Obituary: the handôgataki actor Ichimura Tsuruzô passed away the 26th of December 2015.

Nakamura Jakuemon V will play the roles of Princess Toki and Princess Yuki in "Kamakura Sandaiki" and "Kinkakuji" to celebrate his shûmei in March 2016 at the Kabukiza. His stage partners in the first drama (Matinée) will be Nakamura Kichiemon (Sasaki Takatsuna) and Onoe Kikugorô (Miura Yoshimura). His stage partners in the second drama (evening) will be Matsumoto Kôshirô (Matsunaga Daizen), Kataoka Nizaemon (Konoshita Tôkichi), Nakamura Baigyoku (Kanônosuke Naonobu) and Sakata Tôjûrô (Keijuin). Four Living National Treasures will share the stage with the new Jakuemon! The roles of Princess Toki and Princess Yuki were atariyaku for both Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Jakuemon IV [Playbill].

The two programs for the February Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in February 2016 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by two Living National Treasures, Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Kichiemon. The Taikôki-based drama "Shinsho Taikôki", with Nakamura Kichiemon, Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Baigyoku in the roles of Kinoshita Tôkichirô/Hashiba Hideyoshi, Akechi Mitsuhide and Oda Nobunaga, will be produced as a tôshi kyôgen in the matinée. This drama, which was based on Yoshikawa Eiji's 1941 eponymous novel, was staged for the last time 20 years ago, in February 1996 at the Kabukiza. The evening program will be made up of the jidaimono "Genta Kandô", the sewamono and it will end with a rarity: the dance "Hamamatsu Kaze Koi no Yomibito", which was staged for the last time in January 1954 at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

Nakamura Ganjirô IV will celebrate his shûmei at the Kanamaruza in April 2016 for the traditional yearly Shikoku Konpira Grand Kabuki in this prestigious old theater [more details]. He will play the roles of Daikokuya Kôsuke and Kameya Chûbê in the dramas "Kôsuke Mochi" and "Fûin Giri".

Kamimura Jun'ya, disciple of Kamimura Kichiya, celebrated his success at the nadai exam in December 2015 at the Kabukiza. Kamimura Jun'ya, who passed the nadai exam in September 2014, also took the name of Kamimura Orinosuke II. Uemura Orinosuke I (Kamimura Orinosuke I) was a Genroku wakaonnagata actor.

Akiyama Satoshi, the younger brother of Ichikawa Fukutarô III (Akiyama Yûsuke), became in November 2015 the heyago of the Heisei star Ichikawa Ebizô XI. He received the name of Ichikawa Fukunosuke IV at the Kabukiza, where he performed in the drama "Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga". Another young disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô XI, Suzuki Takumu, received the name of Ichikawa Fukumaru in November 2015 at the Kabukiza.

Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will perform in April 2016 at the Meijiza [more details].

Oda Eiichirô's internationally popular manga "ONE PIECE", which got his first Kabuki adaptation by Ichikawa Ennosuke in October 2015/November 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, will be staged in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in April 2016 [more details].

The Zenshinza will be on tour all over Japan in January 2016 and February 2016, a 2-month 34-date tour with 17 dates in January and 17 dates in February. Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô and Fujikawa Yanosuke will perform in Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kirare Otomi" [more details for January | more details for February].

Ichikawa Tsukinosuke will perform in January 2016 at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô in a special Shinpa early spring program made up of a dance, entitled "Shinnen Odori Zome" and choreographed by Onoe Bokusetsu, and the drama "Ito Zakura". This drama is based on Kawatake Toshio's 1980 biography "Sakusha no Ie : Mokuami Igo no Hitobito" ("A House of Playwright : the People after Mokuami" in English). The main characters of this drama are Kawatake Mokuami's daughter Itojo and her adopted son Kawatake Shigetoshi (the father of Kawatake Toshio). It is staged to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the playwright Kawatake Mokuami, who was born the 1st of March 1816 in the western calendar. Ichikawa Tsukinosuke and Namino Kuriko, the daughter of Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII, will play the roles of Kawatake Shigetoshi and Itojo.

No Kabuki at the National Theatre in March 2016! The usual March Kabuki program will be replaced by Shinpa performances. Ichikawa Tsukinosuke will perform with Namino Kuriko in "Yûjo Yûgiri". Nakamura Shidô will perform, along with Hayabusa Tarô II and Mizutani Yaeko II, in "Teradaya Otose".

Ichikawa Ennosuke and Ichikawa En'ya will perform in January 2016 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô in the drama "Genroku Minato Uta", which was written by Akimoto Matsuyo and will be directed by Ninagawa Yukio [more details].

Pictures for the Opening Days at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" in December 2015:

Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan

The 1st edition of the Ichikawa Enju Buyôkai (literally "Ichikawa Enju's Buyô Association"), which stars Ichikawa Ennosuke's young disciple Ichikawa Enju, will happen the 20th of January 2016 at the Shimane Art Center (the location is called Grand Toit, which means big roof in French). Ichikawa Enju will perform in two dances: "Manzai" and "Sagi Musume". There will be a talk show between the two dances. The program will be staged twice, at 14:00 and at 18:30.

The latest release (24th) in the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, the 2015 drama "Aterui", the first Kabuki NEXT drama in Kabuki history, which was shot live in high definition in July 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, will be released all over Japan from the 25th of June 2016 [more details about the story].

Onoe Kikunosuke went the 25th of December to the Hie Shrine in the district of Akasaka Sannô to pray for the success of January 2016 performances at the National Theatre [pictures and details in Japanese].

The two programs for the New Year Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in January 2016 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by two Living National Treasures, Nakamura Kichiemon and Bandô Tamasaburô. The latter star will play the roles of Mashiba (in reality the demon of Mount Atago) and Ôgiya Yûgiri in "Ibaraki" and "Yoshidaya" (Nakamura Ganjirô will play the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the second drama). The former star will play the roles of the warrior Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in "Ishikiri Kajiwara". Ichikawa Somegorô and Nakamura Shibajaku will play the roles of Kataoka Naojirô and Michitose in "Naozamurai". Onoe Shôroku will play for the first time the role of Watanabe Genji Tsuna, an atariyaku for his grandfather Onoe Shôroku II, in "Ibaraki". The young actor Nakamura Kotarô will play for the first time the role of Shizuka Gozen in "Torii Mae".

The traditional Kabuki program for the New Year Young Actors Kabuki at the Shinbashi Enbujô has been published [more details]. No newly-created drama this year but two classics, the jidaimono "Kurumabiki" and the sewamono "Shiranami Gonin Otoko", and "Nanatsu Men", one rarely-staged drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

The two traditional Kabuki programs for the New Year Young Actors Kabuki at the Asakusa Kôkaidô have been published [more details].

Prior to Kyôto's year-end kaomise Kabuki performances at the Minamiza, from the 30th of November to the 26th of December 2015 [more details], the annual maneki-age happened the 25th of November 2015. During this important event, huge wooden boards called maneki kanban are raised. The 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 [picture]. The maneki kanban were made at the Myôdenji temple in Kyôto the 10th of November 2015. The calligrapher soaked his brush in special ink mixed with sake for the purpose of purification and glossing, and wrote the names, including Nakamura Ganjirô for the first time in 11 years [picture], as well as Living National Treasures Sakata Tôjûrô and Kataoka Nizaemon, with strong strokes in kanteiryû characters.

The 7th 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), will happen in February 2016. A newly-created play will be staged. It will be based on Marie Leprince de Beaumont's fairy tale "La Belle et la Bête". More precisely, it will be based on Jean Cocteau's 1946 movie adaptation "La Belle et la Bête", which was somehow related to Kabuki. In May 1936, Jean Cocteau was in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he could enjoy Onoe Kikugorô VI performing in the dance-drama "Kagami Jishi". In this dance-drama a young girl is transformed into a resplendent shishi. This transformation inspired Jean Cocteau when he conceived and directed his own "La Belle et la Bête". This new Kabuki drama will be staged 6 times over 3 days [more details].

Ichikawa Ebizô will perform in Tôkyô, Ôsaka, Fujairah and New York City in February and March 2016, leading the GRAND JAPAN THEATER, an original troupe which will gather Kabuki, Nô and Kyôgen performers. They will perform in Tôkyô at the Orchard Hall the 1st and 2nd of February 2016. They will perform in Ôsaka at the NHK Ôsaka Hall the 5th and the 6th of February 2016. They will perform in Fujairah the 12th and 13th of February 2016. They will perform in New York City at the Carnegie Hall the 1st of March 2016.

The Kabuki classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" will be staged at the Lincoln Performance Hall within the campus of the Portland State University in February and March 2016 [more details]. There will be 8 performances under the direction of Professor Laurence Kominz from the 25th of February to the 5th of March 2016. The actors will be PSU students.

Pictures for the Opening Days at the National Theatre of the revivals of "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" in October 2015 and "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" in November 2015:

Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi

Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba

Oda Eiichirô's internationally popular manga "ONE PIECE", which got his first Kabuki adaptation by Ichikawa Ennosuke in October 2015/November 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, will be staged in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in March 2016 [more details].

The Kabuki sakusha Takeshiba Shôji received the 27th of November 2015 the 21st Nissay Backstage Award, a special award which sheds light on backstage staff who have supported the stage for many years and honors their dedication. This award was established and financed by Nippon Life Insurance, a company which is also called Nissay.

During this month of November 2015, the Kabuki world could have celebrated the 300th anniversary of the passing away of Kataoka Nizaemon I, a Genroku stage giant. He died the 1st day of the 11th lunar month of the 5th year of the Shôtoku era, which was the 26th of November 1715 in the western calendar.

Ichikawa Tsukinosuke will take the name of ... Kitamura Rokurô II in September 2016. Kitamura Rokurô, who was born the 7th of September 1871 and passed away the 16th of May 1961, was a popular Shinpa onnagata actor.

Ichikawa Emisaburô has worked as a choreography supervisor on the production of "Kinkakuji", a German opera based on Mishima Yukio's masterpiece "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion". This opera will be staged in German with Japanese actors and singers at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre the 5th and 6th of December 2015. This opera was written by Claus H. Henneberg and the composer was Mayuzumi Toshirô. "Kinkakuji" was premiered in Berlin in 1976.

Exhibition about Katsu Bunsai IV at the Noda City Museum in the city of Noda from the 17th of October to the 17th of December 2015. Katsu Bunsai IV (1835~1908) was a famous oshieshi. Many of his beautiful oshie were Kabuki-related.

The two programs for the December Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in December 2015 have been published [more details]. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô. The two highlights will be the spectacular dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To" in the matinée program and a tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" in 3 acts in the evening program. Regarding this tôshi kyôgen, the rarely-staged "Sugi Sakaya" act will be revived. It was staged for the last time in June 1970 at the Minamiza. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will play the roles of the courtesan Sumizome, in reality the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree, in "Seki no To" and Omiwa in "Mikasayama Goten". The other star of this December Grand Kabuki will be Nakamura Shichinosuke, who will play the roles of Princess Yaegaki, Ono no Komachi and Omiwa in "Jusshukô", "Seki no To" and "Sugi Sakaya"/"Koi no Odamaki".

The two programs for the New Year Grand Kabuki at the Shôchikuza in January 2016 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be a small one, led by Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô and his son Nakamura Senjaku. The highlights of these programs will be:

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô and his grandson Nakamura Kazutarô playing the role of Chôemon and his lover Ohan in "Obiya".

Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô playing the roles of Narukami and Princess Taema in "Narukami".

The adauchimono questioning the tradition of revenge plays "Togitatsu no Utare" with Kataoka Ainosuke as the fugitive who has killed the father of the Hirai brothers played by Ichikawa Chûsha and Nakamura Kazutarô.

The Autumn 2016 important shûmei of Nakamura Shikan VIII and his three sons will last two months in Tôkyô: it will be celebrated in October 2016 and November 2016 at the Kabukiza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in February 2016 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in a special Buyô program [more details]. He will play the roles of Shizuka Gozen and the ghost of the warrior Taira no Tomomori in the dance-drama "Funa Benkei". He will also perform in "Ninin Fuji Musume", a special version of "Fuji Musume" which was premiered in January 2014 at the Shôchikuza with Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. In February 2016, the second wisteria maiden will be Nakamura Kotarô.

Two more playbills for the 2016 shûmei performances of the future Nakamura Jakuemon V have been put online by the Shôchiku:

In June 2016 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza

In July 2016 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza

Kataoka Nizaemon's disciple Kataoka Takashi and Onoe Shôroku's disciple Onoe Midori celebrated their success at the 2014 nadai exam in October 2015 at the Kabukiza. The writing of their first name was also changed:

The 8th edition of the Eirakukan Grand Kabuki will happen from the 4th to the 10th of November 2015 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 and the guest star will be Nakamura Ganjirô [more details].

2016 will be an important year, not only because of the shûmei of both Nakamura Jakuemon V and Nakamura Shikan VIII, but also because it will be put under the sign of Kawatake Mokuami, the last great Kabuki playwright of the Edo period. In 2016, the Kabuki world will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the playwright Kawatake Mokuami, who was born the 1st of March 1816 in the western calendar. The first known event will be the revival of "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami" in January 2016 at the National Theatre [more details].

50 years ago, in October 1965, for the very first time in history, a Kabuki troupe made a tour in western Europe [more details].

A photographic exhibition will be held from the 11th to the 23rd of November 2015, in Tôkyô at the Toshima Civic Center. 80 photographs related to Kabuki and taken by the photographer Fukuda Naotake will be displayed. It will be entitled Kabuki ni Miserarete Hanseiki ("Charmed by Kabuki for half a century"). Free entrance!

The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama based on Oda Eiichirô's manga "ONE PIECE" will be staged in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in March 2016 and in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in April 2016. Two pictures from the production of "ONE PIECE":

The Boat and all the Stars

Ichikawa Ennosuke in the leading role

The casting for the new year performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in January 2016 has been published: the zagashira will be Nakamura Kinnosuke and he will share the stage with Onoe Matsuya, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Hayato and Nakamura Kunio [Playbill].

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô and his son Onoe Kikunosuke will perform in a special Buyô program the 28th of November 2015, in Matsumoto at the Kitano Bungeiza. Father and son will perform together in a sanbasô dance, which will be entitled "Kotobuki Kitano Sanba". Onoe Kikunosuke will also perform in the dance "Yuki".

The 16th and 17th Training Recitals at the National Theatre produced by the Organization for the Preservation of Kabuki will happen the 24th of October 2015 [more details] and the 21st of November 2015 [more details]. It will start at 6:00 PM and tickets will all be priced 2000 JPY. A cheap way to see real Kabuki done by young actors on the main stage of the National Theatre.

The 18th of October 2015, the young star Ichikawa Ennosuke IV did his 700th chûnori. It happened at the Shinbashi Enbujô in the Super Kabuki II drama "ONE PIECE". His first chûnori occurred in October 1985 at the Kabukiza in the drama "Futago Sumidagawa". He was still a child and did the chûnori along with his uncle Ichikawa Ennosuke III and Onoe Kikugorô VII. His next challenge might be to do more chûnori than his uncle but there is a long way to go as his uncle did it more than 5000 times [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Obituary: James Rodger Brandon passed away the 19th of September 2015. He was a professor of Asian theater specialized in Kabuki and Sanskrit theater at the University of Hawaii [eulogy].

Nakamura Hashinosuke III will take the name of Nakamura Shikan VIII in October 2016. This will be an important shûmei for the Narikomaya guild. His three sons will also change their stage names. The eldest son Nakamura Kunio will take the name of Nakamura Hashinosuke IV. His second and third sons, Nakamura Muneo and Nakamura Yoshio, will respectively take the names of Nakamura Fukunosuke III and Nakamura Utanosuke IV.

A nice playbill for the March 2016 shûmei performances of the future Nakamura Jakuemon V has been put online by the Shôchiku [playbill].

Nakamura Ganjirô IV will celebrate his shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza in December 2015 for the traditional yearly kaomise in this prestigious theater [more details]. He will play two important family roles (belonging to the Ganjirô Jûnikyoku), Kamiya Jihê in "Kawashô" and Tsuchiya Chikara in the eponymous drama "Tsuchiya Chikara". He will perform for the first time the former role and for the 3rd times the latter role (he played it in April 2006 and January 2011 at the Shôchikuza). The new Nakamura Ganjirô will share the stage with two Living National Treasures, Sakata Tôjûrô and Kataoka Nizaemon, and the actors Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Hidetarô and Ichikawa Sadanji. The final item in the evening program will be "Kanjinchô", starring Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô in the roles of Musashibô Benkei, Togashi Saemon and Minamoto Yoshitsune (first time for Nakamura Ganjirô's son Nakamura Kazutarô to play this prestigious role!). Others very interesting highlights will:

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon performing the leading role of the dance-drama "Tsuchi-gumo" (he played this role for the last time more than 18 years ago, in July 1997 at the Shôchikuza).

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô and Nakamura Hashinosuke playing the roles of Shizuka Gozen and the fox Tadanobu in "Yoshinoyama".

Nakamura Baigyoku playing the role of Nagao Terutora in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's jidaimono "Terutora Haizen" (he played this role once, in June 2005 at the Kabukiza).

The two programs for the kaomise at the Kabukiza in November 2015 have been published [more details]. Ichikawa Ebizô's son Horikoshi Kangen will make his first stage appearance (omemie). This kaomise will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing away of Kangen's great-grandfather Ichikawa Danjûrô XI, who passed away the 10th of September 1965. Unfortunately this won't be a Naritaya 3-generation event as Kangen's grandfather Ichikawa Danjûrô won't be on stage with his grandson. It was the same for both Ichikawa Danjûrô and Ichikawa Ebizô, who made their omemie after the passing-away of their respective grandfather.

Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami" will be revived in 4 acts (10 scenes) at the National Theatre in January 2016 [more details]. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô. The others stars will be Nakamura Tokizô and Onoe Kikunosuke. This drama was successfully revived in January 2002 at the National Theatre [more details].

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater, from the 29th of October to the 3rd of November 2015 in 2 dances [more details].

The 42nd edition of Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai (literally the "Classics Entertainment Appreciation Association"), a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK, will happen the 28th of October 2015 in Tôkyô at the NHK Hall. The program will include one Kabuki dance-drama, "Migawari Zazen", which will star Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Ichikawa Sadanji and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô [more details].

During this month of September 2015, the Kabuki world could have celebrated the 100th anniversary of the premiere of the drama "Toribeyama Shinjû" (which happened in September 1915 at the Hongôza). Unfortunately, no staging at all in any theater in Japan.

Matsumoto Kingo fell ill and stopped acting from the 6th of September 2015. He was replaced by Matsumoto Kin'ya to play the role of Mihara Ariemon in the drama "Shinkiyomizu", which was staged at the Kabukiza.

Nakamura Shidô and Kataoka Ainosuke went to the police station ... to take part in a special campaign promoting traffic safety in Japan. Nakamura Shidô was in Kyôto at the Higashiyama Police Station the 17th of September [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Kataoka Ainosuke was in Ôsaka at the Minami Police Station the 21st of September [pictures and more details in Japanese].

A new collection of (expensive) necktie with Kabuki-inspired patterns has been released in Japan. They are promoted by 5 young Kabuki actors : Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Kazutarô and Nakamura Hayato [more details].

Here are below a few videos related to Kabuki, which have been recently released on youtube (the official youtube channel of the Shôchiku Company):

A great digest for Ichikawa Somegorô performance in Las Vegas in August 2015

A promotion video for "Arashi no Yoru ni" at the Minamiza in Sep 2015

Official trailer for the latest Kabuki Cinema release

Bird eye view for Ichikawa Somegorô performance in Las Vegas in August 2015

Official trailer for Ichikawa Somegorô performances in Las Vegas in August 2015

The 26th anniversary (27th memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Shôroku II will be commemorated in October 2015 at the Kabukiza. 3 plays will be staged to celebrate this anniversary: "Ya-no-Ne", "Bunshichi Mottoi" and "Kamiyui Shinza". Onoe Shôroku II's grandson Onoe Shôroku IV will play the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and the kamiyui Shinza in "Ya-no-Ne" and "Kamiyui Shinza". He has already had the opportunity to perform the former role but it will be the first time he'll perform the latter role. Onoe Shôroku has already performed several times the role of Shinza's henchman Katsu. The tradition is that you can't perform the role of Shinza unless you've already played the role of Katsu. The tradition will be fully respected! Onoe Shôroku will also play the role of the tobigashira in "Bunshichi Mottoi". An important highlight in these October programs will be the staging of "Akoya" with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the leading eponympous role. Young actors Onoe Kikunosuke and Bandô Kamesaburô will play the roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura. It will be the first time for both of them! Another interesting feature in these programs is that two Living National Treasure will perform minor supporting roles in "Kamiyui Shinza": Kataoka Nizaemon and Onoe Kikugorô will play the roles of Kagaya Tobê and the bonito-seller Shinkichi! Kataoka Nizaemon will also be the star of "Ichijô Ôkura Monogatari". Let's end this long rambling by reporting that the opening item for the morning program will be the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari", which is always staged for important events related to the Otowaya guild. It is worthy to note that there will be 4 Living National Treasures on the Kabukiza stage in October ! [more details].

The latest release (23rd) in the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, the dance-dramas "Kisen" and "Bô Shibari", which were shot live in high definition in June 2013 and April 2004 at the Kabukiza, will be released all over Japan from the 13th of February 2016.

A commercial campaign has been launched at the National Theatre. It was called daburu kangeki kyanpên, literally the double theater-going campaign. People who will attend both the September 2015 Bunraku performances and October 2015 Kabuki performances of "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" will be able to get a National Theatre original cotton bag as a present. It is always very interesting to enjoy both the puppets and the Kabuki versions of the same drama. It is also interesting to report that the Kabuki version will be longer (more scenes) than the Bunraku version, which is quite unusual.

Ichikawa Ebizô and his JAPAN THEATER will perform at the Yachiyoza (29 September ~ 4 October 2015;more details), Izumo Taisha (7 October 2015;more details), Nikkô Tôshôgû (10 ~ 11 October 2015;more details) and Minamiza (23 ~ 26 October 2015;more details) in Fall 2015. He will be supported by Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu. Newly-created dance-dramas like "Mimasu Kuruwa no Kasauri", "Ikari Tomomori" or "Kagutsuchi no Mai" will be staged. The Nô drama "Funa Benkei" will be performed at the Minamiza (not the full Nô as it will be a hannô performance) by two famous Nô actors, Kanze Tetsunojô IX and Katayama Kurôemon X.

The 42nd edition of Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai (literally the "Classics Entertainment Appreciation Association"), a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK, will happen the 28th of October 2015 in Tôkyô at the NHK Hall. The program will include traditional music, one kyôgen and one Kabuki dance-drama [more details].

The casting of "ONE PIECE", the Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama based on Oda Eiichirô's internationally popular manga "ONE PIECE", has been published [more details]. It will be staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô from the 7th of October to the 25th of November 2015. 3 non-Kabuki actors will also be part of the casting : Fukushi Seiji, Kashima Noritoshi and Asano Kazuyuki.

Kabuki adaptation of 'One Piece' manga will feature flashy action, play to families

'One Piece' to hit the kabuki stage in winter

The latest flyer

Nakamura Kichiroku, actor of the Harimaya guild and disciple of Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, will celebrate his success at the nadai exam in September 2015 at the Kabukiza. Nakamura Kichiroku, who passed the nadai exam in September 2012, will also take the name of Nakamura Kichibê.

Nakamura Toranosuke could not perform at the Kabukiza in August 2015. He was replaced by Nakamura Tsurumatsu to play the role of Osono in the drama "Gion Koi Zukushi".

"Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari" will be staged at the Kabukiza in September 2015 to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the birth of Ki no Aritsune. Moreover, Ôtani Keizô's son Inoue Kimiharu will make his first stage appearance (omemie) in "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari" at the Kabukiza in September 2015 [more details].

Matsumoto Kôshirô will play the lead role in the musical "Man of La Mancha" in September 2015 in Ôsaka at the Theater Brava and in October 2015 in Tôkyô at the Imperial Theater. He performed in this musical for the first time in April 1969. So far, he has played the leading role 1207 times! He also played it in English in 1970 in Broadway!

Kataoka Ainosuke performed in August 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô in Inoue Hisashi's drama "Moto no Mokuami". He will also perform it in September 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. This drama was premiered with Kataoka Takao in September 1983 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. The title "Moto no Mokuami", "back to the old Mokuami" in English, is an expression originating from a 17th century story in which the eponymous hero Mokuami becomes a rich merchant only to discover that it was all a dream. It is not related to the playwright Kawatake Mokuami. The expression could also derive from the fact that when the gold leaf peels off a Buddha statue, the statue becomes just an ordinary piece of wood. Kataoka Ainosuke also performed the 29th of August 2015 at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in a special dance program, which was entitled J-Dance. He performed in "Echigo Jishi" and "Futatsu Domoe".

Nakamura Kyôzô will perform from the 7th of September to the 3rd of October 2015 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô in Ninagawa Yukio's drama "NINAGAWA Makubesu", a famous adaptation of William Shakespeare's drama "Macbeth".

It was officially announced the 17th of July 2015 that Kataoka Nizaemon XV is to receive the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese).

The 8th edition in Tôkyô of a special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) will be staged at the Kabukiza in September 2015. It will commemorate the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I, whose's haimyô was Shûzan. The zagashira will be his adopted son, the Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon II. The two highlights will be the rarely-staged drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari" and the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon in the roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danjô. "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari" was staged only three times since the end of the WWII: in November 1956 and June 1965 at the Kabukiza and in October 2003 at the National Theatre. There will be also an unusual feature in these September Grand Kabuki performances: the rarely-staged "Shinkiyomizu" act of "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" will be staged as an independent drama for the first time in Kabuki history ! [more details].

The November 2015 Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Tour program has been published! The zagashira will be Onoe Kikunosuke [more details].

Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" will be staged in 3 acts (10 scenes) in December 2015 at the National Theatre, starring Matsumoto Kôshirô and his son Ichikawa Somegorô. Most of the acts/scenes are the ones usually staged. There will be one interesting add-on: the rarely-staged "At the Refuge of Oshioda Matanojô's Family" as the second scene of the 3rd act, which was staged for the last time in Spring 2006 at the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

Ichikawa Danzô stopped acting from the 4th of July 2015 at the National Theatre. Due to injury, he was replaced by Onoe Kikuichirô to play the role of Musashibô Benkei in the "Tokaiya", "Funayagura" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". As a consequence, the special program commemorating the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) of the passing away of his grandfather Ichikawa Danzô VIII, which was scheduled the 22nd and 23rd of August 2015 at the Ryôzenji Temple in Naruto, will be postponed.

Ichikawa Ennosuke's disciple Ichikawa Kien V celebrated his success in 2014 at the nadai exam in July 2015 in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza.

In August 2015 at the Kabukiza, Obata Kinji's drama "Gion Koi Zukushi" will be staged for the second time (for the first time in Tôkyô). It was a reworking of Takeshiba Kinsaku II's 1928 drama "Gion Matsuri Hito no Yamahoko". "Gion Koi Zukushi" was premiered in September 1997 at the Minamiza and starred Nakamura Kankurô V and Nakamura Ganjirô III. This time at the Kabukiza, it will star the two sons of these two actors, Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Senjaku [more details].

The programs at the Heisei Nakamuraza in Ôsaka in October 2015 and November 2015 have been published. These performances will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the Siege of Ôsaka. The output of this bloody war was the complete destruction of both the Ôsaka Castle and the line of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Two items in these programs will be related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi: "Shikakubashira Saru no Kusemai" and "Mômoku Monogatari" [more details].

Ichikawa Ennosuke will take part in a special multi-style charity program entitled "Traditional Art Now 2015" ("Dentô Geinô no Ima in Japanese), which will star several young musicians : Fujiwara Dôzan (shakuhachi), Agatsuma Hiromitsu (tsugaru jamisen), Kamei Hirotada (Nô tsuzumi), the brother and sister Muraji Kaori and Muraji Sôichi, both classic guitarists, and the Nagauta music master Tanaka Denjirô VII. It will happen the 30th and 31st of August in Yokohama at the Nôgakudô. They will also perform the 1st of September in Kyôto at the Shunjûza. The Shunjûza is located within the Kyôto University of Arts and Design (Kyôto Zôkei Geijutsu Daigaku). Ichikawa Ennosuke will perform in two dances, "Aoi-no-Ue" and "Kanawa".

The Kabuki TV program Kabuki Kool, which is produced by NHK World TV and hosts either Ichikawa Somegorô or Nakamura Kazutarô, will broadcast its previous episodes in the coming days/weeks. Here is the schedule:

The 4th edition of the "Suzume Ninin Kai", literally "The Two Sparrows Association", a side project involving Nakamura Shibajaku and the rakugo storyteller Hayashiya Shôjaku, who have in common the ideogram jaku (sparrow in English) in their first name, will occur the 2nd of August 2015 in Tôkyô at the Zenshôan Temple. The two performers will do the storytelling of "Shibahama no Kawazaifu" and of an important act of the ghost story "Botan Dôrô", calling each other in rhythmic dialog (kakeai banashi in Japanese).

What about a dinner with young Kabuki actors? It will happen in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô from the 4th to the 24th of August 2015. 7 parties with the same structure: dinner (delicacies provided by Kanetanaka, one of the top traditional restaurant in Shinbashi), suodori and talk [more details in Japanese].

The August 2015 Cool-Breeze Kabuki programs at the Kabukiza have been published! The stars will be Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô and Bandô Shûchô. "Bô Shibari" and "Imohori Chôja" will be staged in memory of late Bandô Mitsugorô X. Another highlight will be the performance of Nakamura Hashinosuke in the role of the warrior Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu in the classic "Sakaro" [more details].

Ichikawa Ebizô will perform in Singapore the 17th and the 18th of October 2015. Just like last year, the performances will happen at the Marina Bay Sands Theater. There will be 3 items in this program, which will be entitled "JAPAN THEATER":

A stage speech (kôjô).

The revival of "Uwanari", a rarely-staged drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban! "Uwanari" was staged only twice during the 20th century: in January 1986 at the National Theatre and in April 1936 at the Kabukiza. For the first time in Kabuki history, a rarely-staged drama will be revived ABROAD!

The newly-created dance-drama "Mimasu Kuruwa no Kasauri".

"Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" will be staged in October 2015 in a tôshi kyôgen production (3 acts; 8 scenes) at the National Theatre. The rarely-staged "Daidaikô" act will be revived! It was staged for the last time in July 1962 at the Kabukiza, more than 53 years ago. Nakamura Baigyoku will play the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi. Nakamura Ganjirô will play the roles of Shôjiki Shôdayû and the cook Kisuke. Nakamura Kaishun will play the role of Manno. Nakamura Ganjirô's son Nakamura Kazutarô will play the role of Okon [more details].

The October 2015 kaomise programs in Nagoya have been published. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon. Others major actors will be Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Matagorô and Nakamura Karoku. As the Misonoza closed in Spring 2013, these programs will be staged at the Nihon Tokushu Tôgyô Shimin Kaikan for the third time, a venue commonly called NTK Hall in Nagoya [more details].

More details about Las Vegas: there will be Kabuki performances ("Japan KABUKI Festival") in Las Vegas in May 2016. As a teaser to this next year event, the Shôchiku Company and MGM Resorts International will produce performances in August 2015: Ichikawa Somegorô will play from the 14th to the 16th of August 2015 in the spectacular drama "Koi Tsukami". A koi tsukami is a scene in which a hero fights in real water (honmizu) the spirit of a giant carp. The real water will be used in the famous fountains of the Bellagio. A dedicated website is available [playbill recto | playbill verso].

The 4th edition of the "Invitation to the Classics" tour, which is led by Ichikawa Ebizô, will happen from the 4th to the 27th of September 2015 in 14 cities (for example in Tôkyô at the Shibuya Kôkaidô the 12th and in Machida at the Civic Hall the 13th). 3 dance-dramas will be staged: "Kusazuribiki", "Ikari Tomomori" and "Mimasu Kuruwa no Kasauri". In "Kusazuribiki", Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Kudanji will play the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Maizuru. "Ikari Tomomori" is a dance-drama based on the "Tokaiya"/"Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Ichikawa Ebizô will play the role of the Heike warrior Taira no Tomomori, with Ichikawa Kudanji and Kataoka Ichizô in the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Musashibô Benkei. The last item in this program will be a newly-created dance-drama entitled "Mimasu Kuruwa no Kasauri". It will star Ichikawa Ebizô in the role of an umbrella-seller, in reality the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon. An opening talk will be done by Ichikawa Ebizô [more details].

"Aterui", the first Kabuki NEXT drama in Kabuki history, will be staged in October 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza [more details].

"Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen in November 2015 at the National Theatre. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon. The classic "Tonbê Sumika" act (also called "Yaguchi no Watashi"), which is still in the Kabuki repertoire, will be staged at the end of this program, along with 3 long-forgotten acts! The second act, "Yura Hyôgonosuke Shin Yashiki", was staged for the last time in July 1915, more than 100 years ago, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza with Nakamura Kichiemon I in the leading role. The two others revived acts will be "Yakimochi-zaka" as the opening act and "Dônen Anshitsu" as the third act [more details].

The 1st edition of the Ken no Kai, which stars Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon, will happen the 22nd and the 23rd of August 2015 in Tôkyô at the National Theatre. Ken no Kai literally means 'Ken's Association' with Ken being the first ideogram in Onoe Ukon's real first name Kensuke. Ichikawa Ennosuke will be a guest star in "Yoshinoyama" [more details].

The 1st edition of the Sôchôkai (literally "the Two Butterflies Association"), which stars Nakamura Kashô and his brother Nakamura Tanenosuke, will happen the 24th and the 25th of August 2015 in Tôkyô at the National Theatre. Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Somegorô and Onoe Shôroku will be the guest stars of this program [more details].

The 2nd 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 2nd of August 2015. Nakamura Takanosuke will perform in both "Fuji Musume" and "Tamaya". His sister Watanabe Aiko will perform in "Ame no Gorô". The third item in this program is a maibayashi dedicated to the Nô master Katayama Yûsetsu, who passed away the 13th of January 2015. Nakamura Takanosuke will play the role of Musashibô Benkei in "Ataka", which is in Nô the root for the Kabuki dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The jiutai will be led by the Nô master Katayama Kurôemon X [more details].

The Summer gala programs in Tôkyô (National Theatre) or Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre) for stars' disciples, kodomo shibai or the Nagauta ensemble of the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan. They are recorded on the August 2015 page. It is worthy to note that there will be the rare revival of the michiyuki of "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre, where this drama will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen in 4 acts. This michiyuki choreography will be supervised by the Ôsaka furitsuke Yamamura Tomogorô III.

Onoe Matsuya started to perform from the 13th of June 2015 in the Japanese version of Michael Kunze's musical "Elisabeth" (a musical about the Empress Elisabeth of Austria). He will be busy with "Elisabeth" up to the 26th of August. During this long period, he will also perform the 8th of August at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in his yearly gala program, which is entitled IDOMU (Challenge in Japanese). Onoe Matsuya and his guest star Kataoka Takatarô plays the roles of Wankyû and his lover Matsuyama in "Ninin Wankyû" [more details|flyer].

The 1st edition of the Kishô no Kai (literally "Kishô's Association"), which stars Ichikawa Ennosuke's disciple Ichikawa Kishô, who celebrated his success at the nadai exam in January 2013 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, will happen the 5th of September 2015 in Kôfu, the capital of Yamanashi prefecture, at the Arts Hall of the Kôfu Civic Center. Ichikawa Ukon will be the guest star of this gala [more details].

The 18th of June 2015, it could have been possible to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the premiere of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Dote no Oroku". The premiere of this drama happened in Edo at the Kawarasakiza the 11th day of the 5th lunar month of the 12th year of the Bunka era, which was the 18th of June 1815 in the western calendar.

Nakamura Jûjirô was expected to play the role of Okô in "Hikimado" for the July Grand Kabuki Tour in the eastern provinces. Unfortunately, he fell ill and he will be replaced by Nakamura Gannosuke.

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]. 14 actors in the July casting arrived at the theater the 28th of June 2015 in a colorful boat parade, applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô played for the 1400th times the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû", the 25th of June 2015 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza. The role of Hiranoya Tokubê was played by Sakata Tôjûrô's son Nakamura Ganjirô.

The 1st edition of the Sora no Kai, which stars Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô and Kataoka Senju, 3 disciples of the Matsushimaya guild, will happen from the 31st of July to the 22nd of August 2015 in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan. Sora no Kai literally means "Sky Association". This gala program will feature 2 Nagauta-based dances, 1 jiuta-based dance and one newly-created Kabuki drama [more details].

The latest release (22nd) in the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, the drama "Sannin Kichisa", which was shot live in high definition in June 2014 at the Cocoon Kabuki (Tôkyô), was released all over Japan the 27th of June 2015. It will be screened with english subtitles the 5th and the 6th of July 2015 in the following movie theaters : Sapporo Cinema Frontier (Sapporo), Shinjuku Piccadilly (Tôkyô), Midland Square Cinema (Nagoya), Nanba Parks Cinema (Ôsaka) and Fukuoka Nakasû Taiyô (Fukuoka).

The July 2015 Grand Kabuki programs at the Kabukiza have been published! The stars will be Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Ennosuke. Others main actors will be Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Chûsha and the main members of the Omodakaya guild! There will be two spectacular acts from "Hakkenden", "Kirare Yosa" with the goruden konbi Tamasaburô/Ebizô, Ichikawa Ennosuke in the hengemono "Kumo no Ito", "Kumagai Jin'ya" with Ichikawa Ebizô in the role of Kumagai and the kaidanmono "Botan Dôrô" with Tamasaburô in the role of the ghost [more details].

The July 2015 Grand Kabuki programs at the Shôchikuza have been published! The highlights will be Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji" with Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Kataoka Takatarô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kinnosuke and Ichikawa Omezô [more details]. This spectacular drama was revived in March 2011 at the National Theatre but the performances were stopped after the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster. It was succefully staged in the same theater in April 2012 with almost the same stars.

Nakamura Ganjirô IV will celebrate his shûmei in the western provinces in September 2015 [more details].

A special program by the 21 Seki Kabuki Gumi, the 21st Century Kabuki Group, which gathers the best actors of the Omodakaya guild, will be staged in August 2015 at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza. They will stage for the 4th times "Shin Suikoden" [more details].

In July 2015, the "Tokaiya", "Funayagura" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" will be staged at the National Theatre with Onoe Kikunosuke. We thought when we first reported it that Onoe Kikunosuke was likely to play the role of Suke-no-Tsubone, not Tomomori. Big mistake! Onoe Kikunosuke will indeed play for the very first time the role of Tokaiya Ginpei (in reality the warrior Taira no Tomomori) The role of Suke-no-Tsubone will be played by Nakamura Baishi [more details].

Onoe Kikunosuke will perform in two dances at the Nikkei Hall the 31st of July 2015 for the 17th Ôtemachiza stage performances [more details].

Bandô Takesaburô will not perform in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in June 2015. He was expected to play the role of Yamamura Tomogorô in the drama "Geidô Ichidai Otoko". He will be replaced by Nakamura Tôzô.

A newly-created Kabuki drama will be staged in September 2015 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The script of this drama will be based on Kimura Yûichi's famous series of illustrated child books "Arashi no Yoru ni" (in English 'One Stormy Night'). This is the story of an unusual friendship between a wolf named Gabu and a goat named Mei [more details]. The zagashira of the troop performing at the Minamiza will be Nakamura Shidô. It is worthy to note that an animated film based on 'One Stormy Night' was made by Sugii Gisaburô, was released in Japan in 2005 ... with Nakamura Shidô for the voice of Gabu.

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Kataoka Kamezô will perform in September 2015 at the Akasaka Act Theater in a special program which will be entitled Akasaka Grand Kabuki. The highlight will be Nakamura Shichinosuke performing the seven roles of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Osome no Nanayaku" [more details].

The first flyer and a brand-new Internet website for the coming production of "ONE PIECE" à la sauce Kabuki, which will be staged in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô in October 2015 and November 2015, have been printed out (the flyers) and opened (the website). It will be THE event this autumn!

The first flyer

onepiece-kabuki.com

There was an important funa norikomi on the Hakata River in Fukuoka the 29th of May 2015, before June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza which will celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Ganjirô IV in Fukuoka [more details]. Actors on colorful boats were applauded by fans and spectators on the bridges or the banks of the Hakata River [more details with pictures].

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Emisaburô and Ichikawa Monnosuke will do in June 2015 a 12-venue Buyô tour [more details].

Obituary: the actor Nakamura Kosanza II died the 6th of April 2015. At the service of both Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, he spent 90 years on Kabuki stages or in Kabuki backstages.

Ichikawa Somegorô will perform in Las Vegas in August 2015! He will play in the spectacular drama "Koi Tsukami". A koi tsukami is a scene in which a hero fights in real water (honmizu) the spirit of a giant carp. The real water will be used in the famous fountains of the Bellagio, where the performances will be done. More details in the weeks/months to come!

Following the huge success of the 1st edition of Roppongi Kabuki in Tôkyô in February 2015, the troupe led by Ichikawa Ebizô and Nakamura Shidô will perform this Sci-Fi Kabuki drama in August 2015 in Nagoya, at the Chûnichi Theatre from the 2nd to the 10th of August [more details], and in Ôsaka, at the Orix Theater from the 15th to the 23rd of August [more details].

Ichikawa Danzô IX will commemorate the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) of the passing away of his grandfather Ichikawa Danzô VIII. He will perform the longevity dance of Musashibô Benkei, a famous section from the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", within the precincts of the Ryôzenji temple in the city of Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture. These performances, which will be called Ryôzenji Hônô Kabuki~Saraba Shikoku (Offering Kabuki at the Ryôzenji Temple~Farewell Shikoku), will happen the 22nd and 23rd of August 2015 [more details about the passing away of Ichikawa Danzô VIII].

"Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen in June 2015 at the Kabukiza. The rarely-staged "Kajiya" act will be part of the production. Normally, even with the "Kajiya" act, it is possible to stage this drama within one program (either matinée or evening). The Shôchiku Company has decided to split the drama in two parts, "Hanami" and "Sengi" in the matinée, "Sannin Warai" and "Kajiya" in the evening program. If you plan to enjoy "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" in its entirety, you'll have to purchase two tickets instead of one. Others staged dramas will be Mayama Seika's drama "Tenpô Yûkyôroku" and Kawajiri Seitan's drama "Yûgao Dana". Both are not frequently staged dramas. The stars of these June performances will be Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Kaishun and Ichikawa Sadanji [more details].

"Waki Noboru Mizu-ni Koi Taki" will be staged as a tôshi kyôgen in May 2015 at the Meijiza [more details] and in June 2015 at the Shôchikuza [more details]. The star of these rare full length revival will be Kataoka Ainosuke, who will play 6 roles using hayagawari techniques in a drama full of keren. The 6 roles are Tawara Tôta Hidesato, Kinri (the son of the King of Carps), Takimado Shiganosuke, the spirit of a giant carp, the yakko Setahei and Tachibana no Hirotsugu.

A brand new genre was born in the Kabuki world! After Kabuki, Shinkabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki, Sûpâ Kabuki II and Roppongi Kabuki (Sci-Fi Kabuki), here comes on the Tôkyô stages Kabuki NEXT. The first Kabuki NEXT drama will be "Aterui" and it will be staged in July 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô [more details]. It was staged for the first time in August 2002 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, starring only one Kabuki actor, Ichikawa Somegorô, with a non-Kabuki cast. In 2002, it was not a Kabuki or a Kabuki NEXT production. In 2015, it will be revised to become the first Kabuki NEXT drama in Kabuki history, with a full Kabuki cast led by Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The story is about the Emishi warrior Aterui (Ichikawa Somegorô), who is fighting for the independence of the Emishi people against the Japanese army led by the general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (Nakamura Kankurô). The third character of "Aterui" is the Emishi beautiful woman Tate Eboshi (Nakamura Shichinosuke). The playbill can give you some indications about the costumes and make-ups in a Kabuki NEXT drama [playbill recto | playbill verso].

Ichikawa Ebizô went to the Yasaka Shrine the 16th of April 2015 to pray for the success of April 2015 performances at the Minamiza, where he will perform along with Ichikawa Kudanji. Ichikawa Ebizô performed on the central stage of the Yasaka Shrine the longevity dance of Musashibô Benkei, a famous section from the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", without the traditional costume and make-up [more details in Japanese with pictures].

The third edition of the ABKAI (Ebikai in Japanese), a gala for the young star Ichikawa Ebizô will happen from the 4th to the 21st of June 2015 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô. Ichikawa Ebizô will be assisted by Miyamoto Amon (production and stage direction) and Miyazawa Akio (screenplay) Two newly-created drama will be staged. The first one will be about the legend of Urashima Tarô, a fisherman who, according to the legend rescued a turtle and was rewarded for this with a visit to the palace of the Dragon God under the sea. He stayed there for three days and, upon his return to his village, found himself 300 years in the future. The second drama will be about the legend of Momotarô, literally the Peach Boy, who came to Earth inside a giant peach and who successfully fought a band of demons on a distant island [more details].

"Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" will be staged as tôshi kyôgen in October 2015 at the National Theatre, starring Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun and Nakamura Tôzô. More details in the weeks/months to come!

The Heisei Nakamuraza will be in Ôsaka in October 2015 and November 2015! It will be the 3rd time in Ôsaka. It will start the 25th of October and will end the 26th of November 2015. The temporary koshibai look-alike theater will be built in the precincts of the Ôsaka Castle, in the heart of the Nishi no Maru Park. These performances will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the Siege of Ôsaka, which started in Fall/Winter 2014 (the "Winter Siege" (Fuyu no Jin in Japanese) from November 1614 to January 1615) and ended in Summer 2015 (the summer siege (Natsu no Jin in Japanese) in May and June 1615). The output of this bloody war was the complete destruction of both the Ôsaka Castle and the line of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The programs have not yet been published but it would make sense to produce Kabuki dramas related to the Siege of Ôsaka, like "Kamakura Sandaiki", "Moritsuna Jin'ya" or "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu". More details in the weeks/months to come!

The 10th of April 2015, a ground monument celebrating the Heisei Nakamuraza was erected within the Asakusa park [more details in Japanese and pictures]. A statue of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII portraying the thief Nezumi Kozô was also inaugurated on top of a roof [picture].

The 21st of April 2015, a special program was staged at the Heisei Nakamuraza. There was only one Kabuki drama, "Mikasayama Goten", with all major roles performed by disciples. There was also a stage speech called Otanoshi zadankai, an enjoyable symposium, with major actors on stage.

Nakamura Kankurô's disciple Nakamura Ichô and Nakamura Senjaku's disciple Nakamura Sen'ichirô celebrated their success at the 2014 nadai exam in April 2015. The former actor celebrated it at the Heisei Nakamuraza. The latter actor celebrated it at the Kabukiza, where he has also received the name of Nakamura Kaname.

A special program at the Minamiza in Kyôto to explain stage mechanisms, from the tachimawari to the hanamichi: in this program, you can experience some of the unique stagecraft tricks used in Japanese Kabuki theatre. Tours are organized from the 29th of April to the 5th of May 2015 [more details].

Ichikawa Shun'en will perform in Shinpa in June 2015 at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô. He will play in "Jûsan'ya" and "Zangiku Monogatari", two classics in the Shinpa repertoire. The story of "Zangiku Monogatari" (literally "Late Chrysanthemums") is about the Meiji era Kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke II. Kikunosuke was openly praised for his stage performances, only because he was his father's heir. Otoku, the wet-nurse of his brother, was the only one to be sincere enough to tell Kikunosuke the truth about his performances but she also had faith in his talent. Kikunosuke fell in love with her, but the possible mesalliance provoked the wrath of his adoptive father Onoe Kikugorô V. Kikunosuke left the Onoe clan to try to become an accomplished actor by himself in Ôsaka, where he struggled for a long time. Thanks to the help of Otoku, he finally became a famous actor and regained the recognition of his adoptive father. Ichikawa Shun'en will play the role of Onoe Kikunosuke II. The role of Otoku will be played by the Shinpa star Mizutani Yaeko II.

Nakamura Shibajaku VII will take the name of Nakamura Jakuemon V in March 2016 at the Kabukiza. Next year, there will also be shûmei performances in June, July and December at the Hakataza, Shôchikuza and Minamiza. The new Jakuemon will most likely perform important atariyaku of both Nakamura Jakuemon IV and Nakamura Jakuemon III like the Three Princesses (sanhime).

Nakamura Ganjirô IV will celebrate his shûmei in June 2015 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [more details]. He will play the role of the father shishi, Hiranoya Tokubê and Hayashi Tamatarô (later Jitsukawa Ganjirô) in the dance-drama "Renjishi", Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû" and the modern Kabuki drama "Geidô Ichidai Otoko". It is interesting to note that Hayashi Tamatarô was in the real world ... Nakamura Ganjirô I, Nakamura Ganjirô IV's great-grandfather. The role of Tamatarô's father Arashi Kakuzô I (later Nakamura Kanjaku III) will be played by Nakamura Baigyoku. Other interesting item in these programs will be the rarely-staged but spectacular drama "Banshû Sarayashiki".

The great yearly Dankiku festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds will happen in May 2015 at the Kabukiza. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, who will play the roles of Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke and the tobigashira Tatsugorô in "Ten'ichibô Ôoka Seidan" and "Megumi no Kenka". The rarely-staged drama "Jayanagi", which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban collection, will also be revived by Ichikawa Ebizô. It will most likely be the same "revisited" version as the "Jayanagi" which was staged in August 2013 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô [more details].

Onoe Kikunosuke will perform in China in Beijing the 2nd and 3rd of April 2015. He will play the leading role of the dance-drama "Kagami Jishi" as part of a special program featuring Beijing Opera and Kabuki performances. It is good to hear that, amidst diplomatic tensions between China and Japan, there are still many opportunities for both country to peacefully cooperate.

The programs for the June 2015 and July 2015 educational Kabuki programs at the National Theatre, called Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class") have been published. In June 2015, "Tsubosaka Reigenki" will be staged with Kataoka Takatarô and Bandô Kamesaburô in the roles of Osato and Sawaichi [more details]. In July 2015, the "Tokaiya", "Funayagura" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" will be staged with Onoe Kikunosuke, who will most likely play the role of Suke-no-Tsubone, not Tokaiya Ginpei (in reality the warrior Taira no Tomomori). Who will play the role of Tomomori? We will know soon [more details].

Nakamura Karoku has received the 2015 Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts. The ceremony occurred the 18th of March 2015.

Nakamura Shichinosuke was the award-winner of the Theater "New Face" Prize (Engeki Shinjin Shô) of the 36th Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). He received his prize the 27th of March 2015 at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tôkyô. His brother Nakamura Kankurô received the same award in March 2012. "New Face" really? Both actors started to perform on stage from the end of the 1980s...

The programs for the Grand Kabuki Tours in the eastern and central provinces in July 2015 have been published!

The troupe in the eastern provinces will be led by Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku and Onoe Shôroku. The opportunity for the new Nakamura Ganjirô to celebrate his shûmei in different cities [more details].

The troupe in the central provinces will be led by Nakamura Hashinosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon [more details].

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô worked with Dazzle, a nine-member all-male dance troupe led by 38-year-old Hasegawa Tatsuya. They worked together on "Ballare" (this word means dance in Italian), which was staged from the 7th to the 15th of March 2015 in Tôkyô at the Akasaka ACT Theater [more details].

Nakamura Takanosuke and Nakamura Tamatarô performed from the 20th to the 22nd of March 2015 in a newly-created Buyô dance-drama entitled "Katsuragiyama Chichû no Yobanashi", which was staged at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre. The story of this dance-drama is related to the legend of Minamoto Raikô and the giant ground spider. Others important performers of this dance-drama were the dance masters Fujima Kanjûrô VIII and Onoe Kikunojô III.

Nakamura Shidô is part of the casting of the movie "Furiko", which was directed by Takenaga Norihiro and released in Japan the 28th of February 2015.

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon received the 21st of March 2015 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô the Grand Prize of the 31st Asakusa Artistic Awards (Asakusa Geinô Shô).

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô went to the Ise Shrine the 25th of March 2015 to pray for the success of the coming performances at the Shôchikuza in May 2015, where he will perform along with the Kodô taiko drummers in "Amaterasu" [pictures and more details in Japanese about the pilgrimage|more details about the performances].

Obituary: the Kabuki star Bandô Mitsugorô X, holder of an important name in Edo Kabuki history, keeper of 250 years of stage traditions and head of the Bandô School of Dance, passed away at a Tôkyô hospital the 21st of February 2015. This passing away is a huge human loss for the Kabuki world, which lost another of its leaders. Bandô Mitsugorô X's funeral service was held the 25th of February 2015 at Tôkyô's Aoyama Cemetery [more details in Japanese]. His son Bandô Minosuke was the chief mourner.

Nakamura Ganjirô IV will celebrate in April 2015 his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza [more details]. He will play the roles of Fujiya Izaemon and Kamiya Jihê in "Yoshidaya" and "Kawashô" and he will share the stage with 3 Living National Treasure: Sakata Tôjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Kichiemon. Others stage giants will be Kataoka Nizaemon and Matsumoto Kôshirô. Nakamura Ganjirô paraded, along with his father Sakata Tôjûrô and his brother Nakamura Senjaku, in Asakusa on the 27th of February 2015 ahead of the coming April 2015 shûmei performances [more details in Japanese].

Ichikawa Kudanji IV will celebrate in April 2015 his shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza with the patronage of the young star Ichikawa Ebizô. He will play the roles of Satô Tadanobu (in reality the fox Genkurô) and Tarôkaja in "Yoshinoyama" and "Migawari Zazen".

The number of visitors at the 5th Kabukiza reached the symbolic 2,222,222 threshold the 12th of February 2015.

The star Kataoka Nizaemon went to the Dazaifu Tenmangû the 11th of February 2015 to pray for the success of the coming performances of "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" in March 2015 at the Kabukiza. Kataoka Nizaemon will play the role of Kan Shôjô, whose real name was Sugawara no Michizane, and the grave of Sugawara no Michizane is located in the precincts of the Dazaifu Tenmangû Shrine.

One new joiner in the first league of Kabuki actors (kanbu shôshin): Nakamura Jûjirô celebrated this promotion in January 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, where he played the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Soga no Taimen".

4 movies belonging to the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series collection will be screen at the Toronto International Film Festival the 28th of February and the 1st of March 2015. With english subtitles. The movies will be "Migawari Zazen" (28/02), "Togitatsu no Utare" (28/02), "Kagami Jishi" (01/03) and "Kagotsurube". For "Kagami Jishi", there will be indeed two "Kagami Jishi", the one shot by Ozu Yasujirô in 1936 and starring Onoe Kikugorô VI. The other "Kagami Jishi" was shot in 2009 with Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII in the leading role [more details].

A few images in youtube from the newly-created "Kabuki meets Sci-Fi" drama "Chikyû Nagegorô Uchû no Aragoto", which was staged in Roppongi in February 2015 [more details]. Yes, if you listen closely, you will hear the shamisen version of the Star Wars Imperial March!

Let's talk about merchandising: a Kabuki T-shirt produced by Ichikawa Ennosuke as part of a collaboration project between the Shôchiku Company and Uniqlo will be sold in France on the 20th of March 2015, then in Japan on the 26th of March 2015 [more details].

Not a piece of news but a little reminder: this month, we could have celebrated the 300th anniversary of the first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi", which was simply entitled "Daikyôji" when it was staged in Ôsaka around the 1st lunar of 1715 [more details].

A very bad piece of news to end this month news: the famous and high-quality earphone guide service in English at the Kabukiza will end in April 2015. From May 2015, foreigners will be able to use an English subtitle service based on an electronic device to be rented and fixed on the seat in front of you. The Japanese subtitle service was started in 2013. Now tell me how can the Kabuki experience really happen if your eyes are not focused on the stage but on a cheap flat screen! They should keep the great earphone guide service and use the subtitles things for different languages. The Earphone guide service in English will continue at the National Theatre.

An exhibition commemorating about "Ganjiro-han" which is "Ganjirô-san" (the 4th Nakamura Ganjirô) in Ôsaka dialect will be held at the Kabukiza Gallery from the 3rd of March 2015 to the 26th of April 2016. This gallery is located on the 5F of the Kabukiza tower.

There will be a mamemaki ceremony and a street parade for setsubun in Fukuoka the 3rd of February 2015 with the main actors who will perform from the 4th to the 26th of February at the Hakataza. The mamemaki ceremony will happen in the precincts of the Kushida Shrine. The event will start the 3rd of February at 11:30 in the shrine and will end around 12:25 in front of the theater.

Nakamura Ganjirô will take part in a mamemaki ceremony in Ôsaka in the precincts of the Naritasan Fudôson Temple the 3rd of February 2015. The ceremony will start at 10:30.

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô and his son Nakamura Ganjirô went the 19th of January to the Tsuyu Tenjinsha shrine, which is commonly called Ohatsu Tenjin, to pray for the success of the performances of "Sonezaki Shinjû" in February 2015 at the Shôchikuza and to get some protection from the Deity enshrined there [pictures and more details in Japanese].

Nakamura Hashinosuke will perform for the first time in his career the prestigious role of Kamiyui Shinza (Shinza the hairdresser) in the drama "Tsuyu Kosode Mukashi Hachijô" which will be staged in March 2015 at the National Theatre. Nakamura Hashinosuke has already performed several roles in this drama, like the boss Yatagorô Genshichi, the landowner Chôbê or the tedai Chûshichi. The tradition is that you can't perform the role of Shinza unless you've already play the role of Shinza's henchman Katsu ... and the tradition will be fully respected as Nakamura Hashinosuke played the role of Katsu in April 1983 at the Kabukiza (Shinza was played by Onoe Tatsunosuke I) [more details].

Kataoka Gatô won't perform in February 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. He is on sick leave and he will be replaced by Bandô Yajûrô to play the role of Tosa Shôgen Mitsunobu in "Domo Mata".

Bandô Takesaburô's disciple Bandô Takeaki will celebrate his success at the nadai exam in February 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. Bandô Takeaki, who passed the nadai exam in September 2014, will take the name of Bandô Takenosuke III.

The 31st edition of the Spring Kabuki performances (Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai) at the Kanamaruza on Shikoku Island will happen between the 11th and the 26th of April 2015. The stars of these performances will be Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku. There will be a tôshi kyôgen production of "Ise Ondo", "Yoshinoyama" with Onoe Shôroku (the fox Genkurô) and Nakamura Baishi (Shizuka Gozen), "Kuzu-no-Ha" with Nakamura Tokizô in the eponymous role (one of his atariyaku) and "Gosho no Gorozô" with Onoe Kikunosuke in the role of Gorozô [more details].

The Japan Times published at the end of January an interesting article about the newly-created "Kabuki meets Sci-Fi" drama "Chikyû Nagegorô Uchû no Aragoto", which will be staged in Roppongi in February 2015 [more details].

6 of the 7 young actors who were in January 2015 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô will perform others major roles in important plays in March 2015 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. 2015 is indeed a promising year for Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi and Nakamura Tanenosuke [more details].

Two short video summaries of the drama "Ishikawa Goemon" were published on the Facebook channel of the Shôchiku Company:

Video made in January 2015 at the Shinbashi Enbujô

Video made in June 2012 at the Misonoza

Ichikawa Ebizô will be on tour in Japan from the 28th of February to the 9th of April 2015, visiting 18 cities to perform in "Genji Monogatari" [March|April].

Ichikawa Ennosuke and Kataoka Ainosuke will be the stars of special Kabuki performances in May 2015 at the Meijiza [more details]. They will be supported by Ichikawa Chûsha and Ichikawa Ukon.

A new genre will be born in March 2015. A mix of Kigeki and Sûpâ Kabuki which will be called Sûpâ Kigeki (Super Kigeki) ! The first Sûpâ Kigeki in Kigeki/Kabuki history will be entitled "Kaguya Hime" and it will be staged in March 2015 in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô and in April 2015 in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza. The Kabuki actors Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa Juen and Ichikawa Kôtarô, along with the Shinpa star Mizutani Yaeko II, are in the casting. The troupe will be led by the Kigeki star Fujiyama Naomi. The story will be loosely based on the legend of Princess Kaguya. Ichikawa En'ô is executive supervisor on this project.

Nine geisha were at the Asakusa Kôkaidô the 15th of January 2015 for the New Year Young Actors Kabuki Performances [more details in Japanese].

Members of the Edo Firefighting Memorial Association performed kiyari ritual dances within the Kabukiza the 6th of January 2015 [more details in Japanese].

The koto composer and musician Yuize Shin'ichi (1923~2015) died the 6th of January 2015. He played koto for Kabuki for the first time in November 1957 at the Kabukiza in the dance-drama "Kurozuka".