| NEWS FROM THE KABUKI WORLD |
| 31 October 2021 |
The three programs for the December 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. The highlights will be:
The 6th anniversary (7th memorial services) of the passing away of Bandô Mitsugorô X will be commemorated at the Kabukiza in November 2021. His son Bandô Minosuke will play the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the drama "Soga no Taimen". The roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari will be played by Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Tokizô. The program for the Early Spring Special Dance Performances of Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in January 2022 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza has been published [more details]. Ichikawa Ebizô and his two children, Horikoshi Kangen and Ichikawa Botan, will perform in January 2022 at the Shinbashi Enbujô in a newly-created Kabuki drama entitled "Puperu", which is based on Nishino Akihiro's children's picture book "Poupelle of Chimney Town". This drama will be directed by Fujima Kanjûrô VIII [more details]. The 18th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki will happen in February 2022 at the Theatre Cocoon [more details]. These performances recreate the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Tennichibô" was written by Kudô Kankurô, based on Kawatake Mokuami's masterpiece "Ten'ichibô", and will be directed by Kushida Kazuyoshi. It was staged for the first time in the 2012 Cocoon Kabuki. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in February 2022 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [more details]. 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 2022 as initially expected. From the 3rd to the 17th of November 2021, it will be possible to visit the stage of the Minamiza, which will open its doors and shows all its apparatus: hanamichi, koseri, ôseri, mawaributai... It will be a 30-min tour, 5 times a day with limited capacity [more details]. 13 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in June 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 30 September 2021 |
There will be Kabuki kaomise performances in November 2021 in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasures Onoe Kikugorô and Kataoka Nizaemon. The former actor will play the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in "Soga no Taimen" and the latter actor will play the role of the father shishi in the dance-drama "Renjishi". In the third program there will be a newly-created gishi kyôgen drama entitled "Hana Kurabe Gishi no Kaomise", which will star Ichikawa Ennosuke and Matsumoto Kôshirô [more details]. The classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" will be staged at the National Theatre in November 2021. It will be a 2-act production with the rarely-staged "Mikagehama Hamabe" act and the frequently-staged "Kumagai Jin'ya". The prestigious role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane will be played by Nakamura Shikan (who will most likely use the kata of late Nakamura Shikan IV) [more details]. The three programs for the traditional yearly kaomise in Kyôto in December 2021 at the Minamiza have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, who will play the leading role in the dance-drama "Migawari Zazen". The others highlits will be:
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, there won't be any Eirakukan Grand Kabuki in November 2021 in Toyooka at the Eirakukan. In November 2021, there won't be any (Grand or Young Actors) Kabuki in Fukuoka at the Hakataza and any Bandô Tamasaburô (Image and) Dance Performance at the Yachiyoza. A kabukiless month for Kyûshû! Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will be busy in the beginning of 2022 as he will perform in January 2022 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details] and in February 2022 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza. The 1st edition of Kotarô no Kai, a gala starring Nakamura Kotarô, will happen in Tôkyô at the Tessenkai the 17th of October 2021 [more details]. Ichikawa Emisaburô will take part in a special event at the Gyôtoku Cultural Hall I&I, which will happen the 16th and the 17th of October. There will be a talk show and a workshop about the art of the onnagata and Ichikawa Emisaburô will perform in the dance "Fuji Musume" [more details]. Due to illness, Nakamura Shidô stopped acting at the Minamiza the 17th of September 2021. He was absent only for a few days as he was back on stage the 20th. He was replaced on stage by Nakamura Shiichi and Sawamura Kuniya. We've forgotten to report the Koten he no Izanai tour, literally 'Invitation to the Classics' with Ichikawa Ebizô and his troupe, which happened from the 4th to the 27th of September 2021 [more details]. Seven new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in June 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: One poster for the production of "Yotsuya Kaidan" in September 2021 at the Kabukiza has been printed out and was sold in the theater during the performances. Opening of a new website dedicated to Ôta Masamitsu's Prints! |
| 31 August 2021 |
The September 2021 Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) performance in Kyôto at the Minamiza will be streamed online overseas w ith English subtitles from the 20th to the 26th of September 2021!
The three programs for the October 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô. "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen in October 2021 at the National Theatre. The stars will be Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô and Nakamura Senjaku [more details]. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in October 2021 [more details]. Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Emisaburô and Ôtani Hiromatsu will be on tour in October 2021 [more details] and November 2021 [more details]. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will perform in November 2021 at the TBS Akasaka Act Theater for the 5th edition of the Akasaka Grand Kabuki [more details]. 8 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows:
Opening of a new website dedicated to Modern Japanese Performing Arts Prints! One poster for the August 2021 performances at the Kabukiza has been printed out and was sold in the theater during the performances. One DVD and one MOOC related to Nichiren and Ichikawa Ennosuke's performance in the role of Nichiren in June 2021 at the Kabukiza have been released. The DVD is not a Shôchiku Company Kabuki DVD but a production released by the printing company Nichirenshû Shinbusha, wich is the media company of the Nichiren branch of Buddhism: The Duty of Remembrance:
Ichikawa Ennosuke, who has been tested positive for coronavirus, recovered and was back on stage from the 20th of August 2021 to perform in the drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji". Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Kashô and several staff members have bee tested positive for coronavirus. As a consequence, the Kabuki performances of the 2nd program at the Kabukiza in September 2021 will be cancelled from the 2nd to the 6th of September 2021. Four others Kabuki actors have also been tested positive for coronavirus: Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Kudanji and the stage veteran Ichikawa Juen (91 years old!). |
| 31 July 2021 |
The three programs for the September 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. "Oedo Miyage" and "Suma no Utsushie" will be staged to commemorate the 20th and 10th anniversaries of the passing away of Nakamura Utaemon VI and Nakamura Shikan VII. The main highlight will be the staging of two important acts from Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan", starring Living National Treasures Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô. No kaomise programs in October 2021 in Nagoya at the Misonoza. In replacement, there will be a special Kabuki program starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, who will be supported by the 3 sons of Nakamura Shikan [more details]. "GOEMON-Ishikawa Goemon" will be staged at the Shôchikuza in October 2021 [more details].
The drama "GOEMON-Ishikawa Goemon" ( A special Buyô program starring Ichikawa Ennosuke will happen from the 2nd to the 5th of September 2021 in Kyôto at the Shunjûza [more details]. This program will celebrate the 30th and 20th anniversaries of the opening of the Kyôto University of the Arts (1991) and the Kyôto Art Theater (2001). Initially, it was Kyôto University of Art and Design but it was renamed Kyôto University of the Arts the 1st of April 2020. Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô and Nakamura Baishi have been invited to perform from the 3th to the 5th of September 2021 at the 21st edition of the Kamigata Hanabutai (the Kamigata Association), a gala program sponsored by the Kamigata Culture and Entertainment Association since 1984. This association has continuously been hosting a performance called "Kamigata Hanabutai" at the National Bunraku Theatre in Ôsaka. This performance showcases various Kamigata geisha entertainment forms, not normally presented outside the tea houses [more details]. Opening of a website entitled Grand Kabuki History dedicated to the Kabuki tours abroad with a world map listing all cities visited by Kabuki tours. The 1st edition of Odori no Kai, a gala starring Nakamura Tanenosuke, will happen at the National Theatre from the 6th to the 7th of August 2021 [more details]. The 2nd edition of the gala of the Miyoshiya Guild, Kamimura Kichiya and his disciples, will happen the 23rd of September 2021, 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. The 7th gala of the Sora no Kai, usually in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan, which stars mostly disciples of the Matsushimaya guild, will not happen in 2021. These performances are entitled Abeno Kabuki (Abeno is the name of a famous district in Ôsaka). It has been confirmed that Ichikawa Ennosuke was tested positive for coronavirus. As a consequence, he will be temporarily replaced by Bandô Minosuke to perform in the drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji". We don't know when Ichikawa Ennosuke will be back on stage. Due to a close contact with a person infected with coronavirus, Nakamura Ganjirô was absent for the July performances at the Shôchikuza from the 3rd to the 12th of July 2021. He was temporarily replaced by Kataoka Senju to play the role of Oshika in "Ise Ondo" and by his brother Nakamura Senjaku to play the role of Kameya Chûbê in "Ninokuchi-mura". Nakamura Senjaku was himself replaced by Nakamura Ganjirô's son Nakamura Kazutarô to play the role of Umegawa in "Ninokuchi-mura". Nakamura Ganjirô was back on stage from the 13th of July. Due to a close contact with a person infected with coronavirus, Kataoka Kamezô stopped performing at the Kabukiza in the drama "Suzu-ga-Mori" from the 11th to the 15th of July 2021. He was replaced by Nakamura Kichibê. As he was tested negative for the PCR test, Kataoka Kamezô was back on stage from the 16th of July 2021. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, there won't be any New Year Asakusa Kabuki in January 2022 in Tôkyô at the Asakusa Kôkaidô. Six new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in April 2021 and May 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: The anime "Saidâ no Yô-ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru" ('Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop') was released all over Japan the 22nd of July 2021. Ichikawa Somegorô was voice-casted to perform the voice of the main character of this anime. Some Kabuki at the 2020 Tôkyô Olympic and Paralympic Games happening in 2021 as they have been postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the torch relay concluded its journey in Tôkyô, with Nakamura Kankurô serving as the final torchbearer. Ichikawa Ebizô performed some bits from "Shibaraku" during the opening ceremony: |
| 30 June 2021 |
Obituary: the Kiyomoto shamisen player Kiyomoto Yoshijirô (1945~2021] passed away the 4th of June 2021. His real name was Hanaoka Masaya. Due to health reasons, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon will not perform in July 2021 at the Kabukiza. He was expected to play the role of Banzuiin Chôbê in the drama "Suzu-ga-Mori". He will be replaced by Nakamura Kinnosuke. The three programs for the August 2021 Young Actors Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. The highlights will be Ichikawa Ennosuke in "Kotsuyose no Iwafuji", the Nakamuraya brothers in the kaidanmono "Toyoshiga no Shi" and Matsumoto Kôshirô for the second time in his career in "Yoshikata Saigo". The 23rd edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (the Sound Association) will happen the 13th and the 14th of August 2021 [more details]. There will be from the 13th to the 15th of August 2021 a Jûjiya Dance Gala in Hakodate at the Hakodate Shimin Kaikan (Hakodate City Hall), starring Ôtani Keizô and his son Ôtani Ryûsei [more details]. The program for the 27th 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 2021, has been published [more details]. The program for the 31st edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre in August 2021, has been published [more details]. This summer program stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles under the guidance of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô and the dance master Yamamura Tomogorô III. Onoe Ukon performed outside Kabuki in July and August 2021. He will perform in a musical which is entitled "Eisei ~ Rizumu & Bakyûmu" (literally 'Satellite~Rythm & Vacuum'), in Tôkyô at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater from the 9th to the 25th of July, in Ôsaka at the Orix Theater from the 30th of July to the 1st of August 2021, and in Fukuoka at the Kurume City Plaza from the 9th to the 11th of August 2021 [official website]. Nakamura Kazutarô performed outside Kabuki in June 2021 in the drama "Yoru wa Mijikashi Aruke yo Otome" ('The Night is Short, Walk on Girl'). This play was based on Morimi Tomihiko's eponymous novel. It was staged in Tôkyô at the New National Theatre from the 6th to the 22nd of June 2021 and in Ôsaka at the Cool Japan Park Ôsaka WW Hall from the 26th to the 27th of June 2021 [official website]. Nakamura Kazutarô shared the stage with Takenaka Naoto and the idol singer Kubo Shiori. The Duty of Remembrance:
Three new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in March 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: We've failed to report the 7th edition in June 2021 in the city of Matsumoto at the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre of a Kabuki program called Shinshû Matsumoto Grand Kabuki (Shinshû is an old name for the province of Nagano, whose main city is Matsumoto), which happens every two years since July 2008. It will be the same program as the 17th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki in Tôkyô [more details]. There will 3 special events related to the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") in July 2021 at the National Theatre [more details]:
The 37th release of Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") was released all over Japan from the 4th of June 2021. It was Mishima Yukio's masterpiece "Iwashi Uri", which was shot live in high definition in January 2009 at the Kabukiza and which starred Nakamura Kanzaburô and Bandô Tamasaburô. |
| 31 May 2021 |
Obituary: Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô II passed away the 23rd of May 2021. He was an onnagata actor who devoted himself to the promotion of Kamigata Kabuki. It was annouced the 29th of April 2021 that he would receive the Order of the Rising Sun, gold rays with rosette. He was expected to play in July 2021 at the Shôchikuza the role of Imada Manjirô in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". The three programs for the July 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. The 1st and 2nd programs will be staged from the 4th to the 29th of July 2021. The 3rd program, with Ichikawa Ebizô and Nakamura Jakuemon performing in "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", will be staged from the 4th to the 16th of July 2021. No performance the 8th and the 19th of July 2021. The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in July 2021 has been published [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform with the Shinpa actor Kawai Yukinojô and the 3 sons of Nakamura Shikan (Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke) in August 2021 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 9th time in Kabuki history and for the second time in a major Kabuki theater! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be staged in Kyôto at the Minamiza in September 2021. Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku [more details]. This program, initially scheduled in June 2020, was canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. The 1st edition of the Jûjiya Dance Gala at the Nihonbashi Gekijô, with Ôtani Keizô and his son Ôtani Ryûsei, will happen the 10th of August 2021 [more details]. Four new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: One poster for the June 2021 performances at the Kabukiza has been printed out and will be sold in the theater. It shows Ichikawa Ennosuke in the role of the priest Nichiren. 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, was started the 27th of March 2021. It had to stop from the 25th of April because of the third state of emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was expected to resume from the 14th to the 20th of May 2021. Because of the extension of the state of emergency, this program will not happen in May 2021. A special event within the educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in June 2021, has been shceduled. It is entitled 'Beginners' Kabuki for Business Person' and it will happen the 11th and the 18th of June, with a special session starting at 18:00 instead of the usual 11:00 or 14:30 [more details]. |
| 30 April 2021 |
Important: Japan's Central Government has declared a third state of emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with new restrictions imposed in several areas from the 25th of April to the 11th of May 2021: Tôkyô Metropolis, Ôsaka Prefecture, Kyôto Prefecture and Hyôgo Prefecture. As a consequence, Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza had to stop from the 25th of April 2021. Several Kabuki performances in May 2021 have been rescheduled from the 12th or the 13th of May 2021. Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, who fell ill at the end of April 2021, will not perform as scheduled in May 2021 at the Kabukiza. He was expected to play the role of Satô Masakiyo in the drama "Hachijin". He will be replaced by Nakamura Karoku. The three programs for the June 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. There will be 3 Living National Treasures on stage: Onoe Kikugorô, Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô. Onoe Kikugorô will play the role of the the old woman in "Yûgao Dana". Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô will perform together in the second half of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime". Others highlights will be "Gohiiki Kanjinchô" with Nakamura Shikan in the role of Musashibô Benkei and "Nichiren", which will be staged to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the famous Buddhist priest Nichiren. The two programs for the July 2021 Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon. There will be a 3-generation Matsushimaya staging of the dance drama "Omatsuri" with Kataoka Nizaemon, his son Kataoka Takatarô and his grandson Kataoka Sennosuke. The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in June 2021 has been published [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in July 2021 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in August 2021 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. The 1st edition of a special Kabuki program under the guidance of Ichikawa Ebizô, entitled Ichikawa Ebizô Kikaku Kôen ~ IBUKI ('Ichikawa Ebizô Project Performances ~ Breath') and starring Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu, will be staged from the 17th to the 20th of June 2021 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. Three new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in January 2021 and March 2021 at the National Theatre have been uploaded on the Kabuki playlist of the National Theatre Official YouTube Channel: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in January 2021 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: Two posters for the April 2021 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: The Duty of Remembrance:
We could not report earlier the following piece of news: the world of Kabuki and the world of otaku collided for the 8th time in Kabuki history in April 2021! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) was back again! Nakamura Shidô once again shared the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They performed together in a Chôkabuki dance-drama entitled "Otogi Zôshi Koi no Sugatae". It was staged at the Makuhari Messe the 24th and the 25th of April 2021, as part of the Niconico Chôkaigi 2021 event, an important yearly event for the otaku tribes [more details]. Nakamura Hashinosuke performed for a few days outside Kabuki, the 23rd and the 24th of April 2021 in Tôkyô at the Tôkyô Tatemono Brillia Hall, where he played the role of Louis XVI in the drama "Sanson Rui Jûrokusei no Kubi o Haneta Otoko" (literally 'Sanson, the Man who Cut the Head of Louis XVI'). The role of Charles-Henri Sanson was played by Inagaki Gorô. Here is the schedule of the performances to come:
A special program at the Minamiza in Kyôto to explain stage mechanisms, from the tachimawari to the hanamichi. An interesting program to experience some of the unique stagecraft tricks used in Japanese Kabuki theatre. Tours will be organized from the 14th to the 20th of May 2021 [more details in Japanese]. This program started the 27th of March 2021 and was supposed to end the 26th of April 2021 before restarting the 1st of May and run up to the 20th of May. It had to stop from the 25th of April because of the third state of emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. |
| 31 March 2021 |
The March 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza were impacted by two incidents:
The great yearly Dankiku festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds will not happen at the Kabukiza in May 2021. The Otowaya guild will be present with 3 generations of actors but not the Naritaya guild. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasures Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Kichiemon. The highlights of the April 2021 Grand Kabuki will be:
Ichikawa Ebizô will perform in May 2021 in Tôkyô at the Meijiza. He will play the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Sanemori Monogatari" and he will perform in a newly-created Kabuki drama entitled "KABUKU", which has been created by the manga storywriter, novelist and screenwriter Kibayashi Shin [more details]. Ichikawa Ebizô will perform in June 2021 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. Same troupe and same program as the one in May 2021 at the Meijiza [more details]. There will be the 14th of April 2021 an online talk about Kabuki, entitled "The Evolution of Kabuki to the Traditional Performing Arts" and organized by the Center for Japanese Studies at Berkeley University of California:
The Japan Arts Council has opened "National Theatre Online"! Clips of performances or videos to introduce the traditional performing arts are available, not only for Kabuki but also for Bunraku or Nô. 3 new Kabuki clips have been uploaded: Three new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: Kataoka Takatarô is one of the 4 performing artists who will receive the 2020 Nihon Geijutsuin Shô, the Japan Art Academy Prize. The ceremony will happen in June 2021 in Ueno at the Nihon Geijutsuin Kaikan (Japan Art Academy Hall). Nakamura Yonekichi was the award-winners of the "New Face" Award (Engeki Shinjin Shô) of the 42nd Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform outside the Kabuki world in May 2021:
Bandô Minosuke will perform outside the Kabuki world in April and May 2021, along with the Korean actress Shim Eun-kyung, in Nagahisa Makoto's musical "The Vanishing Girl &The Time Banker". From the 6th to the 25th of April 2021 in Tôkyo at the Tôkyo Metropolitan Theatre. From the 30th of April to the 1st of May 2021 in Ôsaka at the Umeda Arts Theater. The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 28 February 2021 |
The three programs for the April 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. There will be 3 Living National Treasures on stage: Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Tôzô. The second item in the first program, the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", will be divided into two subprograms, A and B. The roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi Saemon will be played by Matsumoto Hakuô and Matsumoto Kôshirô in the A subprogram and by Matsumoto Kôshirô and Onoe Matsuya in the B subprogram. The A subprogram will be staged the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 27th of April 2021. The B subprogram will be staged the 4th, 6th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th and 28th of March 2021. There won't be any performance the 9th and the 19th of April 2021. The highlights of the April 2021 Grand Kabuki will be:
Due to heavy renovation works at the Kanamaruza, started in October 2020, the 37th edition of the Spring Kabuki performances called Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai, Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Grand Theatre, will not happen this year. The Nakamuraya brothers Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in March 2021 [more details] and April 2021 [more details]. This is the second edition of a Spring Tour called Shungyô Tokubetsu Kôen, literally 'The Dawn of Spring Special Performances'. The first edition happened in March 2018 and April 2018. Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Nakamura Baigyoku will perform in June 2021 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [more details]. Ichikawa Ebizô, along with Ichikawa Udanji and with Nakamura Kotarô, will be on tour all over Japan (14 cities) from the 5th to the 24th of March 2021. This tour will be as usual entitled Koten he no Izanai, literally "Invitation to the Classics" [more details]. Ichikawa Ebizô and his two children, Horikoshi Kangen and Ichikawa Botan, will perform from the 26th to the 29th of March 2021 in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater [more details]. The Nakamuraya brothers Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke, ahead of the February Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza commemorating the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial services) of the passing away of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII [more details], went to the Edo Kabuki Hasshô no Chi monument in the district of Kyôbashi [picture]. The Duty of Remembrance:
4 new videos on the YouTube channel Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows: No Kabuki for Ichikawa Ennosuke in February and March 2021. He started to perform from the 10th of February 2021 in the drama "Yabuhara Kengyô" [more details], which is scheduled in 4 theaters:
The 2nd edition of the Yû no Kai, a gala which stars Ôtani Keizô and his son Ôtani Ryûsei, was expected to happen the 23rd of February 2021 at the Nagame Yokyôjô (Nagame Entertainment Theater), a traditional wooden-built theater (1937) in the city of Midori in Gunma Prefecture, but it was postponed one more time. It was initially expected to happen the 12th of April 2020 but it was postponed for the first time due to the COVID-19 crisis. This time, it was postponed to the 28th of February 2021 but it was staged without audience for sanitary reasons. The performance was videotaped. Moreover, this month, the actor Ôtani Keizô has also opened his own YouTube Channel. |
| 31 January 2021 |
The three programs for the March 2021 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published [more details]. There will be 5 Living National Treasures on stage: Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Bandô Tamasaburô, Kataoka Nizaemon and Nakamura Tôzô. The 3rd program will be divided into two programs, A and B. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform either in "Sumidagawa" (A program) or in "Yuki"/"Kane-ga-Misaki" (B program). The A program will be staged the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th of March 2021. The B program will be staged the 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th of March 2021. There won't be any performance the 11th and the 22nd of March 2021. The highlights of the March 2021 Grand Kabuki will be:
The March 2021 Kabuki program at the National Theatre has been published. It will be entitled Kabuki Meisaku Nyûmon (literally 'Introduction to Kabuki Masterpieces'). The drama "Badarai no Mitsuhide" will be staged with Onoe Kikunosuke in the role of Takechi Mitsuhide. There will be no performance the 10th, the 11th and the 19th of March 2021 [more details]. The Zenshinza celebrates its 90th anniversary in May 2021 at the National Theatre with two Kabuki programs instead of the usual one single program. The troupe will be led by the 3-generation leaders Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Fujikawa Yanosuke and Arashi Yoshisaburô [more details]. The 17th edition of the original Cocoon Kabuki will happen in May 2021 at the Theatre Cocoon [more details]. These performances recreate the atmosphere of the Edo koshibai and brings the actors closer to the audience. The play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" will be revised by the playwright Kushida Kazuyoshi. An application for smart phones or tablets was released the 15th of January 2021. It has been developped by the Shôchiku Company and it uses an AR technology called 'Reverse Reality' (AR meaning Augmented Reality). Adopting the theme of the famous Kabuki dance-drama "Shakkyo", this application shows a 6-minute performance in which the Kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke appears as the spirit of the shishi via the camera of your smartphone or your tablet and performs a dance just as he is in front of you. By using AR (Augmented Reality) technology, the place where the application is used instantly becomes a kind of stage, and before your very eyes, you can enjoy the Kataoka Ainosuke’s performance at home. This application works with iOS (minimum 13.7) or Android (from version 10) [more details]. Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in December 2020 at the Minamiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: Short videos with English subtitles of Kabuki performances in December 2020 at the Kabukiza have been uploaded on the Shôchiku Official YouTube Channel: A new very interesting Kabuki-related YouTube Channel has just been created: Kabuki In-Depth: In Praise of Shadows. So far, two videos have been made and uploaded: A talk show entitled Utsukushiki Onnagata no Sekai (literally 'the world of beautiful onnagata') with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Onoe Kikunosuke will be streamed online the 13th of February 2020 through the streaming service e+ Streaming+. We forgot at the end of last year to report a special one-day 2-performance Zenshinza Kabuki program the 27th of January 2021 in Koganei at the Koganei Miyaji Musical Hall (Koganei Citizens Exchange Center) [more details]. Two actors performing at the Kabukiza in January 2021 had to stop acting for a few days:
Two posters for the February 2021 performances at the Kabukiza have been published: An opening ceremony for the Kabukiza tonbo training center happened the 28th of January 2021 [pictures and more details in Japanese]. |
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