6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Tôkyô International Forum, IHI Stage Around Theater), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza), 1 in Yokohama (Kanagawa Kenmin Hall) and 3 tours (Succession Announcement Tour, Shungyô Special Tour, Zenshinza)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke and Kataoka Takatarô perform at the Kabukiza!

Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kaishun and Kataoka Kamezô perform at the National Theatre!

Young actors perform at the Minamiza!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kotarô and Ichikawa Udanji are on Succession Announcement Tour!

The Nakamuraya brothers Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke are on tour Shungyô Special Tour!

Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Yonekichi perform at the IHI Stage Around Theater !

The Zenshinza troupe is on tour!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku

The March Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Baika

The usual March Kabuki performances at the National Theatre.

Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Takanosuke

Young actors performing in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

A special tour celebrating the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII with performances in 15 cities: Komatsu (2-day), Kanazawa (at the Kagekiza!), Shizuoka, Odawara, Yamagata, Kôriyama, Toyama, Nagano, Takasaki, Niigata, Kimitsu, Koshigaya, Hachinohe, Sapporo (2-day) and Akita.

Shitadashi Sanbasô:
(The Sanbasô with his Tongue sticking out)
Based on the ritual play "Okina" in the Nô theatre, the sanbasô is both an important prayer for prosperity and a vigorous dance. This particular version takes its title from the sanbasô sticking his tongue out. Some say that this is from absorption in the joy of his dance. Others say that this is an auspicious sign. In any case, this vigorous and joyful dance is exhilarating to watch and is a perfect addition to this auspicious program. Staring Ichikawa Udanji and Nakamura Kotarô.

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 actors of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.

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 Danjûrô in the role of Benkei, with Nakamura Kotarô and Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Ichô, Sawamura Kunihisa, Nakamura Nakasuke, Nakamura Nakanosuke, Nakamura Nakashirô, Nakamura Nakaya, Nakamura Nakaji

The 4th edition of the Spring Tour of the Nakamuraya guild with 24 performances in 12 venues. There is a website dedicated to this tour.

Tôku Kônâ: a talk on stage (literally 'Talk Corner').

Genroku Hanami Odori:
(Viewing the Cherry Blossoms in the Genroku Period)
It is in the Genroku period (late 17th century) and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom on the hill of Ueno in Edo (present day Tôkyô). Men and women dressed up in showy outfits gather to view cherry blossoms and begin to dance. After the song about the custom of flower viewing in Kyoto, the drunken people start a lively dance. The dance under the cherry blossoms continues endlessly. Starring young disciples of the Nakamuraya guild.

Nakazô Kyôran: this is a kyôranmono, depicting Ono no Yoshizane in a state of mental confusion due to the stress of over-anxiety. Yoshizane's daughter Ono no Komachi was betrothed to Yoshimine Munesada but she received an unwelcome wedding proposal from the evil Prince Yagumo. As a consequence, Komachi slipped away from Kyôto to seek Munesada who in the meantime has left the court because of various intrigues against him. Komachi's father is harassed daily by obnoxious messengers from Prince Yagumo demanding that he reveals the whereabouts of his daughter. He finally pretends to go mad in order to evade their demands. Starring Nakamura Kankurô in the role of Yoshizane.

Aioi Jishi: shishi (mythical lion-like spirits) are usually thought of as vigorous masculine creatures, but when shishi dances were first adapted for Kabuki from the classical Nô theatre, they were danced by actors portraying an elegant, feminine atmosphere. This dance is one of the earliest in the genre and stars onnagata female role specialists. Featuring Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Tsurumatsu.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ichikawa Botan

A 2-performance 1-day dance program for the Naritaya family in Tôkyô at the Tôkyô International Forum.

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ichikawa Botan

A dance program for the Naritaya family in Yokohama at the Kanagawa Kenmin Hall.

Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Shinobu, Kamimura Kichitarô

"Final Fantasy X" is now a Kabuki play, staged for the first time this month in Tôkyô at the IHI Stage Around Theater! The project is led by Onoe Kikunosuke who will be both the stage director and the leading actor.

Fujikawa Yanosuke, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Nakajima Kôtarô, Tamaura Yûnosuke, Hayase Einojô, Matsunami Kihachirô, Arashi Ichitarô, Watarai Motoyuki, Takei Shigeru, Ishijima Ryûsei

A long tour for the Zenshinza troupe:

Bô Shibari:
(Tied to a Pole)
A dance play based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Watarai Motoyuki) is irritated that his two servants always drink his wine while he is out. He plots with his servant Tarôkaja (Tamaura Yûnosuke) to trick the other servant Jirôkaja (Nakajima Kôtarô) into demonstrating his skill at stick fighting, tying him to the stick. The master then ties up Tarôkaja as well. But he is outsmarted when the two still manage to drink his wine while tied up. Their happy singing and dancing while tied up is a dazzling display of virtuoso dancing and star two of the finest young dancers in Kabuki.

Bunshichi Mottoi: Chôbê spends his days and nights gambling, but is finally made aware of his family's problems when his daughter takes a job in the pleasure quarters. Having received the money for her contract, he shows his good side to save a young man on the edge of suicide after losing a large sum of money, but nobody believes Chôbê, thinking that he has gambled the money away. The performance stars Fujikawa Yanosuke, Hayase Einojô and Ishijima Ryûsei in the roles of Chôbê, Chôbê's wife Okane and Bunshichi.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website