| NEWS FROM THE KABUKI WORLD |
| 31 October 2022 |
A Kabuki Streaming Service outside Japan will finally be launched in 9 countries the 1st of November 2022! The 9 countries will be Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., the U.S. and Taiwan. At the start of this new service, only 3 dramas will be available on this new streaming platform with either English subtitles or English secondary audio service: "Kurumabiki", "Benten Kozô" and "Sagi Musume". The service will be offered only for PC, not for mobile phones. No application installation will be required. The rental fee will be from 800 to 1091 JPY. Once purchased, the watcher will have to watch it within 7 days. A special Shôchiku tour with Nakamura Shidô will happen in November 2022. No Kabuki performance but a talk on stage and a 1-man recitation (made by Nakamura Shidô) with projection of images from the child book "Arashi no Yoru ni" (in English "One Stormy Night"), a series of picture books written by Kimura Yûichi. It was adapted to Kabuki in September 2015 [more details]. This is the story of an unusual friendship between a wolf named Gabu and a goat named Mei [more details]. The two programs for the January 2023 New Year Asakusa Kabuki performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô have been published [more details]. Ichikawa Ennosuke and his troupe will perform in February 2023 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in a revised version of the Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Sangokushi" focusing on Kan U [more details]. Gotôge Koyoharu's famous manga/anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" will be adapted to Kabuki in 2024! Well, it won't be a Kabuki drama but a Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama. It will be staged in February and March 2024 in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô. The troupe will be led by Ichikawa Ennosuke. The 10th anniversary of the opening of the 5th Kabukiza will be celebrated in April 2023 with the staging of the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi" starring Living National Treasures Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô. Matsumoto Hakuô will receive the Order of Culture (Bunka Kunshô) the 3rd of November 2022. This important order will be conferred by Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan. Ichikawa Ebizô, ahead of the two months of name-taking ceremonies in November 2022 and December 2022 at the Kabukiza, went the 18th of October 2022 and prayed at the Suijin Shrine (Suijinsha), a Shintô shrine located in the fish market of Toyosu in the Kôtô Ward and dedicated to the God of Water [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Onoe Shôroku went The 4th of October 2022 at the Sengakuji Temple to pray in front of the tombstone of Horibe Yasubê Taketsune, before starting to perform in "Arakawa Jûdayû" in October 2022 at the Kabukiza [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The main actors in the casting of the drama "Toki o Koe Rinne no Furuido", which was staged at the Shôchikuza, appeared in front of the theater the 8th of October 2022 and talked in front of the audience [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The Duty of Remembrance:
A special 15-second Shôchiku-sponsored CM promoting the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and the hatsubutai of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII has started to be broadcasted on Nippon TV and TV Asahi from the 15th of October 2022: 12 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Ichikawa Ennosuke and several supporting Kabuki actors performed outside Kabuki, from the 20th to the 23rd of October 2002, in Tôkyô at the Hakuhinkan Theater. The troupe is called Shichikawa Gekidan Ritânzu (literally 'The Shichikawa Troupe Returns') and they performed in a drama entitled "Shinsetsu Horibe Yasubê". The regular actors were Ichikawa Seiko, Ichikawa Ikujirô, Ichikawa Utaroku, Ichikawa Kisuke, Ichikawa Sawagorô, Ichikawa Shôen, Ichikawa Shôzô, Ichikawa Shônosuke, Ichikawa Dan'ichirô, Ichikawa Danshi, Ichikawa Miyosuke and several non-Kabuki actors. The guests were Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Takanosuke and Ichikawa Danko. Onoe Ukon has started to perform outside Kabuki in "Jâjî Bôizu", the Japanese version of 2004 jukebox musical "Jersey Boys". He performed in Tôkyô at the Nissay Theatre in October 2022. He will perform in Ôsaka (Ôsaka Shinkabukiza), Fukuoka (Hakataza) and Nagoya (NTK Hall) in November 2022. Then, he will perform in Akita and in Yokosuka in December 2022. Nakamura Kikaku has started to perform outside Kabuki in the musical drama "MAHOROBAKANATA", from the 28th of October to the 6th of November 2022, in Tôkyô at the Galaxy Theatre. |
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| 30 September 2022 |
Ichikawa Ebizô XI, ahead of the two months of name-taking ceremonies in November 2022 and December 2022, will take part in two events:
Ichikawa Ebizô XI will take the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII, ahead of the two months of name-taking ceremonies in November 2022 and December 2022, in a 2-day special program at the Kabukiza the 31st of October and the 1st of November 2022. There will be a Nô dance-drama performed by the Nô masters Kanze Kiyokazu (the 26th sôke of the Kanze School) and Kanze Tetsunojô IX. Then, there will be a hand-clapping ceremony to celebrate the shûmei of the new Danjûrô. Finally, the new Danjûrô will play the role of Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", sharing the stage with two Living National Treasures, Kataoka Nizaemon (Togashi Saemon) and Bandô Tamasaburô (Minamoto no Yoshitsune) [more details]. The two programs for the November Annual Festive Face-Showing Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, which will celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and the hatsubutai of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII, have been published [more details]. The kôjô will be led by Matsumoto Hakuô, not Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô. The two programs for the December Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, which will celebrate the second month of shûmei and hatsubutai for Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII, have been published [more details]. The kôjô will be led by Matsumoto Hakuô, not Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô. The three programs for the traditional yearly kaomise in Kyôto in December 2022 at the Minamiza have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:
Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform along with the Kodô taiko drummers in January 2023 at the Shôchiku in a 2017-premiered (in May 2017) dance-drama entitled "Yûgen", which features an array of classical Japanese images from plays by Nô founder Zeami Motokiyo, incorporating themes from iconic works such as "Hagoromo" (The Feather Robe), "Dôjôji" (Dôjôji Temple) and "Shakkyô" (The Stone Bridge) [more details]. The New Year Asakusa Kabuki will be back next year in Asakusa at the Asakusa Kôkaidô! Cancelled in January 2021 and January 2022, it will happen from the 2nd to the 24th of January 2023 [more details]. Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII will perform in January 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô in "SANEMORI", a drama premiered in November 2019 for the 5th edition of the ABKAI (Ebikai in Japanese) gala. This drama is based on the classic "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki" and the story of the warrior Saitô no Sanemori. He will share the stage with an aidoru named Miyadate Ryôta, belonging to a boy band named Snow Man [more details]. Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki), shot at the Minamiza in September 2022, will be streamed online overseas from the 5th to 11th of October 2022. The ticket will be sold online 2,000 JPY [more details | the streaming website]. 11 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
As part of the COVID-19 countermeasures, the Kabukiza has decided to change its theatre operations from October 2022 [more details]. The name of the actor Kagawa Teruyuki, known as Ichikawa Chûsha IX in the Kabuki world, has been recently reported in an alleged sexual assault which happened in 2019. At that stage of the scandal, we don't know if it will impact his appearance on a Kabuki stage. So far, his name does not appear in any coming program. |
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| 31 August 2022 |
The three programs for the October Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku will play the role of Hikari-no-Kimi in Hagiwara Yukio's drama "Genji Monogatari". The programs for the October 2022 [more details] and November 2022 [more details] Kabuki performances at the Heisei Nakamuraza have been published. The 11th edition of the Sistine Kabuki, a Kabuki program led by Kataoka Ainosuke within the Sistine Hall of the Ôtsuka Museum of Art which is located in the city of Naruto (Tokushima prefecture), has been postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis. It will not happen in February 2023 as initially expected. Nakamura Shikan will perform outside Kabuki from the 6th to the 28th of September 2022, in Tôkyô at the Nissay Theatre. He will play the roles of Oberon and Theseus in William Shakespeare's drama "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Natsu no Yo no Yume in Japanese). Nakamura Kazutarô and Kamimura Kichiya will perform outside Kabuki in November 2022. They will perform in the drama "Hatô o Koete" in Kyôto at the Minamiza from the 12th to the 22nd of November 2022 and in Hiroshima at the Hiroshima City Bunka Kôryû Kaikan from the 25th to the 26th of November 2022. As previously reported, the National Theatre will be demolished and rebuilt between the end of 2023 and 2029: Special expensive articles of 'rare beauty' made from recycled Kabuki costumes will be sold on the Internet on the Kabukiya Shop website. The number of articles for sale will be limited. Therefore, there will be a 1-month application period (25 August ~ 25 September) and the announcement of the list of lucky winners will be made the 26th of September 2022 [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Due to the COVID-19, performances at the Kabukiza in August 2022 were cancelled: the 1st program was initially cancelled from the 15th to the 17th of August. The 19th of August, the performances for Part 1 were resumed. Unfortunately, the 2nd and 3rd programs were cancelled the 19th of August. From the 20th of August, the performances for Part 2 and Part 3 were resumed with cast replacements [more details]. 13 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 31 July 2022 |
The 27th of July 2022, Nakamura Baigyoku became Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese) as a Kabuki tachiyaku actor. This is the 5th Kabuki Living National Treasure. There are already 2 tachiyaku (Onoe Kikugorô, Kataoka Nizaemon), 1 onnagata (Bandô Tamasaburô) and 1 wakiyaku (Nakamura Tôzô). From the end of 2020 to now, the Kabuki world lost 4 Living National Treasures: Sakata Tôjûrô IV, Kataoka Hidetarô II, Nakamura Kichiemon II and Sawamura Tanosuke VI. There will be a 2nd generation National Theatre in a near future! From November 2022 to October 2023, Sayonara Kôen ('Farewell Performances') will be staged in the existing theater. Then, the 1st generation National Theatre, which opened in November 1966, will be closed and rebuilt. These farewell performances will be precisely labeled as Mirai e Tsunagu Kokuritsu Gekijô Purojekuto ~ Shodai Kokuritsu Gekijô Sayonara Kôen (literally 'Project to Connect the National Theater to the Future ~ First generation National Theater Farewell Performances'). Due to the COVID-19, performances at the Kabukiza in July 2022 were cancelled from the 21st to the 29th of July [Notification 07/22 | Notification 07/20]. In fact, the first program was cancelled from the 18th to the 29th of July [Notification 07/18]. The second and third program were cancelled from the 19th to the the 29th [Notification 07/19]. Due to the COVID-19, the Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour was stopped from the 20th to the 25th of July 2022. It restarted the 27th of July and ended as expected the 31st. From the 14th of July 2022, Kataoka Matsunosuke, who was tested positive for coronavirus, stopped performing at the Shôchikuza and he was replaced by Kataoka Matsujûrô to play the role of the priest Kakunen in the drama "Nami no Tsuzumi". The 1st edition of the new "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) will happen in September 2022 at the Kabukiza [more details]. It will commemorate both Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Kichiemon II. Shûzan was the haimyô used by these two stars. It will be divided into 3 programs, with the revival in two programs of one drama written by Matsu Kanshi: "Hakurojô Monogatari" (1st program) and "Fujito" (3rd program). In the 2nd program, there will be a kôjô staged within "Matsuura no Taiko", a drama belonging to the Shûzan Jisshu collection of dramas. Nakamura Kashô IV's two sons will also make their hatsubutai in "Terakoya": the elder son Ogawa Sôma will receive the name of Nakamura Tanetarô V and will play the role of Kan Shûsai; the younger son Ogawa Haruma will receive the name of Nakamura Hidenosuke and will play the role of Kotarô. There will also be a newly-created drama in the 2nd program, entitled "Agehachô Tsuzure no Omokage", which will mix elements from "Kumagai Jin'ya", "Suzu-ga-Mori" and "Kagotsurube". Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô will perform in September 2022 at the Shôchikuza in a special 4-day Kabuki program [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in October 2022 in Nagoya at the Misonoza with the 3 sons of Nakamura Shikan and the Shinpa actors Kitamura Rokurô and Kawai Yukinojô as guest stars. The star will play the prestigious role of Princess Yaegaki in "Jusshukô" and "Kitsunebi" [more details]. The program in November 2022 at the National Theatre has been published [more details]. It will be the 1st farewell Performances before the closing and the start of the rebuilding of this theater. It will also be called Kabuki & Rakugo Korabo Chûshingura (A collaboration related to Chûshingura between Kabuki and Rakugo). Two rakugo and the 5th and 6th acts of "Kanadehon Chûshingura" will be staged with Nakamura Shikan in the role of Hayano Kanpei. The prestigious roles which will be played by Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in November 2022 [more details] and December 2022 [more details] at the Kabukiza have been published! In November 2022, Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII will play the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in "Kanjinchô" and "Sukeroku". His son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII will play the roles of the uirô-seller (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) and Fukuyama Katsugi in "Uirô Uri" and "Sukeroku". In December 2022, Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII will play the roles of Ôdate Samagorô Teruhide and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the oshimodoshi grand finale of the dance "Musume Dôjôji" and "Sukeroku". His son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII will play the role of Kumedera Danjô in "Kenuki". This prestigious shûmei will be staged all over Japan in 2023 and 2024 with the following agenda:
The program for the 3rd edition of the Hito Tsunagi no Kai ('People-Connecting Gala'), which will star Ichikawa Ennosuke's disciples, has been published. It will happen the 4th of September 2022 in Kyôto at the Shunjûza, a theater located within the Kyôto University of the Arts [more details]. 7th edition of the gala of the Sora no Kai (literally "the Sky Association"), which will star Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kansei and others Matsushimaya disciple. They will perform from the 4th to the 7th of August 2022 in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan [more details]. Ôtani Keizô and the Jûjiya guild will perform in Hakodate in two different venues: the 19th of August at the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward [more details] and from the 21st to the 23rd of August at the Auditorium of the Iai Academy [more details]. The 3rd edition of the gala of the Miyoshiya Guild, Kamimura Kichiya and his disciples, will happen the 25th of September 2022, in Ôsaka at the Ôtsuki Nô Theatre [more details]. The Ôtsuki Nô Theatre is located near Ôsaka Castle. It was established in 1935 and it is one of the few Nô theaters in Kansai which has survived WWII. A new Kabuki drama entitled "Arakawa Jûdayû", a chûshinguramono, will be staged in October 2022 at the Kabukiza. It will be based on a famous eponymous kôdan. To celebrate this premiere in October, there will be an event at the Kabukiza the 28th of September 2022, with the kôdan masters Kanda Shôri III and Kanda Shôzan VI who will perform on stage. Moreover, there will be a stage talk with the actor Onoe Shôroku, who will play in October 2022 at the Kabukiza the role of Arakawa Judayû. The game "Final Fantasy X" will become a Kabuki play in 2023! The project will be led by Onoe Kikunosuke who will be both the stage director and the leading actor. Others members of this project will be Nakamura Shidô, Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Shinobu and Kamimura Kichitarô. It will be staged in Spring 2023 in Tôkyô at the IHI Stage Around Theater. Nakamura Kansei, a disciple of Nakamura Ganjirô, successfully passed the 2005 nadai exam and received his diploma. He celebrated on stage in July 2022, in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. The Duty of Remembrance:
8 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Two posters for the July 2022 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: |
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| 30 June 2022 |
Obituary: the actors Bandô Takesaburô V (1932~2022) and Sawamura Tanosuke VI (1932~2022) passed away the 17th and the 23rd of June 2022. The latter, as a wakiyaku actor, was onnagata/nimaime expert in Edo wagoto and Living National Treasure since 2002 and active on stage for 73 years! The former was a supporting onnagata actor who devoted himself to the promotion of Kamigata Kabuki. Due to health-related reason, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon will not perform in July 2022 at the Shôchikuza. He was expected to play the role of Ogura Hikokurô in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi". He will be replaced by Nakamura Kankurô ... and Nakamura Kankurô will be replaced by Nakamura Hayato. The three programs for the August Cool-Breeze Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in August 2022 have been published [more details]. There will be the Kabuki adaptation of Tezuka Osamu's 1963 manga "Shinsen-gumi", the revival of Furukawa Shinsui's drama "Tsukuda no Yoarashi" (staged for the last time in May 1987 in the same theater) and the return of Yajirobê and Kitahachi, the two heroes of the Edo period bestselling comic novel "Hizakurige". The classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" will be staged in October 2022 at the National Theatre [more details]. The roles of Tomomori, Gonta and Tadanobu will be played by Onoe Kikunosuke. No Jûgatsu Hanagata Kabuki ('October Young Actors Kabuki') in October 2022 at the Shôchikuza but, for the very first time in Kabuki History, a program called J Horâ Kabuki, J-horror Kabuki [more details]. The regular reading should be Nihon Kaidan Kabuki (literally 'Japan Ghosts Kabuki') (based on the selected ideograms) but the planners of this project preferred to read it J Horâ Kabuki in order to appeal to a wider audience. The reason is quite simple: the newly-created drama, entitled "Toki o Koe Rinne no Furuido", will be a mix of "Sarayashiki" and the world of Sadako, the ghost in Suzuki Kôji's J-horror series "Ring". The script has been written by G2. The two stars will be Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô. The guest star will be Imai Tsubasa. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in October 2022 in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details]. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will commemorate the 180th anniversary of the 1842 move of all major Kabuki theaters to the remote district of Saruwaka-chô (Edo) in October 2022 and November 2022 at the Heisei Nakamuraza, which will be temporarily built in Tôkyô in Asakusa, at the back of the main hall of the Sensôji Temple [more details]. A newly-created Kabuki drama, written by Kudô Kankurô and entitled "Tônasuya ~ Fushigi no Kuni no Wakadanna", will be staged. The latest Heisei Nakamuraza performances were staged in Kitakyûshû in November 2019. The 1st edition of a Buyô gala for Nakamura Fukusuke and his son Nakamura Kotarô will happen in August 2022 in Tôkyô at the Sôgetsu Hall [more details]. The 6th edition of the Ken no Kai, a gala starring Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon, will happen in August 2022 [more details]. Ken no Kai literally means "Ken's Association" with Ken being the first ideogram in Onoe Ukon's real first name Kensuke. Interesting feature: In "Kasane", Onoe Ukon will share the stage with a Bunraku puppeteer. The program for the 28th edition of the common program for 2 associations, the Chigyokai (the Young Fishes Association) and the Kabukikai (the Kabuki Association), which stars stars' disciples in the leading roles at the National Theatre in August 2022 under the supervision of Matsumoto Hakuô, Matsumoto Kingo and the dance master Fujima Kanso III, has been published [more details]. The program for the 32nd edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre in August 2022 which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles under the supervision of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and the guidance of Kataoka Gatô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Kamimura Kichiya and the dance master Fujima Toyohiro, has been published [more details]. The 2nd edition of the Jûjiya Dance Gala at the Nihonbashi Gekijô (Nihonbashi Auditorium), located within the Nihonbashi Kôkaidô (Nihonbashi Community Center), will happen in August 2022 [more details]. 2nd edition of the Takasago Kai ('Takasago Gala') for the disciples of Nakamura Baigyoku belonging to the Takasagoya guild. It will happen in August 2022 in Tôkyô at the Nihonbashi Kôkaidô [more details]. The 3rd edition of the Hito Tsunagi no Kai ('People-Connecting Gala'), which will star Ichikawa Ennosuke's disciples, will happen the 4th of September 2022 in Kyôto at the Shunjûza, a theater located within the Kyôto University of the Arts [more details]. The 24th edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association') will happen in August 2022 [more details]. There will 3 special events related to the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in July 2022 at the National Theatre [more details]:
One poster for the production of "Nobuyasu" and one new visual document (flyer) for "Kaze no Tani no Naushika" in July 2022 at the Kabukiza have been printed out and will be sold in the theater during the performances. Nakamura Hayato will perform outside Kabuki at the end of July 2022 (the 26th and 27th) in Okamoto Takaya's drama "Watashi no Atama no Naka no Keshigomu 13th Letter" ('Eraser in my head 13th Letter') at the Yomiuri Ôtemachi Hall. 7 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: There will be two young girls on the stage of the Kabukiza in July 2022: Ichikawa Ebizô's daughter Ichikawa Botan will perform with her father in "Nakakuni" and Onoe Kikunosuke's daughter Terajima Tomoyo will perform with her father in "Kaze no Tani no Naushika". The Duty of Remembrance:
Opening the 1st of July 2022 of a new online database:
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| 31 May 2022 |
Obituary: the Kiyomoto musician Kiyomoto Koshizudayû passed away the 9th of May 2022. He was born the 18th of September 1933 and his real name was Kakizawa Sôkichi. He started his career in 1950 as a shamisen-player and switched to singing in September 1954. Important: a long-awaited announcement! Ichikawa Ebizô XI will finally take the prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in November 2022! There will be a 2-month shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, in November 2022 and December 2022. His son Horikoshi Kangen will take the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII. Initially, it was scheduled to happen from May to July 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 crisis, it was delayed for more than 2 years! The 2020 3-month name-taking ceremonies at the Kabukiza will be reduced to 2 months in 2022 but the third month will most likely be in January 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. Due to health-related reason, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon will not perform in June 2022 at the Kabukiza. The star was expected to play the role of Yosaburô in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi" with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of Otomi. He won't be replaced and, therefore, there will be a drama change for the 3rd progam of the June Grand Kabuki. Instead of "Kirare Yosa", "Furu Amerika-ni Sode-ha Nurasaji" will be staged under the direction of Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, who will also play the leading role of Osono. A few non-Kabuki guest stars will join the Kabuki troupe on stage : the Shinpa actors Kitamura Rokurô, Kawai Yukinojô, Taguchi Mamoru (the last disciple of Mizutani Yaeko I) and the former figure skater Itô Midori [more details]. Mishima Yukio's Kabuki comedy "Iwashi Uri" ("The Sardine Seller's Net of Love") was staged in English at the Lincoln Performance Hall within the campus of the Portland State University from the 25th to the 28th of May 2022 [more details]. The four performances were under the direction of Professor Laurence Kominz with a script based on his own translation, and the actors were both PSU students and professional performers. A YouTube video is available online! There will be in June 2022 a special tour with a troupe led by Nakamura Tsurumatsu. With disciples of the Nakamuraya guild, they will perform from the 8th to the 12th of June 2022 in 5 old traditional wooden theaters in Gifu Prefecture: the Kashimo Meijiza, the Miyamoriza, the Gomôza, the Azumaza and the Aioiza [more details]. The 7th edition of the Buyô gala Nakamura Kyôzô Buyô no Yûbe (Evening for Dance by Nakamura Kyôzô), starring Nakamura Kyôzô, will happen the 22nd of June 2022 in Tôkyô at the National Theatre [more details]. The program for Bandô Tamasaburô's performances from the 23rd to the 27th of July 2022 in Kyôto at the Minamiza has been published [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 13th time in Kabuki history in August 2022/September 2022! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be back again! Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They will perform together in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 14th time in Kabuki history and for the third time in Kyôto! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be staged in Kyôto at the Minamiza in September 2022. Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku [more details]. Hachigatsu Nôryô Kabuki, the August Cool-Breeze Kabuki, will be back at the Kabukiza in August 2022 [more details]! Due to the COVID-19 crisis, in August 2020 and August 2021, it was only the Hachigatsu Hanagata Kabuki, the August Young Actors Kabuki. The highlight of this August Cool-Breeze Kabuki will be the Kabuki adaptation of Tezuka Osamu's 1963 manga "Shinsen-gumi"! The story is related to the Shinsen-gumi, a group of pro-Shogunate warriors at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu). More to come in the coming weeks! Ichikawa Seiko II will celebrate his shûmei in Kyôto at the Shunjûza in September 2022, a theater located within the Kyôto University of the Arts [more details]. The event will be part of a special 3-day Buyô program starring Ichikawa Ennosuke. Ichikawa Ebizô performed his famed nirami no mie the 22nd of May 2022, on a special stage atop Tôkyô Skytree in the Sumida Ward, in order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of this tower: A special event within the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in June 2022, has been scheduled. It is entitled 'Beginners' Kabuki for Business Person' and it will happen the 10th and the 17th of June 2022, with a special session starting at 18:30 instead of the usual 11:00 or 14:30 [more details]. Kataoka Ainosuke will perform outside Kabuki from the 6th of June to the 10th of July 2022 in the Japanese language stage production of Francis Veber's 1998 movie "Le Dîner de Cons" (Kijintachi no Bansankai in Japanese or 'The Dinner Game' in English). The troupe will perform in several cities: in Tôkyô at the Setagaya Public Theater from the 7th to the 19th of June, in Ôsaka at the Morinomiya Piloti Hall from the 25th to the 27th of June, in Matsumoto at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre the 29th of June, in Tôkai at the Tôkai City Arts Theater from the 2nd to the 3rd of July and in Fukuoka at the Hakataza from the 9th to the 10th of July. Kataoka Kamezô will perform outside Kabuki from the 6th to the 28th of June 20022, in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon, in Noda Hideki's drama "Pandora no Kane" ('Pandora's Bell'). This drama will be directed by Sugihara Kunio. The Duty of Remembrance:
One poster for the production of "Nobuyasu" and one new visual document (flyer) for "Cho Hakkai"/"Kurumabiki" in June 2022 at the Kabukiza have been printed out and will be sold in the theater during the performances. 7 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
We could not report in the previous release of kabuki21.com the gala for Nakamura Ichô, which happened the 29th of May 2022 in Ena (Gifu Prefecture) at the Ena Culture Center [more details]. |
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| 30 April 2022 |
The three programs for the June Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in June 2022 have been published [more details]. Here are the highlights:
The two programs for the July Grand Kabuki performances at the Shôchikuza in July 2022 have been published [more details]. Here are the highlights:
The three programs for the July Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in July 2022 have been published [more details]. Here are the highlights:
There will be a Kokera Otoshi Kabuki program the 10th of May 2022 in in Saitama at the RaiBoC Hall (Ômiya Civic Hall) [more details]. The name RaiBoC comes from the words Railway, Bonsai and Cartoon. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in August 2022 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. The second act of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" will be staged in its entirety (3 scenes). The guest star of this special summer program will be Kataoka Ainosuke. Nakamura Kotarô and Nakamura Hayato will be on tour in June 2022 [more details]. The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in July 2022 has been published [more details]. The 1st edition of the Futari o Miru Kai, a gala program which stars Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô, will happen the 23rd and 24th of May 2022 in Tôkyô at the Hitotsubashi Hall of the Japan Education Center [more details]. The 1st edition of the Kakumeikai, a gala program which will star Nakamura Tsurumatsu, will happen from the 5th of June 2022 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details]. The 7th edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke, will happen in Tôkyô at the National Theatre from the 16th to the 17th of July 2022 [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 11th and 12th time in Kabuki history in August 2022! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be back again! Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They will perform together for the first time in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [more details] and in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details]. Two posters for the April 2022 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: Four posters for the May 2022 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: 10 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Nakamura Kankurô will perform outside Kabuki from the 8th to the 12th of June 2022 in Tôkyô at the Tôkyô Tatemono Brillia Hall (Tôshima Arts and Culture Theatre) in Ueda Kumiko's drama "Baiômu" ('BIOME'). The 15th and the 20th of May 2022, in Tôkyô at the National Film Archive of Japan (Nagase Memorial Theatre OZU (2nd floor), old Kabuki-staged short movies will be screened: 7 minutes from "Momijigari", a movie shot in 1899 with the stage giants Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Onoe Kikugorô V, and a collection of short movies from 1900 to 1935 with the Kamigata star Nakamura Ganjirô I. For example, there will be 6 minutes from "Kawashô" (1925), 4 minutes from "Fûin Giri" (1928), 5 minutes from "Kitsunebi" (1929), 3 minutes from "Ninokuchi-mura" (1932) or 3 minutes from "Tsuchiya Chikara" (1933) [more details]. The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 31 March 2022 |
The great yearly Dankiku festival will be back at the Kabukiza in May 2022 [more details]! No Dankiku festival in May 2020 and May 2021. This important festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds will commemorate 2 great stars of the Meiji era: Dan = Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Kiku = Onoe Kikugorô V. Here are the highlights:
Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" will be revived at the National Theatre by the Zenshinza in May 2022 to commemorate the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial services) of the passing away of late Kawarasaki Kunitarô V. His grandson Kawarasaki Kunitarô VI will play the roles of Oroku and Yatsuhashi [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform from the 27th to the 29th of May 2022 in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 10th time in Kabuki history in April 2022!
Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be back again!
Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku.
They will perform together in a Chôkabuki dance-drama entitled "Towa no Hana Homare no Isaoshi" [ The two programs for the June Grand Kabuki performances in Fukuoka in June 2022 at the Hakataza have been published [more details]. The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in June 2022 has been published [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform from the 23rd to the 27th of July 2022 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. Nakamura Shikan and his three sons will be on tour in July 2022 [more details]. There will be Kabuki performances in July 2022 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details]. We've forgotten to report the Zenshinza Tour, which will happen from the 25th of March 2022 to the 23rd of April 2022. This is a simple tour with the staging of the matsubamemono "Bô Shibari" [more details]. Onoe Shôroku, who will perform in the role of Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke in the drama "Ten'ichibô Ôoka Seidan" in April 2022 at the Kabukiza, went at the Jôkenji Temple in Chigasaki, a temple with the tombstone of Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke, the 17th of March 2022 to pray for the success of the coming performances [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Nakamura Kazutarô and Nakamura Kotarô took part the 27th of March 2022 in a special gala entitled Dentô Geinô Fesutibaru (literally 'Traditional Culture Festival'), which mixed Nô and Kabuki and was staged in Ginza at the Kanze Nôgakudô. Nakamura Kazutarô performed in a Kabuki dance entitled "Kuzu-no-Ha no Michiyuki", a Tokiwazu-based michiyuki related to the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". Nakamura Kotarô performed in the Tokiwazu-based version of "Kitsunebi". They also did some talks on stage with the Nô actors Sakaguchi Takanobu and Kanze Saburôta. Due to health-related reasons, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon could not perform at the Kabukiza from the 9th to the 15th of March 2022. He was replaced by Nakamura Karoku to play the role of Kôchiyama Sôshun in the drama "Kôchiyama". Due to health-related reasons, Ichikawa Danzô could not perform at the Kabukiza in March 2022. He was replaced by his disciple Ichikawa Aragorô to play the role of Chôbê in the drama "Shibahama no Kawazaifu". Two posters for the March 2022 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: The 38th and 39th releases of Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") will be released all over Japan in April 2022. It will be Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which was shot live in high definition in April 2021 (first half of "Sakura Hime") and in June 2021 (second half of "Sakura Hime") at the Kabukiza and which starred Living National Treasures Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô.
Kamimura Kichiya was the award-winner of the Ôsaka Bunkasai-shô, the Ôsaka Cultural Festival Award, for the 3rd year of the Reiwa era. The ceremony happened the 29th of March 2022. Due to people infected with coronavirus, all the performances of Ichikawa Ebizô's Roppongi Kabuki (Roppongi is a famous district in Tôkyô) in Ôsaka from the 18th to the 21st of March 2022 have been cancelled. 15 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in January 2022 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: Recycled Kabuki costumes were sold online as artistic frames from the 19th to the 31st of March 2022! Costumes used for the main role of the dance "Musume Dôjôji". This original recycling project was called 'RE:CREATION' [pictures and more details in Japanese | official website]. The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 28 February 2022 |
The three programs for the April Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in April 2022 have been published [more details]. Here are the highlights:
Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shikan and Onoe Kikunosuke will perform in June 2022 at the Hakataza [more details]. There will be a Kabuki Appreciation Class in May 2022 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. 10 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in November 2021 and January 2022 at the National Theatre have been uploaded on the Kabuki playlist of the National Theatre Official YouTube Channel: Nakamura Shichinosuke was the award-winner of the "Incentive Award" (Shôreishô) of the 38th Asakusa Artistic Awards (Asakusa Geinô Shô). The ceremony happened the 6th of February 2022 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Bandô Takesaburô and Bandô Minosuke were the award-winners of the "Merit Award" (Kôrôshô) for the former actor and the "New Face Award" (Shinjin Shô) for the latter actor of the 43rd Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). Three posters for the February 2022 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: Three posters for the March 2022 performances at the Minamiza have been published: The Duty of Remembrance:
Due to people infected with coronavirus, cancellation of the third program at the Kabukiza from the 14th to the 19th of February 2022 [more details]. Cancellation of the Cocoon Kabuki performances the 25th and the 26th of February 2022 at the Theatre Cocoon due to the illness of a member of staff [more details]. Due to illness, Nakamura Shikan could not perform at the Kabukiza from the 1st to the 19th of February 2022. He was replaced by Bandô Hikosaburô to play the role of Osada no Tarô in "Oniji Hyôshimai" [more details]. Due to illness, Bandô Hikosaburô could not perform at the Kabukiza from the 4th to the 10th of February 2022. He was replaced by Kataoka Kamezô and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô to play the roles of Osada no Tarô and Hayase Yajûrô in "Oniji Hyôshimai" and "Nezumi Kozô" [more details]. Due to illness, Bandô Minosuke could not perform at the Kabukiza from the 13th to the 23rd of February 2022. He was replaced by Onoe Kikuji to play the role of Shinsuke in "Nezumi Kozô" [more details]. Due to illness, Nakamura Takanosuke could not perform at the Kabukiza from the 13th to the 22nd of February 2022. He was not replaced in "Shakkyô" [more details]. Kabuki Nyantarô, a cute character from the world of Hello Kitty, which is the Kabuki Nyan’bassador (ambassador) for the 5th Kabukiza, will celebrate soon its 5th anniversary. Opening of a dedicated website to celebrate it with a countdown to the birthday the 29th of April. A special program at the Minamiza in Kyôto to explain stage mechanisms, from the tachimawari to the hanamichi and to help visitors experiencing some of the unique stagecraft tricks used in Kabuki theatre, will happen from the 29th of April to the 8th of May 2022. |
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| 31 January 2022 |
Obituary: The monthly magazine Engekikai, dedicated mostly to Kabuki, will be out of business this spring. The last issue will be the March one. Engekikai has a long history. It started as Engei Gahô in the 40th year of the Meiji era (1907). In 1943, due to a shortage of paper, 6 magazines dedicated to the stage arts were reduced to two new magazines, under the supervision of one publishing house named Nihon Engeki-sha (literally 'Japan Theatre Company'). One of the two magazines was named Engekikai (literally 'Theatrical World') and its first issue was published in November 1943. Engekikai was famous for the high quality of its reports, stage analysis, photographs and studies. This will be a terrible loss for the Kabuki world! I wish Kabuki stars could start the process to gather enough money to save this magazine... The three programs for the March Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in March 2022 have been published [more details]. Here are the main details:
The first Kabuki shûmei in the COVID times will happen soon! It is related to the Ichikawa Clan but it is not the big event everybody's expecting, which was announced in January 2019 and which has been delayed ... The Omodakaya actor Ichikawa Kôtarô will take the name of Ichikawa Seiko II in March 2022 at the Kabukiza. "Moritsuna Jin'ya" will be staged in March 2022 at the National Theatre [more details]. The prestigious role of Sasaki Moritsuna will be played by Onoe Kikunosuke. The Nakamuraya brothers Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in March 2022 [more details]. Young actors will perform in April 2022 in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details]. Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" will be revived at the National Theatre by the Zenshinza in May 2022 [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in a special Buyô program from the 3rd to the 4th of May 2022 in Kyôtango at the Tango Bunka Kaikan (Tango Culture Center) [more details]. The piece to be staged as Roppongi Kabuki (Roppongi is a famous district in Tôkyô) in Tôkyô, Fukuoka and Ôsaka in February 2022 and March 2022, has been entitled "Hanazochiru" and it will be based on Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Benten Kozô" but reformatted in order to fit in a new background reminiscent of the current times and to attract younger audiences. 14 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in October 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: Due to people infected with coronavirus, the drama "Puperu", starring Ichikawa Ebizô and his two children, was not staged the 20th of January 2022 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. The 20th of January was in theory the senshûraku for this program. As a consequence, the following program, which was entitled IBUKI and was expected to be staged from the 21st to the 23rd of January 2022, was cancelled. In February 2022, Nakamura Shikan will not perform at the Kabukiza for a few days as he has been tested positive for coronavirus. He will be replaced by Bandô Hikosaburô in "Oniji Hyôshimai". He was absent the 27th of January (senshûraku) for the first program of the year at the Kabukiza and he was replaced by Matsumoto Kôshirô in "Haru no Kotobuki". Due to people infected with coronavirus, the 14th of January 2022, the 1st program of the Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza. From the 15th, several actors had to be absent for a few days. Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke were back on stage from the 20th of January 2022. Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Toranosuke were back on stage from the 23rd of January 2022. Due to a close contact with a person infected with coronavirus, Onoe Matsuya was absent at the Kabukiza from the 14th to the 22nd of January 2022. He was replaced by Ichikawa En'ya to play the role of Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo in the drama "Iwato no Kagekiyo". The Duty of Remembrance:
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