| NEWS FROM THE KABUKI WORLD 2019 |
| 31 December 2019 |
The two programs for the February Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published. There will be 4 Living National Treasures on stage: Onoe Kikugorô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Hidetarô. 3 dramas will be staged to commemorate the 26th anniversary (27th memorial services) of the passing away of Kataoka Nizaemon XIII: "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" and "Michiyuki Kokyô no Hatsuyuki" [more details]. The two programs for the March Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza, have been published. The highlights will be "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" in the matinee and "Ishikiri Kajiwara"/"Numazu" in the evening [more details]. Matsumoto Hakuô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô X will celebrate their shûmei at the Kanamaruza on Shikoku Island for the 36th edition of the Spring Kabuki performances called Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Ôshibai, Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Grand Theatre [more details]. Due to health-related reasons, Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô will not perform in January 2020 at the Shôchikuza. He was expected to play the role of Minoya Sankatsu in "Sakaya". He will be replaced by his son Nakamura Senjaku. Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kazutarô and Kamimura Kichiya will be on tour in the western provinces in April 2020 [more details]. The 10th 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 2019. A newly-created play entitled "NOBUNAGA" will be staged 8 times over 4 days [more details]. Kishimoto Masashi's internationally popular manga "NARUTO", which got its Kabuki adaptation in August 2018 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, under the supervision of G2 (both writer and director), will be staged in April 2020 in Nagoya at the Misonoza. The roles of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke will be played by Bandô Minosuke and Nakamura Hayato. The guest star Nakamura Baigyoku will play the role of Uchiha Madara [more details]. The 11th of December 2019, Charlie Chaplin's fourth son Eugene Chaplin was in Tôkyô at the National Theatre, where he met Matsumoto Kôshirô, who played the leading role in "Kômori no Yasu-san", the Kabuki adaptation of the 1931 movie "City Lights" [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Kataoka Tôjûrô received the 6th of December 2019 the Cultural Affairs Commissioner Award (Bunka Chôkan Hyôshô in Japanese) [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The 21st edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 25th of January 2020 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). "Shinmotsu" and "Ninjô", the two main scenes from the 3rd act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", filmed in November 1977 at the Kabukiza with Onoe Shôroku II, Onoe Baikô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII, will be screened at 18:30. The 25th edition of the Dentô Kabuki Hozonkai Kenshû Happyôkai, a Training Recital of the Organization for the Preservation of Kabuki, will happen the 18th of January 2020, in Tôkyô at the National Theatre. The 5th and 6th acts of "Kanadehon Chûshingura" will be staged with stars' disciples in the main roles under the supervision of Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô [more details]. A dedicated website for the January 2020 Kabuki program at the National Theatre has opened! |
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| 30 November 2019 |
Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Okuni-iri Soga Nakamura", which was premiered in the 1st lunar month of 1825 at the Nakamuraza, will be revived under the title "Kiku Ichiza Reiwa no Adauchi" at the National Theatre in January 2020. As this is usually the case for the new year program, the zagashira will be Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô [more details]. Kiku Ichiza in the new title means the troupe led by Kikugorô, Reiwa is of course the Reiwa era and adauchi (revenge) is a hint at the sogamono. Two hanamichi will be used in this production. The two programs for the New Year Kabuki Performances at the Kabukiza in January 2020 have been published [more details]. The zagashira will be Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon. He will play the role of Tarôkaja in the dance-drama "Suô Otoshi". Others highlights will be:
Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will lead of troupe of young actors at the Meijiza in March 2020. The highlight will be the staging of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's spectacular drama "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô" [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in a special new year Buyô program in Nagoya at the Misonoza from the 2nd to the 4th of January 2020 [more details]. The two programs for the New Year Kabuki Performances at the Shinbashi Enbujô in January 2020 have been published [more details]. The zagashira will be as usual Ichikawa Ebizô. One rarely-staged dance-drama belonging to the Shin Kabuki Jûhachiban will be revived. Entitled "Setsugekka Mitsu no Nagame" and commonly called "Nakakuni", it will be performed by Ichikawa Ebizô and his daughter Ichikawa Botan. A new type of Kabuki dramas, called NINJA KABUKI (directly written in English on the flyer in Japanese) will also be staged for the first time. Another highlight of these new year program will be "Kinkakuji", starring Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Udanji and Nakamura Shidô. Ichikawa Ebizô will be on tour with Ichikawa Udanji and Nakamura Kotarô in February 2020, from the 31st of January to the 2nd of February in Nagoya at the Misonoza [more details], from the 8th to the 9th of February in Komatsu at the Urara Theater Komatsu [more details], the 10th of February in Kanazawa at the Kagekiza [more details], from the 14th to the 23rd of February in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details] and from the 26th of February to the 1st of March in Fukuoka at the Hakataza [more details]. The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama "Shinpan Oguri", a revised version of 1991 Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Oguri", will be staged in March 2020 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The stars will be Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Hayato [more details] The 20th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 21st of December 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). "Kabuto Aratame", the first act of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", filmed in November 1977 at the Kabukiza with Onoe Shôroku II, Onoe Baikô VII, Ichimura Uzaemon XVII, Nakamura Shikan VII and Nakamura Fukusuke VIII, will be screened at 18:30. The Kabukiza will be closed for maintenance and building repairs in April 2020. The April Grand Kabuki performances will be staged at the nearby Shinbashi Enbujô. Prior to Kyôto's year-end kaomise Kabuki performances from the 30th of November to the 26th of December 2019 [more details], the annual maneki-age happened the 25th of November 2019 at the Minamiza. During this important event, huge wooden boards called maneki kanban were raised [pictures and more details in Japanese]. 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. The maneki kanban were made by the calligrapher Inoue Yû IV at the Myôdenji temple in Kyôto the 6th of November 2019. The calligrapher soaked his brush in special ink mixed with sake for the purpose of purification and glossing, and wrote the names all actors with strong strokes in kanteiryû characters [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Eight posters for the December 2019 performances at the Minamiza have been published:
Two posters for the December 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
Ahead of the opening day at the Heisei Nakamuraza in Kitakyûshû in November 2019, the ichiban daiko was beaten by Tanaka Denzaemon XIII the 1st of November 2019 [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Ahead of the 12th edition of Eirakukan Grand Kabuki in the city of Toyooka at the Eirakukan, Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya and Sawamura Sônosuke were paraded in rickshaws the 3rd of November 2019 in the streets of the city. This event was part of the 49th Castle Festival, which was held to symbolize the castle town of Izushi [pictures and more details in Japanese|more details about the performances]. The 14th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 16th of December 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô, who will take the prestigious name of Kanda Hakuzan VI in February 2020, and Takarai Kinchô IV. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. Takarai Kinchô IV will tell the story of "Shibahama no Kawazaifu". November 2019 is an important month for Sci-Fi lovers as the story of the movie "Blade Runner" is set in a dystopian future in Los Angeles in November 2019. It could have been interesting to get a Blade Runner Kabuki production in order to celebrate it.
Unluckily we did not get the Blade Runner Kabuki. Instead, there was a Sci-Fi/Kabuki marketing event at the end of November 2019: young star Ichikawa Ebizô,
already the father of Roppongi Kabuki, fathered a new type of Kabuki which was called Sutâ Uôzu Kabuki, aka Star Wars Kabuki. This first production in Kabuki history of Sutâ Uôzu Kabuki was staged at the Meguro Persimmon Hall
in Tôkyô the 28th of November 2019. The venue was kept secret and only 50 happy fews attended the one-night 3-act performance, which was produced by the Japan office of Disney and which was entitled "Rennosuke Kôjin Sanbon" (
The 24th edition of the Dentô Kabuki Hozonkai Kenshû Happyôkai, a Training Recital of the Organization for the Preservation of Kabuki, will happen the 21st of December 2019, in Tôkyô at the National Theatre. "Domo Mata" will be staged under the supervision of Matsumoto Hakuô with Ôtani Hirotarô and Bandô Shingo playing for the first time the difficult roles of Matahei and Otoku [more details]. |
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| 31 October 2019 |
The programs for the December 2019 Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza have been published [more details]. There will be two different matinée programs and one evening program:
The two programs for the New Year Grand Kabuki at the Shôchikuza in January 2020 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be a small one, led by Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô and his two sons Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Senjaku. The guest stars will be Matsumoto Kôshirô and Kataoka Ainosuke. The highlights of these programs will be:
The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama "Shinpan Oguri", a revised version of 1991 Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Oguri", will be staged in February 2020 in Fukuoka at the Hakataza. The stars will be Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Hayato [more details] Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô received the World Culture Award (Sekai Bunkashô). The Takamatsu Palace Memorial World Culture Award is presented every year by the Japan Art Association to outstanding artists who are active globally in different cultural fields. The award ceremony was held in Tôkyô on the 16th of October 2019. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô was put by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the list of Japanese personalities who have made outstanding culture contributions in Japan in 2019 (bunka kôrôsha). He will receive this award the 5th of November 2019. The two programs for the New Year Asakusa Kabuki at the Asakusa Kôkaidô in January 2020 have been published [more details]. The 2nd edition of the Baishôkai, a gala program which will star Nakamura Shinobu and Ichikawa Emino, will happen from the 30th to the 31st of January 2020 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô. Onoe Ukon will be a special guest [more details]. The 19th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 23rd of November 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The dance-drama "Migawari Zazen", filmed in November 1982 at the Kabukiza with Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII, Ichimura Uzaemon XVII, Nakamura Kankurô V and Nakamura Kotarô V, will be screened at 18:30. The 13th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 20th of November 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Akane. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. Kanda Akane will tell some parts of the famous ghost story of "Botan Dôrô". Two posters for the November 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
Kabuki films in high definition and subtitled in English, all from the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, will be screened in Toronto at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in November 2019 [more details].
Japan was hit in October 2019 by a terrible typhoon named Hagibis and numbered #19, which killed more than 86 people and devastated many cities. As a direct consequence, Kabuki programs in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô and National Theatre were all canceled the 12th and the 13th of October 2019. Ahead of the Heisei Nakamuraza performances in Kitakyûshû, the stars, led by Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke, were paraded in rickshaws the 27th of August 2019 in the streets in the heart of the city [pictures and more details in Japanese|more details about the performances]. "Renjishi", a movie belonging to the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, will be screened at Kyôto with English subtitles at the MOVIX KYÔTO from the 1st to the 21st of November 2019 at 8:00PM. The Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizô and the opera star Placido Domingo will team up for Tôkyô 2020 Cultural Festival accompanying the 2020 Tôkyô Olympic and Paralympic Games [more details]. As part of the 32nd Tôkyô International Film Festival, Matsumoto Kôshirô took part in the "Red Carpet" Opening Event the 28th of October 2019 [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The movie "Abura no Jigoku", which stars Matsumoto Kôshirô and belongs to the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, will be screened the 2nd of November 2019 at the Tôhô Cinemas in Roppongi Hills. The Duty of Remembrance:
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| 30 September 2019 |
Obituary: Sawamura Daizô (1938~2019), a disciple of Sawamura Tanosuke VI, passed away from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the 17th of September 2019. His honmyô was Nakamura Yasunori. He appeared on stage for the last time in June 2017 at the National Theatre, where he performed in the drama "Meigetsu Hachiman Matsuri". The two programs for the kaomise at the Kabukiza in November 2019 have been published. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô [more details]. The highlights will be:
"Kômori no Yasu-san", which was written by Kimura Kinka and premiered in August 1931 at the Kabukiza with Morita Kan'ya XIII in the role of Kômori no Yasu, will be revived at the National Theatre in December 2019 [more details]. This drama, which is a Kabuki adaptation of Charles Chaplin's 1931 movie "City Lights", will commemorate the 130th Anniversary of Chaplin's Birth. There will be two programs:
The 18th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 19th of October 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The dance-drama "Funa Benkei", filmed in February 1990 at the Kabukiza with Nakamura Tomijûrô V, Kataoka Gatô V, Sawamura Tôjûrô II and Bandô Mitsugorô IX, will be screened at 18:30. The Zenshinza troupe will perform in January 2020 in Kyôto at the Minamiza in Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kane no Yo no Naka" [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will receive the 16th of October 2019 the Praemium Imperiale in the Theatre/Film field, a global arts prize awarded annually since 1988 by the Japan Art Association [more details]. The actors Onoe Matsutarô II and Nakamura Gandô II received the 24th of September 2019 the Merit award (Kôrôshô), a prize awarded by the Japan Art Association (Nihon Haiyû Kyôkai). This Merit Award is given to meritorious supporting actors with, a minima, a 50-year long career [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and 14 others actors took part in a parade in Nagoya in the shopping districts near the Misonoza the 28th of September 2019, ahead of the coming 50th kaomise performances in October 2019 [pictures and more details in Japanese | details about the performances]. It is worth nothing that the zagashira Kataoka Nizaemon performed for the 1st kaomise in Nagoya. It will be possible to watch at the 2019 edition of the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco the 11th of October 2019 the Kabuki drama "Kagotsurube". This movie belongs to the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series (released in 2012). It was which was shot live in February 2010 at the Kabukiza, starring Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Kanzaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon in the roles of the courtesan Yatsuhashi, Sano Jirôzaemon and Shigeyama Einojô [more details]. Three posters for the October 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
The end of December and the beginning of January are the busiest times for the Japanese Post offices. The Japanese have a custom of sending New Year's Day postcards (nengajô in Japanese) to their friends and relatives, similar to the Western custom of sending Christmas cards. For the 1st of January 2020, the Japanese Post has started to sell Kabuki-related New Year's Day postcards:
If you are in Tôkyô in October, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Kabuki at the Tôgeki movie theater. The beautiful dance-drama "Sagi Musume", which was part of the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series, will be screened there with English subtitles the 9th and the 10th of October 2019 at 19:00. Before the screening of 'Sagi Musume' there will also be an explanation about Kabuki [more details]. The 1st edition of the Yû no Kai, a gala which stars Ôtani Keizô and his son Ôtani Ryûsei, will happen the 14th of October 2019 at the Nagame Yokyôjô (Nagame Entertainment Theater), a traditional wooden-built theater (1937) in the city of Midori in Gunma Prefecture [more details]. The 10th edition of the Seidôkai, a gala for the Kiyomoto school of traditional music, will happen the 30th of October 2019 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details]. |
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| 9 September 2019 |
We celebrate today the 20th anniversary of the www.kabuki21.com project. I would like to deeply thank all the people who kindly helped me over the years to build this website. |
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| 31 August 2019 |
Important: Nakamura Baigyoku's heyago Nakamura Umemaru will take the name of Nakamura Kangyoku in November 2019 at the Kabukiza! He will celebrate his shûmei by playing the role of the yakko Torazô, in reality Ushiwakamaru, in the drama "Kikubatake". The role of the yakko Chienai, in reality Yoshioka Kisanta, will be played by Nakamura Baigyoku and there will be a kôjô within the drama. The ideogram Kan in Kangyoku can also be read Tsubomi and the Tsubomikai was the name a famous study group led by the Shôwa star Nakamura Utaemon VI. Nakamura Kangyoku will also celebrate his shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza in December 2019, performing in "Modori Kago", "Tsuri Onna" and "Echigo Jishi". The two programs for the October 2019 Grand Kabuki performances at the Kabukiza have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, who will play the role of Sashichi in the sewamono "Edo Sodachi Omatsuri Sashichi". Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Futari Shizuka", which was premiered in December 1963 at the Kabukiza, will be revived for the very first time, with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of the ghost of Shizuka Gozen. The two programs for the kaomise in Kyôto, in December 2019 at the Minamiza, have been published. The stars of this kaomise will be Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke and Kataoka Takatarô [more details]. The highlights will be:
The 12th edition of the Eirakukan Grand Kabuki will happen from the 4th to the 10th of November 2019 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. The first item in the program will be a newly-created Kabuki dôjôjimono drama. The second item will be Kawatake Mokuami's rarely-staged dance-drama "Odoke Niwaka Ataka no Shinseki", which was staged for the last time July 1993 at the Nakaza [more details]. Prior to Nagoya kaomise Kabuki performances from the 1st to the 25th of October 2019 [more details], the maneki-age happened the 27th of August 2019 at the Misonoza. During this important event, huge wooden boards called maneki kanban were raised. The boards feature the names of Kabuki performers appearing in the show and they were placed over the front of the venue on a huge takeyarai. To make the maneki kanban, the calligrapher soaked his brush in special ink mixed with sake for the purpose of purification and glossing, and wrote the names of all major actors with strong strokes in kanteiryû characters. There was a ceremony with the actors Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Shidô [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Nakamura Shikan and his son Nakamura Hashinosuke, who will perform in "Tenjiku Tokubê" in October 2019 at the National Theatre, went at the Shunkeiji Temple, a temple with the tombstone of Tsuruya Nanboku IV in the Sumida Ward of Tôkyô, the 2nd of August 2019 to pray for the success of the coming performances [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The 5th edition of the ABKAI (Ebikai in Japanese), a gala for the young star Ichikawa Ebizô, will happen from the 5th to the 25th of November 2019 at the Shibuya Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tôkyô [more details]. It will be the first chapter of the final round of ABKAI performances, before the 2020 shûmei performances, when Ichikawa Ebizô will take the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII. The young heir of the Naritaya guild will perform in a newly-created (dance-)drama based on the warrior Saitô no Sanemori. The 6th edition of the Buyô gala Nakamura Kyôzô Buyô no Yûbe (Evening for Dance by Nakamura Kyôzô), starring Nakamura Kyôzô and dedicated this time to the legend of Dôjôji, will happen the 28th of October 2019 in Tôkyô at the National Theatre [more details]. The 12th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 23rd of September 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Aizan II. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. Kanda Aizan II will tell the story of "Kamiyui Shinza". Four posters for the August 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
Opening of a new online database under the supervision of the Shôchiku Ôtani Library dedicated to Shinpa performances : Shinpa Jôen Nenpyô. Revival by the Zenshinza troupe of Mayama Seika's drama "Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi" based on the story of the thief Nakamura Jirokichi, commonly called Nezumi Kozô. It will be staged from the 16th to the 17th of September 2019 in Nagoya at the NTK Hall [more details], from the from the 20th to the 27th of September 2019 in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre [more details], the 30th of September 2019 in Musashino at the Musashino Shimin Kaikan (Musashino Civic Hall) [more details] and from the 22nd to the 27th of October 2019 in Tôkyô at the New National Theatre [more details]. A new collection of DVD has been launched! Published by Hachette Collections Japan and the Shôchiku Company [pictures and more details in Japanese]. A new DVD will be released every two weeks and there will be a total of 100 DVD in this collection. The first issue was released the 28th of August. It was the classic of the classics "Kanjinchô", shot in January 2018 at the Kabukiza, with Matsumoto Kôshirô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon and Ichikawa Somegorô in the roles of Benkei, the barrier keeper Togashi and Yoshitsune. The next release will be:
The 17th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 21st of September 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The drama "Narukami", filmed in June 1985 at the Kabukiza with Ichikawa Danjûrô XII and Bandô Tamasaburô V, will be screened at 18:30. The 46th 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 September 2019 in Tôkyô at the NHK Hall. The program will include one Kabuki drama, "Shi-no-Kiri", which will star Nakamura Tokizô and Onoe Kikunosuke [more details]. |
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| 31 July 2019 |
The 12th edition in Tôkyô of a special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) will be staged at the Kabukiza in September 2019. 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 and the top guest star will be Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon. "Numazu" and "Matsuura no Taiko" will be staged to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing away of Nakamura Karoku III (who died the 17th of May 1919). Another highlight of this September Grand Kabuki will be "Kanjinchô"; Musashibô Benkei will be performed by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon (odd days) and Matsumoto Kôshirô (even days); Togashi Saemon will be performed by Matsumoto Kôshirô (odd days) and Nakamura Kinnosuke (even days); the last but not the least, Taka will play the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. There will be the omemie of Nakamura Kashô's son Ogawa Sôma. Nakamura Fukusuke will also perform the role of Sonoo-no-Mae in "Terakoya". The zagashira of the troupe, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, will play the roles of Jûbê and Matsuômaru in "Numazu" and "Terakoya" [more details]. The Heisei Nakamuraza will be in Kitakyûshû in Fukuoka Prefecture in November 2019! First time since the end of the Heisei era and first time in Kyûshû! The temporary koshibai look-alike theater will be built in the precincts of the Kokura Castle. These performances will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the reconstructiojn of the keep of this castle in 1959 [more details]. A drama entitled "Kokô no Yûshi Musume Kagekiyo" will be staged in November 2019 at the National Theatre with a troupe led by Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon [more details]. It will mix elements from two puppet theater dramas about the warrior Taira no Kagekiyo:
An official panel has recommenended seven artists to be named Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese) in 2019. One of them is the Kabuki wakiyaku actor Kataoka Hidetarô. He will be officially designated this year in September. This is the 8th Kabuki Living National Treasure. There are 4 tachiyaku (Sakata Tôjûrô, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Kataoka Nizaemon), 1 onnagata (Bandô Tamasaburô) and 3 wakiyaku (Sawamura Tanosuke, Nakamura Tôzô, Kataoka Hidetarô). The Kabuki Gidayû singer Takemoto Aoidayû II, the Nagauta shamisen master Kineya Katsukuni and the hayashigata Tôsha Meishô II will also be Living National Treasures. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater, from the 30th of October to the 4th of November 2019 [more details]. There will be a mix of video projection (with video sequences coming from the high-quality Shinema Kabuki, "Cinema Kabuki") and real dancing on stage. Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô, who will perform in "Yotsuya Kaidan" in September 2019 at the Minamiza, went at the Oiwa Inari Yôunji Temple, a temple dedicated to the spirit of Oiwa, in Yotsuya (Tôkyô) the 29th of July 2019 to pray for the success of the coming performances and to get some protection from the spirit of Oiwa. Kabuki actors do believe that there is always the risk of Oiwa curse when they perform "Yotsuya Kaidan". To avoid the curse, the only way is to go to the Oiwa Inari and pray for safe acting [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke will be on tour in October 2019 [more details]. The 1st edition of the Kudanji Hiromatsu no Kai, which stars Ichikawa Kudanji and Ôtani Hiromatsu, will happen the 17th and the 18th of August 2019 in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon [more details]. The 1st edition of the Hyakka Ryôran, which stars Onoe Matsuya, will happen the 24th and the 25th of August 2019 in Hokuto (Yamanashi Prefecture) at the Megami-no-Mori Central Garden [more details]. The 2nd edition of the Tsuta no Kai (literally "the Ivy Association"), a gala program starring Ichikawa Tsutanosuke III, will happen the 15th of August 2019 in Tôkyô at the Nihonbashi Kôkaidô. The guest star will be Onoe Matsuya [more details]. The 21st edition of the summer program of the association Ne no Kai (the Sound Association) will happen the 10th and the 11th of August 2019 [more details]. Matsumoto Hakuô will play the lead role in the musical "Man of La Mancha" from the 7th to the 12th of September 2019 in Ôsaka at the Festival Hall, from the 21st to the 23rd of September 2019 in Sendai at the Tôkyô Electron Hall Miyagi and from the 27th to the 29th of September 2019 in Nagoya at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater. Complicated month of July for the star Ichikawa Ebizô. Due to the sudden illness of the heir of the Naritaya guild, the evening show at the Kabukiza was canceled several times between the 15th and the 18th of July and there were a few changes in the matinée show: for example, the role of the servant Tarôkaja in "Suô Otoshi" was played by Ichikawa Udanji instead of Ichikawa Ebizô. The 16th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 31st of August 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The dance-drama "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji", filmed in November 1983 at the Kabukiza with Nakamura Shikan VII, will be screened at 18:30. |
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| 30 June 2019 |
The three programs for the August Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in August 2019 have been published [more details]. Very unusual event: the Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in one of these summer programs! He will play the role of Nakamura Yukinojô in a revisited version of the drama "Yukinojô Henge" (entitled "Shinpan Yukinojô Henge"). This is the story of a fictious onnagata Kabuki actor named Nakamura Yukinojô. His parents were driven to suicide by three local officials when the actor was just a child. He grew up to become a star. When he discovers his three archenemies in the audience of the Edo Kabuki theater where he performed, he plotted revenge. It is worthy to note that Nakamura Kankurô's two sons, Nakamura Kantarô and Nakamura Chôzaburô, will also perform ... without their father but with their uncle Nakamura Shichinosuke, who will play the presitigious role of Masaoka in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". There will also be the staging of "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige", a regular feature in August since August 2016. The roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi will be played by Matsumoto Kôshirô and Ichikawa Ennosuke. Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tenjiku Tokubê" will be revived at the National Theatre in October 2019 with Nakamura Shikan in the role of Tenjiku Tokubê [more details]. The two programs for the 50th edition of the kaomise in Nagoya in October 2019 have been published. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon [more details]. The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama "Shinpan Oguri" will be premiered in October 2019 and November 2019 in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô. It will be a revised version of 1991 Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Oguri". The stars will be Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Hayato [more details] 5th edition of the gala of the Sora no Kai (literally 'Sky Society'), which stars Kataoka Matsujûrô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju, Kataoka Yûjirô, Kataoka Rikiya, Kataoka Tôjûrô and others. They will perform from the 2nd to the 5th of August 2019 in Ôsaka at the Kintetsu Art Kan [more details]. These performances are entitled Abeno Kabuki (Abeno is the name of a famous district in Ôsaka). Katsu Genzô II's rarely-produced 1877 drama "Higo no Komageta" will be staged under the guidance of Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Hidetarô and the furitsuke Yamamura Tomogorô III. This drama was staged for the last time in June 1952 at the Nakaza. The 5th edition of the Ken no Kai, which stars Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon, will happen the 28th and the 29th of August 2019 in Kyôto at the Shunjûza [more details] and the 1st and the 2nd of September 2019 in Tôkyô at the National Theatre [more details]. The 6th 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 Theatre from the 28th to the 29th of September 2019. This year, it will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Nakamura Tomijûrô I [more details]. Bandô Minosuke is part of the casting of the movie "Tôkyô Gûru 'S'" (in English "Tôkyô Ghoul 'S'"), which was directed by Hiramaki Kazuhiko and Kawasaki Takuya and will be released in Japan the 19th of July 2019. This movie was based on Ishida Sui's eponymous manga "Tôkyô Gûru". The program for the 29th edition of the Kamigata Kabukikai (the Kamigata Kabuki Association), a summer program in Ôsaka at the National Bunraku Theatre in August 2019 which stars Kamigata Kabuki stars' disciples in the leading roles with the guidance of Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Hidetarô and Kataoka Gatô, has been published [more details]. The 15th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 27th of July 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The dance-drama "Sumidagawa", filmed in January 1981 at the Kabukiza with Nakamura Utaemon VI and Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII, will be screened at 18:30. A sandai shûmei for the Ichikawa-ryû school of Buyô will happen during an Ichikawa-kai from the 3rd to the 12th of August 2019 in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon [more details]. Two posters for the July 2019 performances at the Shôchikuza have been published [1st poster | 2nd poster]. Three posters and one promotional video for the July 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
The 11th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 29th of July 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Orine. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. |
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| 31 May 2019 |
A Kabuki Workshop for Foreigners will be held at the National Theatre the 17th of June 2019 from 17:00 to 18:00. It will be possible to experience Kabuki performance and musical instruments under the guidance of Kabuki actors and musicians [more details]. The two programs for the July Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in July 2019 have been published [more details]. The zagashira will be Ichikawa Ebizô. The evening program a completely revised, digested-version and spectacular revision of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" with Ichikawa Ebizô performing 13 roles in the 13 scenes of this drama. The title will be "Hoshi Awase Jûsandan (Narita Senbon Zakura)". Jûsandan has two meaning, either 13 scenes (jûsandan) or a shorter way to say Ichikawa Danjûrô the thirteenth (jûsandaime), the future prestigious stage name of Ichikawa Ebizô who will take it next year. The Narita in "Narita Senbon Zakura" is in fact the Naritaya guild of the Ichikawa clan. A sandai shûmei for the Ichikawa-ryû school of Buyô will happen during an Ichikawa-kai from the 3rd to the 12th of August 2019 in Tôkyô at the Theatre Cocoon. Ichikawa Kôbai II, the daughter of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI and sister of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII, will take the name of Ichikawa Jukô. Ichikawa Botan III, the daughter of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII and sister of Ichikawa Ebizô XI, will take the name of Ichikawa Suisen IV. Horikoshi Reika, the daughter of Ichikawa Ebizô XI, will take the name of Ichikawa Botan IV. There was an important funa norikomi on the Hakata River in Fukuoka the 29th of May 2019, before June Grand Kabuki at the Hakataza [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]. Nakamura Ganjirô has received the Purple Ribbon Medal (Shiju Hôshô in Japanese), one of the six Japanese medals of honor awarded by the Japanese Government to deserving citizens. Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke and Ichikawa Chûsha will perform in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Yotsuya Kaidan" in September 2019 in Kyôto at the Minamiza [more details]. Nakamura Ganjirô and Nakamura Senjaku will be on tour in the western provinces in September 2019 [more details]. The program for the 25th 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 2019, has been published [more details]. The 14th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 22nd of June 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The drama "Benkei Jôshi", filmed in November 1982 at the Kabukiza with Onoe Shôroku II, Nakamura Utaemon VI, Nakamura Matsue V and Jitsukawa Enjaku III in the roles of Musashibô Benkei, Owasa, Shinobu and Jijû Tarô, will be screened at 18:30. The 10th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 24th of June 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Kurenai. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. One poster for the June 2019 performance at the Kabukiza of the newly-created drama "Tsukiakari Mezasu Furusato" has been published. |
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| 30 April 2019 |
First and foremost, we would like to report the end today of the Heisei era and the beginning tomorrow of the new Reiwa era. We do hope that Reiwa Kabuki will be the worthy heir of Heisei Kabuki. We also know for sure that Heisei Nakamuraza, closely associated to the Heisei star Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, will not be renamed Reiwa Nakamuraza. The Ticket Web Shôchiku Website selling (nationally and internationally) Kabuki tickets will end its services at the end of April 2019. From May 2019, there will be a Shôchiku Multilingual Online Ticket Website run by Etix Online Ticket [more details]. The two programs for the June Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in June 2019 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasures Nakamura Kichiemon and Kataoka Nizaemon. A newly-created play, a Mitani Kabuki drama, written and directed by Mitani Kôki, will be the evening program. This drama entitled "Tsukiakari Mezasu Furusato" is about Japanese sailors who were washed up on Russia after drifting on their boat. Yashima Norito will be the non-Kabuki guest star. The matinée program's highlights will be Living National Treasures Nakamura Kichiemon and Kataoka Nizaemon playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki and Kameya Chûbê in the jidaimono "Ishikiri Kajiwara" and the sewamono "Fûin Giri". The two programs for the July Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in July 2019 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon. These programs will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Kansai Kabuki Lovers Society. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 5th time in Kabuki history and for the first time in a major Kabuki theater! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be staged in Kyôto at the Minamiza in August 2019. Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku [more details]. Two pieces of news related to the hatsubutai of Onoe Ushinosuke VII in May 2019 at the Kabukiza:
As reported last year, Miyazaki Hayao’s masterpiece "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" [manga | movie] will be adapted into Kabuki and staged in December 2019 at the Shinbashi Enbujô with Onoe Kikunosuke and Nakamura Shichinosuke in the roles of Nausicaä and Kushana. The first flyer for this major event has just been published and distributed! First edition of the Takasago Kai ('Takasago Gala') for the disciples of Nakamura Baigyoku belonging to the Takasagoya guild. It will happen the 9th and 10th of August 2019 in Tôkyô at the Nihonbashi Kôkaidô [more details]. A memorial picture was taken the 23rd of April 2019 on the stage of the Kabukiza during the performance of the dance-drama "Sakae Kotohogu Fuji no Suehiro", which celebrated the 88th birthday of Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Juen and Nakamura Jûjirô were award-winners of the 40th Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). Nakamura Kazutarô received the Theater "New Face" Award (Engeki Shinjin Shô). Ichikawa Juen received the Matsuo Kunizô Award (Matsuo Kunizô Shô). Nakamura Jûjirô received the Matsuo Hazue Award (Matsuo Hazue Shô). They received their prize the 28th of March 2019 at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tôkyô [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Sawamura Tôjûrô made a public reappearance at a 'Surprise Talk Show' (sapuraizu tôkushô in Japanese) with Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke the 11th of April on the stage of the Kanamaruza [pictures and more details in Japanese]. The 13th edition of the Kabuki Natsukashidô, the Kabuki Nostalgic hall, will happen the 25th of May 2019 at the Kobiki Hall in the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The dance-drama "Iro Moyô Chotto Karimame", filmed in March 1982 at the Kabukiza with Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Takao in the roles of Kasane and Yoemon, will be screened at 18:30. The Kabuki TV program Kabuki Kool, which is produced by NHK World TV, will have a 6th season in 10 episodes. It hosts the young star Kataoka Ainosuke and the first episode of the new season was broadcasted the 3rd of April 2019. The next episode, about Bestsellers and Kabuki, will be broadcasted the 1st and the 29th of May 2019, four times each day at 04:30 08:30 16:30 and 22:30 (UTC) [more details]. 8 actors led by Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke went to the Konpira Shrine the 5th of April 2019 to pray for the success of April 2019 performances at the Kanamaruza from the 6th of April. Afterwards, The actors were paraded in the streets of Kotohira in rickshaws [pictures and more details in Japanese]. |
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| 31 March 2019 |
The two programs for the June Grand Kabuki in Fukuoka at the Hakataza in June 2019 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, who will perform the role of Nozarashi Gosuke in the eponymous drama. The two programs for the May Grand Kabuki in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza in May 2019 have been published [more details]. This will be the great yearly Dankiku festival for the Naritaya and Otowaya guilds, commemorating two great stars of the Meiji era: Dan = Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Kiku = Onoe Kikugorô V. It will also celebrate the hatsubutai of Onoe Ushinosuke VII. The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in June 2019 has been published [more details]. There will 3 special events:
The educational Kabuki program, Kabuki Kanshô Kyôshitu ("Kabuki appreciation class"), at the National Theatre in July 2019 has been published [more details]. There will 2 special events:
The dates and the casting for the July Grand Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza in July 2019 have been published [more details]. The troupe will be led by Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon. The Grand Kabuki Tour in the eastern provinces will happen as usual from the 30th of June to the 31st of July 2019. Matsumoto Hakuô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô X will celebrate their shûmei in different eastern cities [more details]. The world of Kabuki and the world of otaku will collide for the 4th time in Kabuki history at the end of April 2019! Chôkabuki (literally Ultra-Kabuki) will be back! Nakamura Shidô will once again share the stage with the virtual 3D creature Hatsune Miku. They will perform together in a Chôkabuki dance-drama which will be entitled "Hana Kurabe Senbon Zakura" (this was also the 1st Chôkabuki drama in 2016). It will be staged at the Makuhari Messe the 28th and the 29th of April 2019, as part of the Niconico Chôkaigi 2019 event, an important yearly event for the otaku tribes [more details]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in a special Buyô program the 28th of June 2019 in Shimonoseki at Shimonoseki Shimin Kaikan (Shimonoseki Civic Center) [more details]. It will also celebrate the 130th anniversary of the city of Akamagaseki, the former name of Shimonoseki. Ichikawa En'ya is the star of a short Panasonic commercial based on the famous drama "Sanmon" for a special high-frequency therapy device [more details]. Pictures of Nakamura Baigyoku, who will play the role of Uchiha Madara in "NARUTO" (Kabuki adaptation of Kishimoto Masashi's internationally popular manga "NARUTO") in June 2019 in Kyôto at the Minamiza, have been published [more details]. A new type of Kabuki will be performed for the very first time in May 2019! It will be called Ofushiatâ Kabuki, literally "Off Theater Kabuki" and it will be staged from the 11th to the 17th of May at the Warehouse TERRADA and from the 22nd to the 29th of May at the Shinjuku FACE. This new experiment will be (loosely?) based on Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Abura no Jigoku". It will star Nakamura Shidô, Nakamura Kazutarô and two non-Kabuki actors (Akahori Masaaki and Arakawa Yoshiyoshi) [more details]. Four posters for the April 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
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28 February 2019 |
Onoe Kikunosuke's son Terajima Kazufumi, who is also the grandson of both Living National Treasures Onoe Kikugorô and Nakamura Kichiemon, will make his hatsubutai and receive the name of Onoe Ushinosuke VII, a name unheld for 23 years, in May 2019 at the Kabukiza. He will perform in the dance-drama "Ehon Ushiwakamaru", which was written by the novelist Murakami Genzô and was premiered in February 1984 for the hatsubutai of Onoe Ushinosuke VI. The two programs for the April Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in April 2019 have been published [more details]. These will be the final Heisei Kabuki programs at the Kabukiza. There will be 5 Living National Treasures, Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Sakata Tôjûrô, Kataoka Nizaemon and Nakamura Tôzô, and the highlights will be:
The Zenshinza troupe will perform in May 2019 at the National Theatre in Segawa Jokô III's drama "Sakura Giminden" [more details]. The next three releases in the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series have been published:
The signed handprints of Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke were taken the 16th of February 2019 and set into the Plaza of Stars (Sutâ no Hiroba in Japanese) on Orange Street (Orenji Dôri in Japanese) in front of the Asakusa Kôkaidô [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Kishimoto Masashi's internationally popular manga "NARUTO", which got its Kabuki adaptation in August 2018 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, under the supervision of G2 (both writer and director), will be staged in June 2019 in Kyôto at the Minamiza. The roles of Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke will be played by Bandô Minosuke and Nakamura Hayato. The guest star Nakamura Baigyoku will play the role of Uchiha Madara [more details]. Kataoka Ainosuke (under his stage name) and Ichikawa Chûsha (under his real name Kagawa Teruyuki) are part of the casting of Fukuzawa Katsuo's movie "Nanatsu no Kaigi" (the international title will be "Whistleblower"), which was released in Japan the 1st of February 2019. This movie was based on Ikeido Jun's novel "Nanatsu no Kaigi". The Zenshinza troupe will be on tour all over Japan in March 2019 and April 2019 [more details]. Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Juen and Nakamura Jûjirô were the award-winners of the "New Face" Award (Engeki Shinjin Shô), the Matsuo Kunizô Award (Matsuo Kunizô Shô) and the Matsuo Hazue Award (Matsuo Hazue Shô) of the 40th Matsuo Artistic Awards (Matsuo Geinô Shô). There was a mamemaki ceremony for setsubun the 3rd of February 2019 at the Kabukiza [pictures and more details in Japanese]. There will be a special release, a not-numbered one, in the Shinema Kabuki ("Cinema Kabuki") series: "Yûgen" starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, which was shot live in high definition in September 2017 at the Hakataza, will be released all over Japan from the 27th of September 2019. The 8th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 29th of March 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Shun'yô. All the stories will be Kabuki-related: "Megumi no Kenka" for Kanda Shun'yô and "Kozaru Shichinosuke" for Kanda Matsunojô. Four posters for the March 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
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| 31 January 2019 |
Important: Ichikawa Ebizô XI will take the prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in May 2020. There will be a 3-month shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza from May to July 2020. His son Horikoshi Kangen will take the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII. This shûmei will also be celebrated in Japan major Kabuki theaters:
The two programs for the March Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza in March 2019 have been published [more details]. The highlights of these programs will be:
The Shinkabuki drama "Ohama Goten" and the kaomise buyô dance-drama "Seki no To" will be staged in March 2019 at the National Theatre [more details]. The troupe will be led by Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Kikunosuke and Nakamura Matagorô. Nakamura Ganjirô and Kamimura Kichiya took part in a parade in Ôsaka the 10th of January 2019, which was part of the Tôka Ebisu Festival at the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, which is located in the Naniwa Ward of Ôsaka and is commonly (and affectiously) called Ebessan by the people of Ôsaka. The Tôka Ebisu Festival was held from the 9th to the 11th of January 2019. Tôka meaning the 10th day in Japanese, this festival is usually held around the 10th of January and it is extremely popular in Ôsaka. During this festival sacred bamboo branches are sold to business people. The branches, known as fukusasa, are decorated with lucky symbols. The two actors were paraded through shopping and entertainment districts on a special palanquin called hoe kago, surrounded by people singing a simple catchy folk song [more details in Japanese and pictures]. The 11th of January 2019 at the Asakusa Kôkaidô, Nine geisha came and saw the New Year Asakusa Kabuki. They arrived at the Asakusa Public Hall riding in rickshaws and then stood near the entrance to greet the arriving customers. This kind of visit by a group of geisha is called Sôken (literally "global viewing") [pictures and more details in Japanese]. Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in a special Buyô program from the 11th to the 12th of May 2019 in Kyôtango at the Tango Bunka Kaikan (Tango Culture Center) [more details]. Members of the Edo Firefighting Memorial Association performed kiyari ritual dances within the Kabukiza the 6th of January 2019 [more details in Japanese]. The 7th edition of Ginza Kobikitei, an event with kôdan storytellers, will happen the 13th of February 2019 at the Kabukiza Gallery (5th floor of the Kabukiza building). The kôdan storytellers will be Kanda Matsunojô and Kanda Riei. All the stories will be Kabuki-related. Two posters for the February 2019 performances at the Kabukiza have been published:
Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô will perform in different cities in May and July 2019, not as a Kabuki actor or a Buyô dancer but a singer! His tour recital will be entitled Bandô Tamasaburô Sekai no Uta ("TAMASABURÔ sings the world"). Here is below the agenda of his tour:
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