4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre) and 2 tours (Shungyô Special Tour, Ichikawa Ebizô Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Hidetarô, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ôtani Tomoemon, Onoe Matsuya and Nakamura Karoku perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Ganjirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Danzô and Nakamura Baishi perform at the National Theatre

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke are on tour (Shungyô Special Tour)!

Ichikawa Ebizô is on tour (Ichikawa Ebizô Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Hidetarô, Onoe Shôroku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ôtani Tomoemon, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Karoku

The two stars of these March Grand Kabuki performances are the goruden konbi Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon, who perform together in two important scenes from Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" and the dance "Omatsuri". The Kabukiza also commemorates the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of late Nakamura Jakuemon IV with his son Nakamura Jakuemon performing, along with Onoe Shôroku, in the dance "Meoto Dôjôji".

Kokusen'ya Gassen: originally written for the Bunraku puppet theatre, it is oldest period play in the puppet repertory with a continuous performance tradition. This exotic play on a grand scale by Chikamatsu Monzaemon is based on the true story of a warrior from Japan, who fought in China to restore the Ming dynasty after its fall. Watônai (whose name means "neither Chinese nor Japanese") is the son of a Chinese official and a Japanese mother. This performance features the touching drama as Watônai (Kataoka Ainosuke) goes with his parents to try to enlist the aid of his sister Kinshôjo (Nakamura Senjaku), now the wife of the powerful Chinese general Kanki (Nakamura Shikan). She eventually agrees, but can only do so by making a terrible sacrifice. This full-length performance also features very rarely performed scenes showing the Chinese Ming dynasty being overtaken by tribes from the north and the call for help, a call that goes to Japan. Featuring also Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô (Rôikkan) and Kataoka Hidetarô (Watônai's mother Nagisa).

Meoto Dôjôji: "Musume Dôjôji" is based on a legend about a woman transformed into a serpent out of jealousy and who destroys a temple bell keeping her from the object of her love. The original dance shows the spirit of the woman who appears at Dôjôji temple as a dancer who wants to celebrate the dedication of a new bell and does a series of dances showing the many faces of femininity. In this version there are two dancers and one is revealed to be a man in disguise and, in the highlight of the dance, transforms the romantic highpoint of the original piece into a comic scene by using masks. Starring Nakamura Jakuemon as the female dancer and Onoe Shôroku as the male dancer.

Shibahama no Kawazaifu: this is a play adapted from a rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô which was originally performed in vaudeville by a solo performer. This tells the story of a man who is a drunk and good for nothing who picks up a leather purse full of coins while fishing. He takes it home and celebrates with a big drinking party. In the morning he asks his wife for the purse, but she insists that it was all a dream and shows how much money he has wasted with his drunken party. He decides to reform and becomes a hard worker. Three years later, the couple now lives comfortably and the wife says that she must apologize. She lied and hid the purse because she felt that this was the only way to get her husband on the right path. He thanks her and this purse which has given them so much. Starring Nakamura Shikan as the man and Kataoka Takatarô as his wife. Featuring also Bandô Yajûrô.

Dote no Oroku/Kimon no Kihê: this is a play written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, and these scenes in particular reflect the decadence and corruption found in the underbelly of ordinary society at that time. The scenes portray two outwardly charming characters who are filled with wickedness. There are several typical role types that appear in Kabuki, and akuba (wicked lady) is one of them. Oroku is an akuba and although beautiful, she is truly wicked. Trying to extort 100 gold coins, Oroku and her husband Kimon no Kihê visit a pawnshop carrying the dead body of Oroku's brother. The two insist that her brother died from an injury he incurred in a quarrel with its apprentice. However, the dead body suddenly becomes conscious and the extortion ends in failure. Although disappointed, the two leave the pawnshop without flinching in the slightest. Starring Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon in the roles of Oroku and Kihê.

Omatsuri: the gallant commoners of Edo's neighborhoods loved nothing better than a festival, and this performance is a dance based on one of the biggest festivals in Edo. In this dance, a gallant fireman (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) and a geisha (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) appear on stage and show their Edo-style spirit. In the end, a young man comes out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Taki no Shiraito: This play was adapted from Izumi Kyôka's novel "Giketsu Kyôketsu" ('The Righteous and the Chivalrous') in 1895. Taki no Shiraito (Nakamura Kazutarô), a female entertainer who is a member of a troupe, meets Murakoshi Kin'ya (Onoe Matsuya). Though his house has gone to ruin and he is now a groom, he dreams of becoming a lawyer. She promises to supply him with his school-expenses. Three years later, she is robbed of the money she intended to send to him. She becomes distracted and kills a married couple in a nearby house. Appearing in court as a murder suspect, she is shocked to find Kin'ya, who for the first time after he graduated university, is sitting in the seat of a public prosecutor. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Ganjirô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Baishi, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Manjirô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Mantarô

The usual March Kabuki performances at the National Theatre:

Honzô Shimoyashiki: there are few plays more popular than "Chûshingura" or "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers" based on the true story of the revenge of the forty-seven masterless samurai. That original play not only showed the historical events, but the private dramas of the retainers as they prepared for the vendetta. The original play inspired many other plays showing other historical characters associated with the event, or the aspects of the fictional characters not shown in the original. This play features the character Momonoi Wakasanosuke (Nakamura Ganjirô). Wakasanosuke is reviled as a flatterer after the sword fighting incident caused by En’ya Hangan on the master of ceremony, Kô no Moronô. Wakasanosuke was going to wreak his grudge on Moronô, but his head retainer Kakogawa Honzô (Kataoka Kamezô) had bribed Moronô, and he lost the opportunity to do so. En’ya Hangan was instead teased by Morono and caused the incident. Wakasanosuke visits Honzô who incurred his anger and was confined to his house. He raises up his sword to punish Honzô, but … Wakasanosuke’s unexpected behavior, how he thanks Honzô for his loyalty and how he regrets his parting Honzô Honzo hearing his sister play the Japanese zither are the highlights of this play which is a prolog to the ninth act of the original "Chûshingura" play showing another bond between a lord and his retainer.

Kamiyui Shinza: Shinza is a barber that goes from door to door, but at the same time, he is a villain that kidnaps Okuma, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy household, and even resists the efforts of Yatagorô Genshichi, the most prestigious strongman in town, to get her release. Starring Onoe Kikunosuke as Shinza, Nakamura Baishi as Chûshichi, Ichikawa Danzô as Yatagorô Genshichi and Kataoka Kamezô as the landlord Chôbê.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or National Theatre

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Shinobu, Ichikawa Emino

1st edition of the Baishôkai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Shinobu and Ichikawa Emino.

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu

The Spring Tour of the Nakamuraya guild with performances in 12 cities. The first item (geidan) in this program is a talk.

Tsuru Kame: the crane (tsuru) is said to live for a thousand years, the tortoise (kame) is said to live for ten thousand years. Together, they are a traditional symbol of longevity. There is no particular plot to this play, but simply shows a visit by the empress to the Moon Pavilion where two courtiers dance as the spirits of the crane and tortoise.

Urashima: This dance depicts a Japanese folk tale of a young man named Urashima (Nakamura Kankurô) who is invited to the Dragon Palace under the sea for saving a turtle's life. When Urashima returns back home, he finds that many year had elapsed during the few days he spent at the Dragon Palace. When he opens up the gift boxes, lovingly thinking of the Princess of the Sea who had given them to him, a puff of smoke appears and Urashima turns into an old man with silvery white hair. This dance utilizes many beautiful melodies and brilliantly expresses Urashima's feeling at the moment of change.

Makura Jishi: the keisei Yayoi performs a dance expressing her bitterness toward her dreary life in the gay quarters, but she gradually finds herself under the control of the lion spirit. In the second half of the dance, the lion spirit itself appears and performs its crazed dance among peonies and fluttering butterflies. Starring Nakamura Shichinosuke as both the courtesan Yayoi and the spirit of the lion.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
Nihon Buyô for "Urashima"

Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Katayama Kurôemon, Kanze Yoshimasa, Miroku Tadashi, Shigeyama Ippei, Ichikawa Botan

The Spring Tour of Ichikawa Ebizô with performances in 23 cities. A special program mixing Kabuki, Nô and Opera. The heir of the Naritaya guild performs in a special version of "Genji Monogatari", featuring the Nô actors Katayama Kurôemon X and Kanze Yoshimasa, and the Opera Tenor/Countertenor Miroku Tadashi. The script for this version of "Genji Monogatari" focuses on the story from Oborozukiyo to Suma/Akashi.

Genji Monogatari: Japan's oldest love story is reborn from a wondrous collaboration of Kabuki, Nô and Opera. The Tale of Genji was written in the 11th century by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady of the Heian court. The whole story consists of 54 chapters and unfolds in a number of human relationships and romances that Hikaru-no-kimi,,the hero of the tale(acted by Ichikawa Ebizô), had in his life while describing to the court about life in the Heian period of Japan. This story is to recreate a new "The Tale of Genji" incorporating the essence of Kabuki, Nô, another form of traditional Japanese theatre culture, and Opera, an art long-cultivated in Western culture. That is sometimes elegant and quiet, yet sometimes dramatic and aggressive. The beautiful four seasons of Japan are recreated on the stage which will remind audiences of profoundness Japanese sensitivity.

Source: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô

A gala program called SUGATA (appearance) for the young actors Nakamura Takanosuke and Nakamura Tamatarô.