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 Karoku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, 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, Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Komazô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Sawamura Yoshijirô, Kamimura Kichiya, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Sônosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Omezô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kikaku, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Kamenojô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Tamatarô, Kawai Yukinojô

The March Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Hana no Gosho Shimatsu: Ashikaga Yoshinori (Matsumoto Kôshirô), the second son of the Grand Minister Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, plots to become Shôgun at the Muromachi Residence, which people call the 'Flower Palace' after the beautiful flowers and trees planted all over the garden. He allies himself with his father’s confidant Hatakeyama Mitsuie (Nakamura Shikan), shogunal deputy, and tips off his father about the false rumour that his elder brother, the heir Yoshitsugu (Bandô Kamezô), conspires to rebel against him. He murders his father in his bedroom who is enjoying his time with his mistress. Then he puts the guilt of killing his father on Yoshitsugu and makes away with him. Now that he has assumed control of the shogunate, just as he wished, he becomes more and more autocratic. Finally, he kills Mitsuie with whom he allied himself. A few years later, as he spends sleepless nights annoyed by spirits of those he has murdered, rebellious farmers force their way into his residence and the story unfolds. Featuring also Nakamura Jakuemon and Kataoka Ainosuke.

Amakawaya Gihei Uchi: Amakawaya is a shipping agency at Sakai in Settsu Province. The master Gihei (Nakamura Shikan) secretly provides arms to Ôboshi Yuranosuke who needs them to attack Moronô's mansion. By doing this he will avenge his lord's death. One night, policemen surround him, suspecting that he supplies the masterless retainers of the Akô Domain with arms. Though the policemen threaten him with his son's life, he assumes ignorance, but then an unexpected visitor calls on him and... Featuring also Matsumoto Kôshirô and Kataoka Takatarô.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Onoe Shôroku) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Nakamura Ganjirô). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Kawarasaki Gonjûrô) take his place while he visits Hanako. He returns, giddy from a night of pleasure and tells his story to his servant in dance, unaware that his wife has discovered his deception and has taken his servant's place.

Dokuro-ni: in the late 12th century, Genji warriors have almost destroyed the once thriving Taira clan, and without pity they murder Juômaru, son of the beautiful chief lady-in-waiting of the New Middle Councilor and the late Taira no Shigehira. Witnessing this, the priest Ashôbô Insai (Nakamura Ganjirô) bemoans the transience of the world. A year later, Dokuro-ni (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô), the 'Nun's Skull', is in a nunnery in Nara. She is so named because she always carries the small skull of Juômaru on her person. The ugly belfry keeper Shichibê yearns deeply for the beautiful nun every day. She learns a secret method through her religious services, and Shigehira (Kataoka Ainosuke), for whom she has been longing, appears in her presence. But...

Yoshidaya: the roots of this play go back to the earliest days of Kabuki. Izaemon, the son of a wealthy family, has been disowned for loving a courtesan and now has nothing but a paper kimono. This role is a classic example of the wagoto or soft style of acting that is one of the representative acting styles of the Kansai region. Kataoka Ainosuke stars as Izaemon, a role that is a specialty of his family's Kansai acting style. Featuring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri (Izaemon's lover), Nakamura Ganjirô and Kamimura Kichiya as the proprietor and proprietress of the Yoshidaya teahouse.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

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

The usual March Kabuki performances at the National Theatre.

Kusemai: Ushiwakamaru’s mother, Tokiwa Gozen (Nakamura Kaishun), becomes a concubine of Taira no Kiyomori, a warlord on the enemy’s side, to save the life of her sons after her husband, Minamoto no Yoshitomo, was killed by Kiyomori in the Heiji Rebellion. She is later forced to marry Ichijô Ôkurakyô (Nakamura Matagorô). Descendant of the Genji clan though he is, Ôkurakyô is indifferent to the confrontation between the Genji (Minamoto) and Heike (Taira) clans, engrossed only in Kyôgen. One night, Kiyomori’s retainer, Harima no Daijô Hiromori (Arashi Kitsusaburô), who is unable to gauge Tokiwa Gozen’s real intentions, visits the mansion of Ôkurakyô. Conspiring with Yatsurugi Kageyu (Kataoka Kamezô), a chief retainer who plots to usurp the headship of the Ichijô family, Hiromori attempts to kill Ôkurakyô. However, confused by Ôkurakyô, who feigns madness while dancing with a blank countenance, Hiromori cannot achieve this end but rather only makes a fool of himself.

Okuden: aiming for the revival of the Genji clan, Yoshioka Kijirô (Nakamura Kashô) and his wife, Okyô (Nakamura Tanenosuke), sneak into the mansion of Ôkurakyô to find out Tokiwa Gozen’s true intentions. Kijirô blames Tokiwa for behaving as if she forgot all about the Genji. Tokiwa, however, was secretly praying for the overthrow of the Heike clan, while pretending to be enjoying herself by playing yôkyû (a kind of archery). Kageyu dashes out to tell Kiyomori about Tokiwa’s true mindset. Just then, someone slashes at Kageyu with a sword. It was Ôkurakyô, who stands dignified with a long sword in hand, an appearance that is far from his usual. So, what will be the startling truth revealed by Ôkurakyô in the end?

Gojô Hashi: night after night, Ushiwakamaru (Nakamura Tanenosuke) has been fighting with passers-by on the Gojô Bridge while honing his swordplay skills to gain allies. Having heard the rumor of a rogue on the bridge, Musashibô Benkei (Nakamura Kashô) goes there to face off with him. Suddenly, Ushiwakamaru steps forward to challenge Benkei, and then defeats him. Having revealed his identity, Ushiwakamaru accepts Benkei as a retainer and then sets out aiming for the revival of the Genji clan.

Sources: National Theatre

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

Young actors performing in Kyôto at the Minamiza. There are Program A and Program B but the contents is the same, only the casting changes for 5th and 6th acts of "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Kaisetsu: Explanation made by Onoe Ukon or Nakamura Kazutarô about the story of "Kanadehon Chûshingura" from the 1st act to the 4th act.

Teppô Watashi/Futatsudama/Kanpei Harakiri: this section of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is about Hayano Kanpei (Nakamura Kazutarô or Onoe Ukon) and his wife Okaru (Kataoka Sennosuke or Nakamura Kangyoku). Kanpei survives as a hunter and is desperate for the money that will allow him to become a samurai again. He encounters two former retainers of Lord En'ya Hangan who offer to allow him to participate in a vendetta to avenge Lord En'ya Hangan's death by attacking Kô no Moronô. Unknown to him, though, Okaru's family has decided to raise the memory by selling her into prostitution as a courtesan in the Gion district of Kyôto. Okaru's father travels on a dark mountain road, eager to bring the first half of the money to Kanpei. But he is attacked and robbed by Sadakurô (Nakamura Takanosuke or Nakamura Kichinojô), also a former retainer of Lord En'ya Hangan who has gone bad and become a thief. At this point, Kanpei aims and fires at s wild boar and instead kills Sadakurô. He finds the purse with all the money and, thinking that is the gift of heaven, rushes home. At home, the brothel keeper is already there to collect Okaru and Kanpei wants to refuse to let her go, until he realizes where the money came from and believes that he killed Okaru's father by mistake. He urges Okaru to go to the pleasure quarters, not wanting her to know what has happened. In one of the dramatic highlights of the play, Kanpei commits suicide to atone for his multiple failures in duty.

Chûshin Iroha no Esugata:
[The first half] The geisha Shunkô (Nakamura Kazutarô) and the taiko mochi Eiju (Onoe Ukon) visit Oishi Shrine at Yamashina, where together with the waitress Osen, they act out people concerned with the vendetta in the famous scenes in Acts VII through X of "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers".
[The latter half] The highlight of Act XI portrays the masterless warriors of the En'ya clan gathering at the mansion of Kô no Moronô. Ôboshi Rikiya (Kataoka Sennosuke) confronts warriors of the Kô clan while Takenomori Kitahachi (Nakamura Kangyoku) fights fiercely with Kobayashi Heihachirô (Nakamura Takanosuke), a retainer of Kô no Moronô. Finally, the masterless warriors achieve their cherished desire.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

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 Karoku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Shinobu, Kamimura Kichitarô, Onoe Ushinosuke

"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