Onoe Kikugorô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Hikosaburô, Onoe Shôroku, Sawamura Tanosuke, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Shûchô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Onoe Matsuya, Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Kokichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Ichikawa Otora, Fujima Taiga

This kaomise programs at the Shinbashi Enbujô are staged to commemorate the 22th anniversary (23rd memorial service) and the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the deaths of late Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

Domo Mata: the artist Matahei has been refused a professional name because of his stuttering. He makes a poor life by drawing folk paintings and decides to make one last effort to gain respectability. His wife Otoku, who is given as much to chatter as Matahei is silent, pleads his case. Turned down again by his master, Matahei decides to take his life. He draws a farewell portrait of himself, a painting so skillful that the lines seep through solid rock and this miracle convinces his master to confer a professional name. Starring Bandô Mitsugorô as Matahei and Nakamura Tokizô as his wife Otoku.

Yoshinoyama: a dance travel scene from the epic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Now in exile and disgrace, Yoshitsune has left his lover Shizuka in the safekeeping of his trusted retainer Tadanobu. But she is unaware that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox who has disguised himself to be near the treasured drum that Shizuka carries, a drum made from the skins of his fox parents. Starring Onoe Shôroku as Tadanobu, with Onoe Kikunosuke as Shizuka. Featuring also Ichikawa Danzô as Hayami no Tôta.

Sakanaya Sôgorô: Sôgorô (Onoe Kikugorô), a fish seller, has taken a vow to not drink, but when he learns about his sister's unjust murder at the hands of a daimyô lord, a death that they were told was execution for her wrongdoing, he starts to drink again. Drunk, he storms into the lord's mansion to seek an apology. This play by Meiji playwright Kawatake Mokuami is known for its realistic portrayal of members of the common class during the Edo period and highlights their fierce pride and frustration at the privileges of the dominant samurai class. Featuring also Nakamura Tokizô, Bandô Mitsugorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Onoe Kikunosuke and Onoe Shôroku.

Uirô Uri: there are many plays based on the revenge by the Soga brothers on Kudô Suketsune (Bandô Mitsugorô), the man that arranged to have their father killed. In this particular play, this dramatic fight is transformed into light fantasy by showing one of the Soga brothers disguised as a peddler of uirô, a medicine that makes it possible to speak quickly and elegantly. The highlight of the play is a long speech full of puns and wordplays. Starring Onoe Shôroku as the peddler.

Musume Dôjôji: a beautiful young woman dances under cherry blossoms at a dedication ceremony for a temple bell. She dances the many aspects of a woman in love, but is actually the spirit of a serpent, driven to destroy the bell out of jealousy. In addition to being the most famous of all Kabuki dances, "Musume Dôjôji" is considered to be the pinnacle of the art of the onnagata. The role of the shirabyôshi is played by Onoe Kikunosuke.

Kamiyui Shinza: Shinza is a barber that goes from door to door, but at the same time, he is a villain that kidnaps Okuma, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy household, and even resists the efforts of Yatagorô Genshichi, the most prestigious strongman in town, to get her release. Starring Onoe Kikugorô as Shinza. Featuring also Nakamura Tokizô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Mitsugorô and Onoe Kikunosuke.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ôtani Keizô, Nakamura Shinobu, Nakamura Yonekichi

Uirô Uri: there are many plays based on the revenge by the Soga brothers on Kudô Suketsune (Nakamura Karoku), the man that arranged to have their father killed. In this particular play, this dramatic fight is transformed into light fantasy by showing one of the Soga brothers disguised as a peddler of uirô, a medicine that makes it possible to speak quickly and elegantly. The highlight of the play is a long speech full of puns and wordplays. Starring Ichikawa Ebizô as the peddler. Featuring also Nakamura Shibajaku, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa En'ya, Kataoka Ichizô and Ichikawa Shun'en.

Renjishi: 2 entertainers dance a tale of the legendary shishi or lion-like spirits that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. There is a comic interlude with 2 Buddhist pilgrims. Then, the shishi themselves appear and perform their dance with wild shaking of their long manes. The dance shows a parent shishi forcing his cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. This theme is often associated with the training a parent actor gives his son. This performance features Ichikawa Ukon in the role of the parent shishi and his son Ichikawa En'ya in the role of the cub.

Kirare Yosa: Yosaburô (Ichikawa Ebizô), the refined young son of a wealthy merchant falls in love with Otomi (Nakamura Fukusuke) the moment he first sees her on the beach. But Otomi is the mistress of a powerful gangster, and when their relationship is discovered, the two are attacked. Yosaburô is cut from head to toe and the two are dumped into the sea. Otomi lives and is taken in by a rich merchant while Yosaburô is now covered with scars. Yosaburô turns into a petty thief and extortionist but one day, finds that the woman he is about to blackmail is none other than Otomi, alive and well. Featuring also Ichikawa Danjûrô and Ichikawa Ukon.

Kuzu-no-Ha: Abe no Yasuna, a court astrologer in disgrace, has married a beautiful woman named Kuzu-no-Ha, not knowing that she is actually a fox that has taken human form to repay his kindness in saving his life. The couple has a child and lives happily together until the real woman whose form the fox borrowed appears. Knowing that she can no longer stay, Kuzu-no-Ha writes a tearful farewell poem on the paper screen and returns to the wilderness. Starring Nakamura Shibajaku as Kuzu-no-Ha and Nakamura Karoku as Yasuna.

Kanjinchô: probably the most popular Kabuki play today, it includes dance, comedy and the heart-warming pathos of a band of heroes during their last days. Disguised as a band of traveling priests the fugitive general Yoshitsune and his small band of retainers are stopped at a road barrier. They escape only through the quick thinking of the head retainer, a warrior priest named Musashibô Benkei, who improvises the text of an elaborate imperial decree. Having escaped danger Benkei and the others describe their days of glory and hardships on the road to escape in a moving dance. This program stars Ichikawa Danjûrô in the role of Benkei, with Nakamura Fukusuke and Ichikawa Ebizô as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.

Yôkihi: this is a rare performance of a play by Osaragi Jirô, the novelist most famous for the Robin Hood-like character Kurama Tengu. The play was originally written for a Shinpa troupe and dramatizes one of the most famous incidents in Chinese history. Yang Guifei (Yôkihi in Japanese) was a beautiful woman from a humble family who became the mistress of the Tang emperor. His love for her was such that the entire empire nearly crumbled. The play focuses on Yôkihi's rise and her relationship with the young court official that loves her, first brings her to the emperor and serves her faithfully as a court eunuch. Finally he begs to be the one to kill her when rebellion and a coup d'etat threaten the empire. Starring Nakamura Fukusuke in the role of Yôkihi. Featuring also Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Karoku, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Emisaburô and Ichikawa Shun'en.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kanjaku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Tôzô, Bandô Takesaburô, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Utae, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Umemaru

To commemorate the forty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the National Theatre, typical author of Kabuki is taken up every month. This month: Chikamatsu Monzaemon. The National Theatre produces two masterpieces, the jidaimono "Nihon Furisode Hajime" and the sewamono "Sonezaki Shinjû".

Nihon Furisode Hajime: this dance is a rare example of a story from ancient Japanese mythology in a puppet play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon adapted for the Kabuki theater. As part of an annual ritual, Princess Inada has been chosen to be sacrificed to a fierce serpent that lives in the mountains of Izumo. The serpent arrives in the guise of a beautiful princess, but before it can attack it is attracted to eight jars full of sake. The jars are a trap planted by the god Susanoo, who confronts the beast in its true form as an eight-headed serpent, to save the princess. Starring Nakamura Kaishun as the serpent, with Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Umemaru in the roles of Susanoo and Princess Inada.

Sonezaki Shinjû: a young merchant named Tokubê has long been in love with the courtesan Ohatsu and is diligently trying to buy out her contract. But he is swindled out of his money by someone he considered a friend. Then he is beaten and humiliated in the precincts of the Ikutama shrine. He sneaks into the teahouse where Ohatsu is and she hides him under the veranda. At this point, Tokubê's "friend" comes and calls him a criminal. Ohatsu fiercely defends Tokubê and asks whether he is prepared to defend his honor by committing love suicide. Silently, from under the veranda, he holds her bare foot and draws it across his neck. The journey to the forest where they commit love suicide is like a dream, half-way between this world and the next and has some of the most famous lines in Japanese theatre: "Farewell to this world and to this night, farewell. To what should we who go to our deaths be likened? We are like the frost on the road leading to the graveyard, vanishing with each step". Starring Nakamura Kanjaku and Sakata Tôjûrô in the roles of Tokubê and Ohatsu.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Kanzaburô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke

The Heisei Nakamuraza is back in Tôkyô in the popular district of Asakusa. This time, it is a 7-month project (performances up to May 2012!) for this temporary theater built within the Sumida Park.

Sumôba: "Futatsu Chôchô" means "two butterflies" and also comes from the fact that two sumô wrestlers who play important roles in the full length play have names beginning with "chô": Chôkichi and Chôgorô. In order to help his master Yamazakiya Yogorô (Nakamura Kantarô) buy out the contract of the beautiful Azuma (Bandô Shingo), the senior wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô throws a match, letting the younger wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi win, hoping to get his help. But Chôkichi loses his temper and the two end up competing in a test of pride. Starring popular actor Nakamura Hashinosuke as Chôgorô and Nakamura Kantarô as Chôkichi.

Omatsuri: Nakamura Kanzaburô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura: these are two scenes from one of the greatest classics of the puppet theatre, which has also become a classic of Kabuki. After the wars between the Genji and Heike clans, the Genji are victorious and their leader Yoritomo is now Shôgun. But there is a falling out between Yoritomo and his brother Yoshitsune, the brilliant general responsible for the victory. Now Yoshitsune is fleeing through the country and this play fancifully has him encounter several famous warriors from the Heike clan, who are not dead, as history has it. Yoshitsune (Nakamura Shichinosuke) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Kataoka Nizaemon), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war, but in this play, Tomomori is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid (Kataoka Takatarô). At one moment the captain is a gallant commoner, but in the next, he is Tomomori, a high ranking general close to the emperor. His wife as well is a cheerful commoner who shows her true identity as a high-ranking lady-in-waiting in the magnificent robes of the imperial court. Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to get his revenge on Yoshitsune but is defeated again. Finally Tomomori holds a giant anchor and plunges into the sea. Featuring also Nakamura Hashinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Nakamura Kantarô.

Saruwaka Edo no Hatsuyagura: Kabuki began with sensuous dances by a woman named Okuni and comic routines with a man named Saruwaka, who eventually led to the founding of the Nakamuraza, the oldest and most important of the three licensed theatres of Edo. This play evokes those figures and the earliest days of Kabuki. Starring Nakamura Kantarô in the role of Saruwaka. Featuring Nakamura Shichinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Bandô Shingo.

Numazu: a dramatization of one of the most famous historical vendattas of the Edo period. "Numazu" is one act that tells of the sacrifices of those not directly involved in the vendetta itself but members of the same family who are indebted to the two opposing sides. The kimono merchant Jûbê (Kataoka Nizaemon) meets a porter Heisaku (Nakamura Kanzaburô) as he travels west on business. They find that not only are they long-separated father and son, but that they also lie on opposite sides of the vendetta. Their loyalties prevent them from openly acknowledging their relationship. Heisaku sacrifices his life to get information from his son essential to his side's cause. Featuring Kataoka Takatarô in the role of Heisaku's daughter Oyone.

Benten Musume: this play is a sewamono (realistic play about commoners) written by the late 19th century playwright Mokuami who is famous for his plays about thieves. The thief Benten Kozô dresses up as a woman to commit extortion, but his plans are ruined when his disguise is seen through. In the highlight of the play, he undresses, showing his colorful tattoos and introduces himself in a famous poetic speech. Afterwards, he is joined by the members of his gang on a riverbank, and, using the playwright's famous poetic rhythms, in turn, they each boast of their careers as thieves. Nakamura Shichinosuke stars as Benten Kozô, with Nakamura Hashinosuke as Nippon Daemon, Nakamura Kantarô as Nangô Rikimaru, Bandô Yajûrô as Tadanobu Rihei and Bandô Shingo as Akaboshi Jûzaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide website
Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website for "Saruwaka Edo no Hatsuyagura"

Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Shidô, Ichikawa Emiya, Sawamura Sônosuke, Ichikawa Omezô, Sawamura Yoshijirô

A special Autumn tour sponsored by the Shôchiku:

Mabuta no Haha: this modern play by Hasegawa Shin (1884~1963) is about the matatabi Banba no Chûtarô (Nakamura Shidô), who meets up with his mother Ohama (Kataoka Hidetarô) again by chance during one of his wanderings. She refuses to recognize this good-for-nothing offender as his son. Being turned away, Chûtarô has no choice but hitting the road again. Shaken by the encounter, the mother attempts to catch up with him but it is too late...

Omatsuri: Nakamura Shidô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Sources: Earphone Guide website
Shôriya Aragorô for "Mabuta no Haha"

Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its opening. "Shunkashûtô" is a newly-created dance about Japan four seasons; shun is spring, ka is summer, shû is autumn and tô is winter.

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Hayato, Kataoka Tôjurô

This is the 4th Kabuki program at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo).

Hikimado: originally written for the puppet theater, this play shows a tragedy of commoners caught between their duty and their feelings toward their loved ones. A sumô wrestler named Nuregami Chôgorô (Nakamura Kinnosuke) has killed a man and takes refuge at the home of his mother. Unfortunately, her son (Kataoka Ainosuke) has been ordered to arrest him. All of these complicated conflicts are symbolized by the lightness and darkness created by the humble skylight (hikimado in Japanese) as a rope is pulled to move a wooden shutter. Featuring also Nakamura Kazutarô in the role of Ohaya.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various events, like a Kabuki performance in a small traditional theater.

Chatsubo: the farces of the classical Kyôgen theater have universal appeal, showing the relationships of masters and servants and husbands and wives. In this particular dance play, a servant (Nakamura Kazutarô) carries a precious tea caddy which a thief (Kataoka Ainosuke) then claims is his. The servant and the thief must both explain who owns the treasure, first in words, then in dance. Featuring also Kamimura Kichiya in the role of the magistrate.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya

Third edition of the Sistine Kabuki, a Kabuki program within the Sistine Hall of the Ôtsuka Museum of Art, which is located in the city of Naruto (Tokushima prefecture). Inside this museum, there are more than 1,000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art, from ancient murals to modern paintings, which are reproduced in ceramic to their original size. The Sistine Hall is of course a "reproduction" of the Vatican Sistine Chapel.

Arashi Keishi, Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Yamazaki Ryûnosuke, Ikushima Kigorô, Matsunami Kihachirô

The Zenshinza troupe is on tour all over Japan. "Mizusawa no Ichiya" is not a Kabuki drama. Only "Kenuki":

Source: Earphone Guide website