judged. Zenzaemon is impressed by Mitsumasa's generosity
and apologizes to Mitsumasa from the bottom of his heart. Featuring also Ichikawa Danzô, Ichikawa Komazô and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.
Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura: 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 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 (Nakamura Baigyoku) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually
Taira no Tomomori (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon), 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 (Nakamura Tokizô). 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 holds a giant anchor and plunges
into the sea.
Dontsuku:
(Juggling to Entertain the Gods)
This is a dance portraying street performances by itinerant entertainers.
Kameido Tenjin Shrine is crowded with many pilgrims.
The people are enjoying watching Tsurudayû (Onoe Shôroku), a master of Daikagura,
and the country man Dontsuku (Bandô Minosuke) dancing together. After a shirozake seller
delivers a speech to sell his sake, Tsurudayû demonstrates his skill
at juggling. He imitates Dontsuku's rustic dance and everyone joins in. The contrast between the Edo-style master and the rustic
country man is highly enjoyable to watch, and the scene where Dontsuku dances wearing a mask is the highlight of the performance.
This dance has a deep association with the family of Bandô Mitsugorô X,
a Kabuki star who was a great actor and dancer, and this performance commemorates the third anniversary of his death.
Featuring also Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Hikosaburô and Bandô Yajûrô.
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 (Bandô Yajûrô)
has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother.
Unfortunately, her son (Matsumoto Kôshirô) 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 Nakamura Kaishun in the role of Ohaya.
Onna Goemon: the larger-than-life thief Ishikawa Goemon
looking out at the world he is going to rule only to be confronted by the great
general Hisayoshi, about to take over Japan, is one of the most spectacular
scenes in Kabuki. January features a special version of this scene with a
courtesan in place of Goemon (Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô),
and Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of Hisayoshi.
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 Ebizô and Nakamura Jakuemon as Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki.
Featuring also Ichikawa Sadanji and Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô in the roles of Ikyû and the shirozake seller Shinbê.
Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
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| Dates |
4 ~ 27 March 2017 |
| Program |
Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku
Yukie Goroshi
Engakuji
Fujikawa Shinseki
Okazaki
Adauchi
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| Casting |
Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke,
Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Kichinojô
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| Comments |
The drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" is staged as a tôshi kyôgen in March 2017 at the National Theatre.
The core of this production is "Okazaki". This rarely-staged act was successfully revived at the National Theatre in December 2014.
The zagashira is Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon.
The third act of the original drama (the 2nd act in this production), commonly called "Engakuji",
which was staged for the last time in February 1931 at the Meijiza, is revived!
Igagoe: during Japan's feudal period, from time to time there were people that could not be
punished due to clan loyalties and highly fragmented authority. Under certain conditions,
retainers and family members were empowered to take the law into their own hands and conduct an official vendetta.
Written by Chikamatsu Hanji and first presented in the Bunraku puppet
theatre in 1783, "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" is an epic based on a true incident in 1634
in which Watanabe Kazuma killed the murderer of his younger brother, a man named Kawai Matagorô at Iga Ueno,
with the aid of Araki Mataemon. In the final fight, Mataemon killed several people, which has made him
legendary as a master swordsman celebrated in theatre, kôdan
storytelling and popular novels. Kazuma's desperate search for Matagorô takes him throughout Japan and
the success of the vendetta is due to the help he gets from others. This month’s performance focuses on Masaemon.
Yukie Goroshi: Sawai Matagorô (Nakamura Kinnosuke) lusts after Otani (Nakamura Jakuemon), the daughter of Wada Yukie (Arashi Kitsusaburô), and a precious
sword belonging to the family, for which he has tempted Yukie’s son Shizuma into disgracing the family name.
Yukie rejects all of Matagorô's requests, but suddenly, Yukie is killed by a sword coming through the floor,
part of a plot by the treacherous Matagorô.
Engakuji: Matagorô flees into Engakuji Temple. Yukie’s lord holds Matagorô’s mother in hostage and
demands that Matagorô should be handed over in exchange for her, whereas Matagorô’s faction demands Matagorô’s
mother and the heirloom sword of Yukie’s family in exchange for Matagorô. Though Matagorô’s mother
kills herself hoping her son should not be handed over, Matagorô is exchanged for the sword.
Matagorô’s faction led by his cousin Sawai Jôgorô (Nakamura Kichinojô) rescues Matagorô, but the sword is fake. The real one is entrusted to Shizuma (Onoe Kikunosuke) to be
presented to the lord later, what brings honor to his family.
Fujikawa Shinseki: Pursuing Matagorô, in this play, the killer of his father, Shizuma comes to a
barrier at Fujikawa, but does not have a certificate to let him through. Osode (Nakamura Yonekichi), the daughter of Yamada Kôbê
who initiated the swordsman Karaki Masaemon into fencing, meets Shizuma. She distracts a footman Sukehei (Nakamura Matagorô)
by showing him the telescope used to watch travelers approaching the barrier. Shizuma takes the certificate
and documents from Sukehei while he is absorbed in peeping. Sukehei also helps Masaemon (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) to break through
the barrier.
Okazaki: Shizuma comes to Kôbê’s house. He presents a letter addressed to Kôbê (Nakamura Karoku) from the
stolen documents and pretends to be Matagorô. Kôbê protects him as Kôbê is on Matagorô’s side.
Kôbê was once Masaemon's fencing teacher and recognizes him immediately.
But at that time, Masaemon was still using his childhood name and so Kôbê does not realize that Masaemon
is now the enemy of his family and even requests his help in protecting Matagorô.
Masaemon’s wife Otani (Nakamura Jakuemon) has followed him with her newborn baby hoping to unite it with him.
Masaemon drives her back and kills the baby to keep his true identity a secret and to find out where Matagorô is.
Now Kôbê realizes that his old student is actually Masaemon by the hidden tears in his eyes
when he killed his own son. He has already seen through the true identity of Shizuma.
Impressed by Masaemon’s resolution, Kôbê tells Shizuma and Masaemon where Matagorô is.
Adauchi: Shizuma and Masaemon overtake Matagorô at Iga Ueno, halfway between Nara and Nagoya. They kill Matagorô to avenge the death of Shizuma's father.
Source: National Theatre
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