NEWS FROM THE KABUKI WORLD |
30 November 2024 |
The two programs for the February 2025 Kabuki performances in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza have been published [more details]. There will be a tôshi kyôgen production of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" with 4 rarely-staged scenes: "Ôuchi", "Kawagoe Jôshi", "Heisoto" & "Okuniwa". Kataoka Ainosuke will perform a spectacular kitsune roppô using the chûnori technique. Young actors will perform in March 2025 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. Prior to Kyôto's year-end kaomise Kabuki performances from the 1st to the 22nd of December 2024 [more details], the annual maneki-age happened the 26th of November 2024 at the Minamiza. During this important event, huge wooden boards called maneki kanban were raised [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The 59 boards feature the names of Kabuki performers appearing in the show and they were placed over the front of the Minamiza on a huge takeyarai. The maneki kanban were made by the calligrapher Kawabata Kiyonami at the Myôdenji temple in Kyôto the 8th of November 2024. The calligrapher soaked his brush in special ink mixed with sake for the purpose of purification and glossing, and wrote the names all actors with strong strokes in kanteiryû characters [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The Zenshinza troupe will perform in January 2025 at the Kyôto Gekijô but it won't be in a Kabuki drama (or dance-drama). No December Kabuki performances for the National Theatre in a substitue venue! The Duty of Remembrance:
4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: 5 posters/visuals for the December 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: Nakamura Takanosuke, who performed in Kyôto at the Minamiza from the 16th to the 23rd of November 2024 outside Kabuki in the drama "Uchôten Kazoku" (literally 'The Ecstatic Family' but the official English title is 'The Eccentric Family'), based on Morimi Tomihiko's eponymous novel, was a tobigashira for real for a day the 16th of November 2024. He symbolically became the head of the Kyôto firehouse and supervised the exercises [pictures and more details in Japanese]. A premiere in Kabuki History: a Formula One event at the Kabukiza happened the 24th of November 2024, with Ichikawa Danjûrô and his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke on stage and the live screening of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. It featured an exhibition of actual Formula One cars on the stage of the Kabukiza with a Kabuki dance performance by Ichikawa Danjûrô and a talk event featuring Ichikawa Danjûrô and Ichikawa Shinnosuke. Here is a short video about this event: Due to an injury, Kataoka Ainosuke will not perform in December 2024 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. He will be replaced by Nakamura Kazutarô in "Ôtsue Dôjôji" and by Nakamura Mantarô in "Kasane". |
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31 October 2024 |
The two programs for the January 2025 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza have been published [more details]. Two newly-created Kabuki dramas will be staged:
No performance at the National Theatre, which is under reconstruction, but there will be a subsitute theater: the New National Theatre! There will be Kabuki performances in this playhouse, normally dedicated to opera, ballet or modern dances/dramas, in January 2025, and the troupe wil be led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô [more details]. The drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen with 2 rarely-staged scenes, the opening "Kôrike Jôgai" and the closing "Honjin". The program starring the goruden konbi Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in January 2025 has been published [more details]. The two programs for the New Year Asakusa Kabuki in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in January 2025 have been published [casting]. It is interesting to note that the play "Ehon Taikôki" ("Amagasaki Kankyo") will be stage twice, in the Matinée and in the evening, with a different casting. Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Shidô, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Toranosuke & Ichikawa Danko will perform in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in February 2025 [more details]. The second Kabuki NEXT drama, "Oboro no Mori-ni Sumu Oni", written by Nakajima Kazuki, directed by Inoue Hidenori and entitled "Oboro no Mori-ni Sumu Oni" will be staged in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in February 2025 [more details]. The Zenshinza troupe will be on tour in November 2024 & December 2024 [more details]. The Duty of Remembrance:
4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Ichikawa Danjûrô and his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke, who performed in October 2024 at the Shôchikuza, went the 5th of October 2024 at the Ôsaka Naritasan Fudôson Temple to pray for the success of name-taking performances in Ôsaka [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Nakamura Takanosuke will perform outside Kabuki in the drama "Uchôten Kazoku" (literally 'The Ecstatic Family' but the official English title is 'The Eccentric Family'), based on Morimi Tomihiko's eponymous novel:
No November Kabuki performances for the National Theatre in a substitue venue! |
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30 September 2024 |
No kaomise in November 2024 at the Kabukiza! Due to maintenance work carried out on stage equiments, the two usual programs will be replaced by a simple program for beginners not accustomed to the art of Kabuki [more details]. It will be staged from the 1st to the 23rd of November but there will be several days off: the 4th, the 11th, the 12th, the 15th, the 18th and the 20th of November. The same program will be staged once a day, except the 6th and the 13th with 2 staging the same day, at 11 AM and 4 PM. The two programs for the Kyôto's year-end kaomise Kabuki performances in December 2024 at the Minamiza have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:
The three programs for the December Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza have been published [casting]. The sanbusei tripartite system will be back. The highlights will be:
The program for the Tachikawa Tachihi Kabuki Special Performances, from the the 21st to the 24th of November 2024 in Tachikawa at the Tachikawa Stage Garden, has been published [more details]. It will celebrate the coming 100th anniversary of the creation of the Tachihi Group. No October Kabuki performances for the National Theatre in a substitue venue! Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in solo in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in January 2025 [more details]. The goruden konbi Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon will perform in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in January 2025 [more details]. The program for the New Year Kabuki Performances at the Shinbashi Enbujô in January 2025 has been published [more details]. A newly-created chûshinguramono Kabuki drama entitled "Narabegaki Manete Mimasu" will be staged with the zagashira Ichikawa Danjûrô in the roles of Ono Sadakurô, Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei. It will be spectacular as hayagawari and chûnori will be used. The two programs for the New Year Asakusa Kabuki in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in January 2025 have not yet been published but the casting is known. A new team of young actors will be the stars of these 2 programs: Nakamura Hashinosuke, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Onoe Sakon & Nakamura Tamatarô will take over the previous team made up of Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô or Nakamura Tanenosuke [casting]. In October 2024 at the Kabukiza, the drama "Onna Keizu", which is based on Izumi Kyôka's eponymous novel and which is more often produced in Shinpa than in Kabuki, will be staged. There will be one guest star: the Shinpa actor Taguchi Mamoru (the last disciple of Mizutani Yaeko I)[more details]. The Duty of Remembrance:
5 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: An AI Translator named “POCKETALK” has been introduced at the Kabukiza. This two-way translation device for international customers offers simultaneous voice and text translation for 74 languages and text translation for 11 languages [more details]. The streaming site Kabuki on Demand platform has added the newly-created Kabuki drama "Rupan Sansei" [] [more details]. It is based on Monkey Punch's famous manga/anime "Lupin the Third", which was premiered in December 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, with Kataoka Ainosuke (Lupin III), Ichikawa Chûsha (Inspector Zenigata Kôichi), Ichikawa Emiya (Mine Fujiko), Ichikawa Emisaburô (Jigen Daisuke) and Onoe Matsuya (Ishikawa Goemon XIII). 1 poster/visual for the October 2024 performances at the Kabukiza has been published: |
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29 August 2024 |
2025 will be a great year for the Kabuki Sandai Meisaku Kyôgen! The Shôchiku Company will celebrate its 130 anniversary and the Kabuki Sandai Meisaku Kyôgen will be staged as tôshi kyôgen at the Kabukiza:
The two programs for the October Autumn Brocade Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. 5 Living National Treasures will perform, including the goruden konbi made up of Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô, who will perform in "Onna Keizu", a drama based on Izumi Kyôka's eponymous novel (more often staged in Shinpa than in Kabuki). Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô and Ichikawa Chûsha will perform from the 21st to the 24th of November 2024 in Tachikawa at the Tachikawa Stage Garden [more details]. It will celebrate the coming 100th anniversary of the creation of the Tachihi Group. A brand new genre was born in the Kabuki world in 2015: After Kabuki, Shinkabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki II and Roppongi Kabuki (Sci-Fi Kabuki), we got Kabuki NEXT. The first Kabuki NEXT drama was "Aterui", which was written by Nakajima Kazuki for Ichikawa Somegorô VII. It was staged for the first time in August 2002 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, starring Ichikawa Somegorô with a non-Kabuki cast. In 2002, it was not a Kabuki or a Kabuki NEXT production. In 2015, it was revised to become the first Kabuki NEXT drama in Kabuki history, with a full Kabuki cast. It was staged in July 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô and in October 2015 at the Shôchikuza. The second Kabuki NEXT drama, "Oboro no Mori-ni Sumu Oni", also written by Nakajima Kazuki, will be entitled "Oboro no Mori-ni Sumu Oni" and staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô from the 30th of November to the 26th of December 2024 [more details]. Tt will be directed by Inoue Hidenori. Monkey Punch's famous manga/anime "Lupin the Third", which was successfully adapted to Kabuki in December 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô [more details], will be staged in September 2025 in Kyôto at the Minamiza with most likely the same casting : Kataoka Ainosuke (Lupin III), Ichikawa Chûsha (Inspector Zenigata Kôichi), Ichikawa Emiya (Mine Fujiko), Ichikawa Emisaburô (Jigen Daisuke) & Onoe Matsuya (Ishikawa Goemon XIII). The free-to-play collectible card browser video game "Tôken Ranbu" (developed by DMM.com LLC), which was successfully adapted to Kabuki in July 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô [more details], will be staged in July 2025 at the Shinbashi Enbujô and in August 2025 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza and in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The star will be Onoe Matsuya. 4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: The Duty of Remembrance:
4 posters/visuals for the September 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: An interesting online article was published the 1st of August 2024 about the press conference for the 2025 shûmei in May and June 2025 at the Kabukiza for Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI: An interesting event will happen in Kyôto at the Minamiza from the 2nd to the 10th of November 2025. Entitled "Journey into KABUKI~Appreciation and Experience", it will allow its visitors to get a hands-on experience with several important Kabuki items: stage props, the beating of hyôshigi, costumes, ... [more details]. |
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31 July 2024 |
Reminder for Kabuki fans abroad: there will be live streaming of the newly-created Kabuki drama "Rupan Sansei" [] to 28 countries from the 11th of August 2024 [more details]. The 3rd edition of the new "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) will happen in September 2024 at the Kabukiza [more details]. It will commemorate both Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Kichiemon II. Moreover, the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of the passing away of the latter actor will be commemorated. Shûzan was the haimyô used by these two stars. In the Matinée, a newly-created Kabuki drama entitled "Shamon Kûkai Tô no Kuni nite Oni to Utagesu" will be staged to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Buddhist monk Kôbô Daishi (774~835). In the evening, there will be "Yoshinogawa" with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of Sadaka and "Kanjinchô" with Matsumoto Kôshirô and Onoe Kikunosuke in the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi Saemon. Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Kamimura Kichiya & Ichikawa Emisaburô will be on tour from the 31st of October to the 25th of November 2024. It will be the Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Fall Tour in 20 cities [more details]. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will perform in November 2024 in Tôkyô at the Meijiza [more details]. The 14th edition of the Eirakukan Kabuki will happen from the 4th to the 11th of November 2024 at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo). The zagashira will be as usual the young star Kataoka Ainosuke [more details]. There will be state-sponsored Kabuki performances in September 2024 in Tôkyô at the New National Theatre. "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" will be staged with Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Omezô, Kataoka Kamezô and Kataoka Takatarô in the roles of Danshichi Kurobê, Issun Tokubê, Tsuribune Sabu, Mikawaya Giheiji and Otatsu [more details]. Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku fell ill the 13th of July and he had to be replaced from the 13th to the 17th by Onoe Matsuya to play at the Kabukiza the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the drama "Hoshi Awase Jûsandan". Fortunately, he was back on stage from the 18th of July 2024. The 25th edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (literally 'the Sound Association') will happen in August 2024 [more details]. The 2nd edition of a gala for Nakamura Shikan's three sons will happen in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô from the 12th to the 13th of September 2024. It will be entitled Kamiyachô Shôkabuki ('Kamiyachô Little Kabuki'). Kamiyachô was the name of late Nakamura Shikan VII's neighboorhood in Tôkyô and it was used as an original way to appraise this great actor (kakegoe) [more details]. The 1st edition of the Enishi no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Umeno and the musician Tsurusawa Hanji, will happen from the 22nd to the 23rd of August 2024 in Tôkyô at the Hikifune Culture Center (Hikifune Bunka Sentâ), a venue in the Sumida Ward [more details]. 4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: The Duty of Remembrance:
3 posters/visuals for the August 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: |
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30 June 2024 |
Important: as already reported, there will be a great shûmei in May and June 2025 at the Kabukiza for the Otowaya guild with Onoe Kikunosuke V and his son Onoe Ushinosuke VII respectively taking the names of Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI. It has also been reported that the shûmei will also be celebrated in July 2025 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, in October 2025 in Nagoya at the Misonoza, in December 2025 in Kyôto at the Minamiza and in June 2026 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza.
For Kabuki fans abroad: there will be live streaming of the newly-created Kabuki drama "Rupan Sansei" [] to 28 countries from the 11th of August 2024 [more details]. It is based on Monkey Punch's famous manga/anime "Lupin the Third", which was premiered in December 2023 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, with Kataoka Ainosuke (Lupin III), Ichikawa Chûsha (Inspector Zenigata Kôichi), Ichikawa Emiya (Mine Fujiko), Ichikawa Emisaburô (Jigen Daisuke) and Onoe Matsuya (Ishikawa Goemon XIII):
The 8th edition of of a Kabuki program called Shinshû Matsumoto Grand Kabuki (Shinshû is an old name for the province of Nagano, whose main city is Matsumoto) will happen in July 2024 in the city of Matsumoto at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre [more details]. It stars the Nakamuraya guild and happens every 2 or 3 years since July 2008. It will be the same program as the program of the 1st edition of the Kabukichô Grand Kabuki right in Tôkyô in May 2024. The three programs for the August Cool-Breeze Kabuki at the Kabukiza in August 2024 have been published [more details]. Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII will celebrate his shûmei in October 2024 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details]. His son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII will celebrate his hatsubutai. There won't be any classic kaomise programs in Nagoya in October 2024 this year but a special Kabuki program starring young actors [more details]. The famous Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Yamato Takeru" will be staged in October 2024 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [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. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in 11 cities in October 2024. This tour is the Kinshû Tokubetsu Kôen ('Autumn Brocade Special Performances') [more details]. It will commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII. Waterways occupy as much as ten percent of Ôsaka's city area, and have played a crucial role in its development as a strategic point in land and water transportation. One of the most picturesque among the city's numerous rivers and canals is the Dôtonbori, which flows today through Ôsaka's vibrant entertainment district. From the Edo period in the 17th century, rows of theaters formed along the river, and the area became the center for both Kabuki and Bunraku. It is a custom to do funa norikomi before July Grand Kabuki at the Shôchikuza [more details]. Actors in the July casting, led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, arrived at the theater the 29th of June 2024 in a colorful boat parade, applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks: Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform the 25th of July 2024 in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza with the rakugo storyteller Shunpûtei Koasa in a special program mixing the two arts [more details]. The 8th edition of the Ken no Kai, a gala starring Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon, will happen from the 31st of August to the 1st of September 2024 in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre [more details] and from the 4th to the 5th of September 2024 in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details]. The 9th 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 Nô Theatre the 12th of August 2024 [more details]. The 9th edition of the Abeno Kabuki, a gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), will happen from the 1st to the 4th of August 2024 in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan. This program will star Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju and others Kamigata Kabuki disciples. They will perform in 3 acts from "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" under the supervision of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and the dance master Yamamura Tomogorô III. There will be two performances each day, one at 12:00 and one at 17:00 [more details]. The program for the 30th 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 has been published [more details]. The program for the 34th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre in August 2024 which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles has been published [more details]. There will 2 special events related to the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in July 2024, not at the National Theatre but at the at the Tiara Kôtô [more details] and the Chôfu City Green Hall [more details]:
5 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: 3 posters for the July 2024 performances in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza have been published and will be sold within the theater: The Duty of Remembrance:
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31 May 2024 |
Important: there will be a great shûmei in May and June 2025 at the Kabukiza for the Otowaya guild!
The UH Mânoa Kabuki troupe will perform in Japan in Gifu, the 1st of June 2024 at the Gifu Seiryû Bunka Plaza and the 2nd of June 2024 at the Aioiza. The drama "Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami" will be staged in English [more details]. The two programs for the July Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in July 2024 have been published. Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Tokizô VI and Nakamura Baishi V will celebrate their 3-generation shûmei/hatsubutai [more details]. In August 2024, the third program will be made up of a newly-created Kabuki drama written by the popular mystery writer Kyôgoku Natsuhiko. It will be entitled "Kitsunebana Ha-mo Mizu-ni ano Yo no Michiyuki" and it will star Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Matsumoto Kôshirô [more details]. The newly-created Kabuki drama "Arashi no Yoru ni", the childish story of an unusual friendship between a wolf named Gabu and a goat named Mei, which was premiered in September 2015 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details], will be revived in the same city and the same theater in September 2024 [more details]. The two stars will be Nakamura Shidô and Nakamura Kazutarô. Ichikawa Danjûrô performed the 30th of May 2024 a ceremonial Kabuki pose called nirami no mie in Ôsaka at the Dôtonbori on May 30th (Thu), prior to his name succession performance in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in October 2024 [October 2024more details]. A few online documents related to this Naritaya event: Onoe Ukon, who will perform in "Yotsuya Kaidan" in June 2024 at the Hakataza, went at the Oiwa Inari Yôunji Temple, a temple dedicated to the spirit of Oiwa, in Yotsuya (Tôkyô) the 16th of May 2024 to pray for the success of the coming performances and to get some protection from the spirit of Oiwa. Kabuki actors do believe that there is always the risk of Oiwa curse when they perform "Yotsuya Kaidan". To avoid the curse, the only way is to go to the Oiwa Inari and pray for safe acting [pictures and more details in Japanese]. 4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: The Duty of Remembrance:
Kabuki panda in Ueno? At the Hirokoji exit of Ueno Station, there is a symbolic large-scale vision media system set up. The panda is the symbol of Ueno as it is the star of Ueno zoo. Videos created in 3D of animated pandas performing Kabuki are displayed on this station media system. Nakamura Shidô was involved in supervising the creation of this video: 19 actors passed the nadai exam in 2024: Bandô Yafû, Ichikawa Chûsha, Ichikawa Dan'ichirô, Ichimura Hikaru, Ichimura Takematsu, Kamimura Kichitarô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Nakamura Gan'yô, Nakamura Haruki, Nakamura Kyôsumi, Nakamura Shiichi, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Takechô, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Umeaki, Nakamura Utanosuke, Onoe Otozô and Onoe Sakon. Congratulations to all of them! There will 2 special events related to the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in June 2024, not at the National Theatre but at the Sunpearl Arakawa [more details]:
1 poster for the June 2024 performances at the Hakataza has been published and will be sold within the theater: There was an important funa norikomi on the Hakata River in Fukuoka the 30th of May 2024, before June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza [more details]. The 13 main actors, led by Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku were on colorful boats, applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks of the Hakata River [more details with pictures]. |
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30 April 2024 |
The programs for the June Grand Kabuki in June 2024 at the Kabukiza have been published [more details]. It will celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Manju and his son Nakamura Tokizô VI and the hatsubutai of Nakamura Baishi V, Nakamura Haruki and Nakamura Natsuki. The highlights will be:
Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Tokizô VI and Nakamura Baishi V will celebrate their 3-generation shûmei/hatsubutai in July 2024 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details]. The guest star will be Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon. The highlights will be:
The two programs for the July Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in July 2024 have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:
The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in July 2024 has been published. As the National Theatre is no more available, two substitute venues will be used: the Tiara Kôtô in Tôkyô from the 5th to the 12th of July 2024 [more details] and the Chôfu City Green Hall in Chôfu from the 18th to the 27th of July 2024 [more details]. The drama "Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata" will be staged with two different castings. The program for the 30th 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 has not yet been published but we know so far that it will happen from the 15th to the 18th of August 2024, not at the closed down National Theatre but at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details]. Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII will celebrate his shûmei, along with Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, in 18 cities from the 31st of August to the 27th of September 2024 [more details]. The program for the 34th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre in August 2024 which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles has not yet been published but we know for sure that it will happen from the 24th to the 25th of August 2024 [more details]. Matsumoto Kôshirô and Ichikawa Somegorô are part of the casting of Sugita Shigemichi's movie "Onihei Hankachô: Kettô", which will be released all over Japan the 10th of May 2024. Nakamura Tokizô was the award-winner of the 'Grand Prize' (Taishô) of the 45th Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). Nakamura Kotarô was the award-winner of the 'New Face Award' (Shinjinshô) of the 45th Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). 4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: The Duty of Remembrance:
4 posters/visuals for the May 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published and will be sold within the theater: |
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31 March 2024 |
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:
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]:
5 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: 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:
2 posters for the April 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published and will be sold within the theater: 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. |
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29 February 2024 |
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:
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:
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: 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: 5 posters for the March 2024 performances at the Kabukiza have been published and will be sold within the theater: 3 visuals for the March 2024 performances at the Minamiza have been published: 4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: The Duty of Remembrance:
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31 January 2024 |
Important: there will be shûmei/hatsubutai performances in June 2024 at the Kabukiza for the Yorozuya guild!
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:
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:
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:
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: 1 poster for the February 2024 performances at the Hakataza has been published and will be sold within the theater: 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]. |
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