Ad-libbing on stage? In February 2026 at the Kabukiza, while performing in the shibai mae drama "Iya Sakae Shibai no Nigiwai", Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, who had a close relationship with both Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, urged Nakamura Kankurô to "take the name of Kanzaburô the 19th as soon as possible, while I'm still alive." The head of the Nakamuraya guild answered "That's still a long way off. Hearing what you've just said, I'm sure my grandfather and father would be very happy. I hope you stay healthy until then, uncle."

The two programs for the Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in May 2026 have been published [more details]. Onoe Sakon III will take the name of Onoe Tatsunosuke III, playing the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, the yakko Torazô (in reality Ushiwakamaru) and Fukuyama Katsugi in "Soga no Taimen", "Kikubatake" and "Kurotegumi Sukeroku".

The Zenshinza will perform at the Sunshine Theatre (Tôkyô), instead of the usual Kabuki performances at the National Theatre, from the 30th of May to the 7th of June 2026 [more details]. The troupe will celebrate its 95th anniversary (founded in 1931). They will perform in "Ohisa Bunshichi Koi no Mottoi", a newly-created drama made by Yamada Yôji and based on "Bunshichi Mottoi".

The program for the Kabuki Appreciation Class in May 2026 in Kyôto at the Minamiza has been published [more details].

The two programs for the Grand Kabuki performances in June 2026 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza, which will celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VIII and his son Onoe Kikunosuke VI, have been published [more details].

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in June 2026 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details].

Ichikawa Danjûrô will perform in October 2026 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details].

4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:

Greatness (and Some Drama) at the Kabukiza!

A Guide to the Plays in the Film Kokuhô!

The Female Chûshingura Revived After 17 Years

Ôsaka's Last New Year Kabuki Show!?

The Duty of Remembrance:

In February 2026, we could have celebrated the 325th anniversary of the premiere at the Nakamuraza, in the 1st lunar month of 1701 of the bombastic play "Zôhiki" (Kabuki Jûhachiban), included in the drama "Keisei Ôshôkun".

The 25th of February 2026, we could have celebrated the 200th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Matsumoto Kojirô II. He died the 19th day of the 1st lunar month of the 9th year of the Bunsei era, which was the 25th of February 1826 in the western calendar.

The 21st of February 2026, we could have celebrated the 125th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Nakamura Tomijûrô III (1859~1901). He died the 21st of February 1926.

The 18th of February 2026, we could have celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Ichikawa Danzaburô IX (1851~1926). He died the 18th of February 1926.

The 22nd of February 2026, we could have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Jitsukawa Enjaku II (1877~1951). He died the 22nd of February 1951.

There were mamemaki ceremonies for setsubun at the beginning of February 2026 in or near 2 theaters:

At the Kabukiza the 3rd of February (pictures and more details in Japanese)

At the Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka, near the Hakataza, the 3rd of February (pictures and more details in Japanese)

A new release of Shinema Kabuki ('Cinema Kabuki') the 23rd of March 2026 in Kyôto at the MOVIX Kyôto and all over Japan from the 10th of April 2026. It will be "Sonezaki Shinjû", which will be shot live in high definition in Kyôto at the Minamiza in March 2026 Nakamura Kazutarô and Onoe Ukon in the roles of Tokubê and Ohatsu.

The hatsuumasai, the 'First day of the Horse Festival', was celebrated at the Kabukiza Inari Shrine the 1st of February 2026 [pictures and more details in Japanese].

The Dark Side of Kabuki: was it an improvised rehearsal for the spectacular mon yaburi scene of the drama "Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru"? Young (and promising) actor Nakamura Tsurumatsu has been arrested for allegedly damaging the door of a restaurant in Asakusa. This young actor was expected to take the name of Nakamura Maizuru in February 2026 at the Kabukiza. As a consequence, this important shûmei for the Nakamuraya guild has been indefinitely postponed. Moreover, he had to stop performing from the 18th of January 2026 in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô and he was replaced by Nakamura Hashigo, Ichikawa Otora & Nakamura Kangyoku to play the roles of the yakko Kikuhei, a princess & Matahei's wife Otoku in "Ishikiri Kajiwara", "Aioi Jishi" & "Domo Mata".

Kabuki actor Nakamura Tsurumatsu arrested for alleged damage at Tokyo restaurant

Kabuki actor arrested for allegedly damaging restaurant door

Kabuki Abroad: there will be some Kabuki in Europe in Spring 2026! This tour will be entitled 'The Making of an Onnagata Europe Tour 2026' and its star will be Nakamura Takanosuke [more details]:

Paris, France: from the 9th to the 10th of April 2026 at the Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris.

Rome, Italy: from the 16th to the 17th of April 2026 at the Istituto Giapponese di Cultura.

Cologne, Germany: from the 22nd to the 23rd of April 2026 at the Japanisches Kulturinstitut.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in February 2026 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. It will be farewell performances for this theater about to close [more details].

The Two programs for the Farewell April Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in April 2026 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:

"Keya-mura" with Nakamura Shidô & Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of Rokusuke & Osono.

The 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of Sakata Tôjûrô IV will be commemorated with the staging of the drama "Yûgiri Nagori no Shôgatsu", featuring Tôjûrô's grandsons Nakamura Kazutarô & Nakamura Toranosuke in the roles of Ôgiya Yûgiri & Fujiya Izaemon.

"Terakoya" with Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon/Matsumoto Kôshirô in the role of Matsuômaru (alternative casting). The role of Takebe Genzô will be played by Matsumoto Kôshirô/Nakamura Hayato (alternative casting). The roles of Chiyo & Tonami will be played by Kataoka Takatarô & Nakamura Kazutarô.

The 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of Sakata Tôjûrô IV will be commemorated with the staging of the drama "Kawashô", featuring Nakamura Ganjirô/Nakamura Senjaku and Nakamura Senjaku/Nakamura Kazutarô (alternative casting) in the roles of Kamiya Jihê and Kinokuniya Koharu (alternative casting).

The Two programs for the April Grand Kabuki in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza in April 2026 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:

"Ura Omote Sendai Hagi" with Onoe Kikugorô in the roles of Kosuke, Masaoka & Nikki Danjô.

"Jusshukô" with Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Manju & Nakamura Shikan in the roles of Yaegaki, Nureginu, Katsuyori & Nagao Kenshin.

"Ukare Shinjû", a classic of the Nakamuraya guild.

The Two programs for the Farewell May Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in May 2026 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:

"Yoshikata Saigo" with Kataoka Ainosuke in the role of Kiso Yoshikata.

Mishima Yukio's masterpiece "Iwashi Uri" with Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô & Nakamura Shichinosuke.

"Moritsuna Jin'ya" with Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of Sasaki Moritsuna.

Onoe Kikugorô VIII and his son Onoe Kikunosuke VI will celebrate their shûmei in June 2026 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza. The new Kikugorô will play the roles of the demon of Mount Atago and the shishi parent in the dance-dramas "Ibaraki" & "Renjishi". The new Kikunosuke will play the roles of Umeômaru and the shishi cub in the drama "Kurumabiki" and the dance-drama "Renjishi".

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in June 2026 in Kyôto at the Minamiza!

The Heisei Nakamuraza will be back in Asakusa in October 2026!

The January 2027 new year Kabuki program in Ôsaka will be staged at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza as the Shôchikuza won't exist anymore. The Ôsaka Shinkabukiza was built in 1958 to replace the Ôsaka Kabukiza. It was destroyed and relocated in a different site in 2010. It is likely to be the sole Kabuki theater in Ôsaka for quite a few years during the second fourth of the 21st century.

Members of the Edo Firefighting Memorial Association performed kiyari ritual dances within the Kabukiza the 5th of January 2026 [more details in Japanese].

The 8th of January 2026 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô, five geisha came and enjoyed the New Year Asakusa Kabuki. They arrived at the Asakusa Public Hall riding in rickshaws and then stood near the entrance to greet the arriving customers. This kind of visit by a group of geisha is called Sôken (literally "global viewing") [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Nakamura Ganjirô took part in a parade in Ôsaka the 10th of January 2026, which was part of the Tôka Ebisu Festival at the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, which is located in the Naniwa Ward of Ôsaka and is commonly (and affectiously) called Ebessan by the people of Ôsaka. The Tôka Ebisu Festival was held from the 9th to the 11th of January 2026. Tôka meaning the 10th day in Japanese, this festival is usually held around the 10th of January and it is extremely popular in Ôsaka. During this festival sacred bamboo branches are sold to business people. The branches, known as fukusasa, are decorated with lucky symbols. Nakamura Ganjirô was paraded through shopping and entertainment districts on a special palanquin called hoe kago, surrounded by people singing a simple catchy folk song [more details in Japanese and pictures].

4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:

New Year at the Kabukiza!

The Young Flowers of Kabuki!

Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII Revisits the Classics!

The Tale of Ichijô Ôkura | Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari EXPLAINED (1731)

The Duty of Remembrance:

The 27th of January 2026, we could have celebrated the 275th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Bandô Hikosaburô I (1693~1751). He died the 1st day of the 1st lunar month of the 4th year of the Kan'en era, which was the 27th of January 1751 in the western calendar.

The 10th of January 2026, we could have celebrated the 125th anniversary of the passing away of the playwright Kawatake Shinshichi III (1842~1901). He died the 25th of January 1901.

The 3rd of January 2026, we could have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the opening ceremony of the 4th Kabukiza. The rebuilding of the theater, destroyed at the end of WWII, was completed in December 1950 and the opening ceremony happened the 3rd of January 1951.

The 10th of January 2026, we could have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Ichikawa Kodayû II (1902~1976). He died the 25th of January 1976.

2 posters/visuals for the February 2026 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:

Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To

Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki (Jinmon/Kumiuchi)