The programs for the great yearly Dankiku festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds at the Kabukiza in May 2024 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:

"Kenuki" with Ichikawa Omezô in the role of Kumedera Danjô.

"Yudono no Chôbê" with Ichikawa Danjûrô and Onoe Kikunosuke in the roles of Banzui Chôbê and Mizuno Jûrôzaemon.

"Meiboku Sendai Hagi" with Onoe Kikunosuke and Ichikawa Danjûrô in the roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danjô.

"Shisen Ryô" with Onoe Shôroku and Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku in the roles of Yashû no Tomizô and Fujioka Tôjûrô.

The famous Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Yamato Takeru" will be staged in May 2024 in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details]. In the absence of Ichikawa Ennosuke, the eponymous role of Yamato Takeru will be played by Ichikawa Ennosuke III's grandson Ichikawa Danko. The non-Kabuki guest star will be Kashima Noritoshi.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in "Botan Dôrô" in Nagoya at the Misonoza in June 2024 [more details]. The guest star will be Kataoka Ainosuke.

The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in June 2024 has been published [more details]. As the National Theatre is no more available, the Sunpearl Arakawa will be used as a substitute venue. Nakamura Ganjirô and Ichikawa Komazô will perform in "Fûin Giri". There will be performances in two others venues, from the 23rd to the 24th of June in Yokohama at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall [more details] and the 26th of June in Shizuoka at the Shizuoka Convention & Arts Center Granship [more details].

The drama "Hoshi Awase Jûsandan (Narita Senbon Zakura)", which was premiered in July 2019 at the Kabukiza, will be revived in July 2024 in the same theater. It was a completely revised, digested-version and spectacular revision on high octane of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", with Ichikawa Danjûrô performing 13 roles in the 13 scenes of this drama. Jûsandan has two meaning, either 13 scenes (jûsandan) or a shorter way to say Ichikawa Danjûrô the thirteenth (jûsandaime). The Narita in "Narita Senbon Zakura" is in fact the Naritaya guild of the Ichikawa clan [more details].

Nakamura Shidô will be on tour in July 2024 [more details]. Will this tour replace the usual tour in the eastern provinces in the same period of time? So far, we don't know.

The signed handprint of Nakamura Jakuemon was taken the 16th of March 2024 and set into the Plaza of Stars (Sutâ no Hiroba in Japanese) on Orange Street (Orenji Dôri in Japanese) near the Asakusa Kôkaidô in the heart of Asakusa. Nakamura Jakuemon was one of the 5 artists selected for the 5th year of the Reiwa era (2023). The others were the actress Ôtake Shinobu, the singer Nakajima Miyuki and the two rakugo storytellers San'yûtei Kôraku and Hayashiya Shôraku III (who died the 21st of January 2024!) [picture].

There will 2 special events related to the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in June 2024 at the Sunpearl Arakawa [more details]:

"Beginners' Kabuki for Business Person" the 5th and the 6th of June, with a special session starting at 18:30 instead of the usual 11:00 or 14:30.

"Discover KABUKI" the 20th of June, with a presentation "how to appreciate Kabuki" in English. the audio guides in English and Japanese will be available for free. There will be subtitles in English displayed on a screen above the stage. Moreover, there will be multilingual booklets for free in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French and Japanese.

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

A Quick Guide to Kabuki Acting Houses Part 1

No Spring at the Kabukiza?

How Do Kabuki Actors' Names Work?

Bad and Good News for the Kabuki World

The Duty of Remembrance Jakuemon IV's Kabukiza Memorial

Matsumoto Hakuô and Nakamura Shinobu received the 27th of February 2024 an award from the 31st Yomiuri Engeki Taishô (the Yomiuri Theatre Awards), sponsored by the famous paper Yomiuri Shimbun. Matsumoto Hakuô received the Geijutsu Eiyoshô, the 'Art Honor award'. Nakamura Shinobu received the Senkô Iin tokubetsushô, the 'Selection Committee Special Award'.

The Duty of Remembrance:

The 20th of March 2024, we could have celebrated the 225th anniversary of the passing away of the the zamoto Ichimura Uzaemon X (1748~1799). He died the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 11th year of the Kansei era, which was the 20th of March 1799 in the western calendar.

In March 2024, we could have celebrated the 125th anniversary of the premiere at the Meijiza of the drama "Kurotegumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki", which gathered the main scenes from the sukerokumono part of Kawatake Shinshichi II's 1858 drama "Edo Zakura Kiyomizu Seigen" [casting]. The opening day was the 3rd of March 1899.

The 2nd of March 2024, we could have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the passing away of the star Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (1875~1949). He died the 2nd of March 1949.

2 posters for the April 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published and will be sold within the theater:

"Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"

"Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" & "Kanda Matsuri"

Exhibition of Kabuki costumes at the 9F of the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Ginza from the 27th of March to the 8th of April 2024 [more details].

For tourists in Tôkyô eager to get more information about Kabuki and others Shôchiku-related performances, a new office has just opened, the SHÔCHIKU INFORMATION, which is located on the 1st floor of the Tôgeki building (Shôchiku Head office building) [more details].

It seems that there won't be any Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) in April 2024 at the Makuhari Messe for the Niconico Chôkaigi 2024 event, an important yearly event for the otaku tribes.

The two programs for the April Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in April 2024 have been published [more details]. There will be 5 Living National Treasures on stage: Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Tôzô. The highlights of these performances will be:

"Hikimado" with Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Shôroku and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of Nan Yohê (later Nanpô Jûjibê), Nuregami Chôgorô and Ohaya.

"Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" with Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Kikunosuke and Nakamura Karoku in the roles of Danshichi Kurobê, Issun Tokubê and Tsuribune Sabu.

Two acts of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" with Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô in the roles of Kimon no Kihê and Dote no Oroku.

Revival of Kujô Takeko's dance-drama "Shiki" in 4 parts, one for each season of the year.

The program for the Kabuki Appreciation Class in May 2024 in Kyôto at the Minamiza has been published [more details].

The two programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza in June 2024 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:

"Shuzenji Monogatari" with Bandô Yajûrô and Onoe Matsuya in the roles of the mask-carver Yashaô and Minamoto no Yoriie.

"Ninokuchi-mura" with Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of Kameya Chûbê/Magoemon and Umegawa.

"Yotsuya Kaidan" with Onoe Ukon, Matsu2 and Ya1 in the roles of Oiwa, Tamiya Iemon and Naosuke Gonbê. Onoe Ukon will also play the roles of Kobotoke Kohei and Satô Yomoshichi.

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in "Akoya" in Kyôto at the Minamiza in June 2024 [more details].

The famous Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Yamato Takeru" will be staged in June 2024 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details]. In the absence of Ichikawa Ennosuke, the eponymous role of Yamato Takeru will be played by Ichikawa Ennosuke III's grandson Ichikawa Danko. The non-Kabuki guest star will be Kashima Noritoshi.

The 2nd edition of a gala for Nakamura Fukusuke and his son Nakamura Kotarô will happen in Tôkyô at the Tôkyô International Forum the 27th of March 2024 [more details].

Ahead of the Kabuki performances in February 2024 in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details], Ichikawa Danjûrô and his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke went the 1st of February 2024 to the Manpukuin, a Nagoya branch of the Narita-san Shinshôji Temple, to pray for the success of the shûmei performances [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Ahead of the staging of "Keisei Dôjôji" in March 2024 at the Kabukiza to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Jakuemon IV, Nakamura Jakuemon, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ôtani Hirotarô and Ôtani Hiromatsu went the 21st of February 2024 to the tombstone of their father/grandfather in Aoyama Cemetery to pray for the success of the performances [pictures and more details in Japanese].

There were mamemaki ceremonies for setsubun the 3rd of February 2024 in 3 theaters:

At the Kabukiza (pictures and more details in Japanese)

At the Shôchikuza (pictures and more details in Japanese)

At the Hakataza (pictures and more details in Japanese)

The 10th of March 2024, in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô, the role of Yamato Takeru in the eponymous drama will be played for the 1000th time! It was played for the first time the 4th of February 1986 in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô and it was the beginning of Sûpâ Kabuki in Japan. Here is the list of performers for the role of Yamato Takeru (calculated the 10th of March 2024):

In order to celebrate this 1000th performance, two special posters have been published:

Yamato Takeru 1

Yamato Takeru 2

5 posters for the March 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published and will be sold within the theater:

Terakoya

Keisei Dôjôji

Ohama Goten Tsunatoyo-kyô

Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba

Kisen

3 visuals for the March 2024 performances at the Minamiza have been published:

Nakamura Kazutarô in "Masakado"

Onoe Ukon in "Kawashô"

Nakamura Hayato in "Abura no Jigoku"

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

Who Are the Greatest Kabuki Dancers?

The Rebirth of Kamigata Kabuki?

Who Are the 6 Living National Treasures in Kabuki? (2024)

Kanzaburô XVIII Memorial & The Legacy of the Nakamuraya

The Duty of Remembrance:

The 4th of February 2024, we could have celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Jitsukawa Yaozô II (1880~1924). He died the 4th of February 1924.

Important: there will be shûmei/hatsubutai performances in June 2024 at the Kabukiza for the Yorozuya guild!

Shûmei: Nakamura Tokizô V and his son Nakamura Baishi IV will respectively take the names of Nakamura Manju and Nakamura Tokizô VI. The new Tokizô will play the role of Omiwa in "Mikasayama Goten". The new Manju will play the role of Yamanba in the eponymous dance-drama. Interesting to note that the name Manju, in which the ideogram for man is the same as yorozu in Nakamura Tokizô's yagô Yorozuya, was not an old haimyô used by ancestors of Nakamura Tokizô. It was created by the actor and there is a hint at the Manju Era, which started the 19th of August 1024, almost 1000 years ago.

Hatsubutai: Nakamura Tokizô's grandson and Nakamura Baishi's son Ogawa Hiroharu (born the 28th of October 2015) will make his hatsubutai and receive the name of Nakamura Baishi V. He will perform with his grandfather in "Yamanba". Nakamura Shidô's sons Ogawa Haruki (born the 18th of December 2017) and Ogawa Natsuki (born the 27th of June 2020) will also make their hatsubutai and receive the names of Nakamura Haruki and Nakamura Natsuki. They will play the roles of decchi in "Sakanaya Sôgorô" (the role of Sôgorô will be played by their father Nakamura Shidô).

The two programs for the March Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza in March 2024 have been published [more details]. The highlights of these performances will be:

"Keisei Dôjôji", which will be staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Jakuemon IV. His son Nakamura Jakuemon V will play the leading role.

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon in the role of Tokugawa Tsunatoyo in "Ohama Goten".

The rarely-staged "Daidaikô" act in a tôshi kyôgen production of "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". This act was staged for the last time in October 2015 at the National Theatre and, before, in July 1962 at the Kabukiza.

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour from the 26th of March to the 1st of April 2024 [more details]. They will perform in 6 venues to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII.

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in April 2024 [more details]. This is the 5th edition of a Spring Tour called Shungyô Kabuki Tokubetsu Kôen, literally 'The Dawn of Spring Kabuki Special Performances'. They will perform in 15 venues, including 7 traditional wooden-built theaters (listed below), to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII:

The Yachiyoza in Yamaga the 5th of April 2024.

The Uchikoza in Uchiko the 10th of April 2024.

The Gomôza in Gifu Prefecture the 12th of April 2024.

The Azumaza in Nakatsugawa the 13th of April 2024.

The Kashimo Meijiza in Nakatsugawa the 14th of April 2024.

The Aioiza in Mizunami the 15th of April 2024.

The Kôrakukan in Kosaka (Akita Prefecture) the 18th of April 2024.

Grand Kabuki right in the heart of the Kabukichô entertainment district near Shinjuku Station! The Nakamuraya guild will perform at the Theater MILANO-Za in May 2024 [more details].

The Zenshinza will perform in May 2024 at the Tôkyô Tatemono Brillia Hall (Tôshima Arts and Culture Theatre), instead of the usual Kabuki performances at the National Theatre [more details].

There will be a Kabuki Appreciation Class in May 2024 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details].

The Duty of Remembrance:

The 19th of January 2024, we could have celebrated the 275th anniversary of the premiere of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was originally written for the puppet theater and staged for the first time in the 8th lunar month of 1748 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza, which was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. The opening day was the 1st day of the 12th lunar month of the 1st year of the Kan'en era, which was the 19th of January 1749 in the western calendar.

The 16th of January 2024, we could have celebrated the 125th anniversary of the passing away of the star Nakamura Shikan IV (1830~1899). He died the 16th of January 1899.

The 27th of January 2024, we could have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the passing away of the star Matsumoto Kôshirô VII (1870~1949). He died the 27th of January 1949.

The 5th of January 2024, we could have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passing away of the actor Fujikawa Buzaemon IV (1906~1974). He died the 5th of January 1974.

Members of the Edo Firefighting Memorial Association performed kiyari ritual dances within the Kabukiza the 5th of January 2024 [more details in Japanese].

A new release of Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") all over Japan from the 5th of April 2024. It will be "Tôken Ranbu ~ Tsuki no Tsurugi Enishi no Kiri no Ha", a newly-created Kabuki drama based on a ... free-to-play collectible card browser video game named "Tôken Ranbu". It was shot live in high definition in July 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. It starred Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Onoe Matsuya, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Kangyoku and Nakamura Takanosuke [more details].

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

A Guide to Kabuki Costumes Part 1: Roles of the Kaomise & New Year

The New Danjûrô Family

The Present of Kabuki?

Danjûrô II's Greatest Aragoto Masterpiece? The Arrowhead (1729)

1 poster for the February 2024 performances at the Hakataza has been published and will be sold within the theater:

Matsumoto Kôshirô & Ichikawa Somegorô in "Akechi Kogorô to Ningenhyô"

The 13th of January 2024, there was a memorial meeting held in a Tôkyô hotel with the heirs of the Nakamuraya guild: Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Kantarô and Nakamura Chôzaburô. It was the beginning of a coming long series of performances commemorating the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Interesting exhibition at the Minamiza related to the collaboaration of the world of Kabuki with the world of anime. It started the 20th of January 2024 and it will end the 18th of February 2024. The two anime series Macross Frontier and Macross Delta, which celebrate in 2024 their 40th anniversary, have collaborated with the Shôchiku Company to produce Kabuki design and costumes related to these two series [more details].