4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shibuya-ku Bunka Sôgô Center Ôwada), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Toyooka (Eirakukan), 1 in Yamaga (Yachiyoza) and 2 tours (Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour, Kinshû Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô and Bandô Hikosaburô perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the National Theatre!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ukon and Nakamura Shidô perform at the Hakataza!

Kataoka Ainosuke performs at the Eirakukan!

Kataoka Ainosuke and Kamimura Kichiya are on tour (Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Yachiyoza!

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke are on tour (Kinshû Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Nakamura Shikan, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Ichikawa Somegorô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Kataoka Hidetarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Onoe Matsuya, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke

Nakamura Shikan VIII and his three sons, Nakamura Hashinosuke IV, Nakamura Fukunosuke III and Nakamura Utanosuke IV, celebrated their second month of shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza.

Shiki Sanbasô: Okina is the oldest ritual in the Nô theater. This Kabuki version shows Okina, an old man who symbolizes eternal youth, his attendant Senzai and the vigorous Sanbasô, who perform dances solemnly for good fortune. Sanbasô dances vigorously, stamping and shaking bells, praying for agricultural fertility and prosperity for all. This dances features Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Senjaku in the roles of the sanbasô, the okina and the senzai.

Kenuki: in this play, which retains the light, festive atmosphere of early-period Kabuki, a princess has a mysterious ailment that makes her hair stand on end, an ailment that prevents her from carrying out her long-awaited marriage. Kumedera Danjô comes from the groom's household to investigate and finds a plot to take over the household when his tweezers float in mid-air. Ichikawa Somegorô stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting that is a specialty of his family. Featuring also Bandô Yajûrô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Komazô, Onoe Matsuya and Nakamura Baishi.

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 is unusual because it features 3 cubs instead of one, starring Nakamura Shikan in the role of the parent shishi and his three sons, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke and Nakamura Utanosuke, in the roles of the cubs.

Kagatobi: the firemen serving the fabulously wealthy Kaga clan were famous for their colorful spirit. This play features a short pageant of these firefighters combined with a dark story of the sinister masseur Dôgen who uses murder, theft and extortion to satisfy his lust and greed. The actor playing Dôgen doubles as one of the gallant bosses of the firefighting gang alongside the firefighter that unmasks Dôgen’s villainy. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Dôgen (and Umekichi) and Nakamura Baigyoku as Matsuzô, the firefighter that defeats him. Featuring also Kataoka Hidetarô.

Ohama Goten: there are few plays more popular in Kabuki than "Chûshingura" or the Treasury of the Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers. In the modern period, this play was reworked by Mayama Seika as "Genroku Chûshingura", a play focusing on different incidents and different characters in this revenge classic adding historical details reflecting the Genroku period. One of the most popular parts of this play shows the man that will be the next Shôgun, seemingly detached from the vendetta, but in fact, intensely interested in the progress of the quest of the band of loyal retainers. Starring Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Lord Tsunatoyo and Ichikawa Somegorô as Tominomori Suke’emon. With Nakamura Baishi as Okiyo, Nakamura Tokizô as Ejima and Ichikawa Sadanji as Tsunatoyo’s teacher Arai Kageyû.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by these stage announcements, lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. In this case, all the stars of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Nakamura Shikan VIII, Nakamura Hashinosuke IV, Nakamura Fukunosuke III and Nakamura Utanosuke IV.

Moritsuna Jin'ya: this play is one of the greatest classics of the jidaimono historical play style. Two brothers, Sasaki Moritsuna and Sasaki Takatsuna are generals on opposing sides. Moritsuna's forces are greater in number and strength, but his brother's brilliant strategies allow him to escape by preying on Moritsuna's psychological weaknesses. Ruthlessly, Takatsuna has his son sacrifice his life to force Moritsuna to identify the head of an imposter as that of his dead brother. Starring Nakamura Shikan as Moritsuna, with Nakamura Tokizô as Kagaribi (the wife of Takatsuna), Nakamura Senjaku as Hayase (the wife of Moritsuna), Bandô Hikosaburô as Hôjô Tokimasa, Matsumoto Kôshirô as the crafty general Wada no Hyôe and Kataoka Hidetarô as Mimyô (the mother of the Sasaki brothers).

Shikan Yakko: a samurai footman rushes after his master in the pleasure quarters, but loses sight of him. He dances with pride in his master and enjoys his dance so much that he begins emphasizing it with vigorous foot stamping. Starring alternatively Nakamura Shikan's three sons in the role of the yakko.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Bandô Kametoshi, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô

Second month of the tôshi kyôgen production of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the National Theatre!

The play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (The Treasure of 47 Loyal Retainers) is the most popular in the Kabuki repertory and is known throughout the world.

Tabiji no Hanamuko: after the death of his lord, the retainer Kanpei (Nakamura Kinnosuke) and his lover, the lady-in-waiting Okaru (Onoe Kikunosuke) flee to Okaru's home, a farmer's house in the country. Kanpei feels responsible for the events since he was having a romantic tryst and was not at his master's side at the crucial moment. He tries to commit suicide, but Okaru stops him and convinces him that they should go to her home as husband and wife and wait for the right moment for him to be reinstated.

Teppô Watashi/Futatsudama/Kanpei Harakiri: Kanpei (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) lives a poor life with Okaru (Onoe Kikunosuke) at her parents' rural home. Kanpei desperately wants to take part in the vendetta against Moronô, but must come up with the money necessary to finance his part in it. Secretly, Okaru and her family decide that the only way to raise the money is to sell her to the pleasure quarters. On a lonely highway, a highway thief named Sadakurô (Onoe Shôroku) kills her father while he is on the way home from sealing the deal and the money is stolen. In a bizarre twist of events, Kanpei kills the robber while hunting on a dark night and finds the money. The fabric of the wallet, though, seems to prove that he has murdered his father-in-law. Kanpei commits ritual suicide to take responsibility, not only for the death of this father-in-law, but also for being absent when his lord needed him most. Featuring also Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Karoku and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

Gion Ichiriki Jaya: Yuranosuke (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) spends his days and nights in the pleasure quarters of Kyôto in an effort to make Moronô believe he is not planning a vendetta. His acting is so good that even men in his own group believe he has given his life up to pleasure. Moronô is not so easily convinced, though, and has sent spies, including a former retainer of En'ya Hangan, to find Yuranosuke's true intentions. Yuranosuke finds himself tested to the limits by the spy, and is even forced to eat meat on the anniversary of Hangan's death, a strong taboo. Okaru (Nakamura Jakuemon), now a courtesan, is also at the Ichiriki Teahouse. She catches a glimpse of a letter to Yuranosuke detailing plans for the vendetta, but he sees her and offers to buy out her contract, knowing he must kill her to keep the vendetta a secret. Okaru's brother Teraoka Heiemon (Nakamura Matagorô), a servant in the Hangan household, has also come to the teahouse and when he hears that Yuranosuke is to buy out her contract, he realizes his true intentions. Heiemon tries to convince Okaru to let him kill her as such an act may allow him to take part in the vendetta as well. Hearing that Kanpei is now dead, Okaru agrees, but observing their loyal actions, Yuranosuke spares Okaru and allows Heiemon to join the vendetta.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Ichikawa Ebizô, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Ukon, Nakamura Shidô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu

This drama was premiered in August 2009 at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

Ishikawa Goemon: a spectacular play full of keren about the larger-than-life king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon and his arch enemy Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The play starts in Kyôto in Sanjô Kawaramachi on the execution ground, where Ishikawa Goemon is about to be boiled to death with his son. The scenario was written by the manga storywriter, novelist and screenwriter Kibayashi Shin, the author of the manga series "Kindaichi Case Files". This play was premiered in August 2009 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. The roles of Ishikawa Goemon and Toyotomi Hideyoshi are played by Ichikawa Ebizô and Ichikawa Ukon.

Kataoka Ainosuke, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Jûjirô, Kataoka Senjirô, Kataoka Senju

This is the 9th Kabuki program at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo).

Terutora Haizen: a rare performance of a historical play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon I. The warlord Nagao Terutora (Kataoka Ainosuke) wants the services of the great strategist Yamamoto Kansuke who is now the strategist for his rival Takeda Shingen. The wife of one of Terutora's retainers is Kansuke's sister and so Terutora invites Kansuke's wife and mother to see her. When the two women arrive, Terutora brings the food tray himself and knowing what he has in mind, the old woman Koshiji (Kamimura Kichiya) kicks it. The furious Terutora wants to kill them all, but is restrained by Kansuke's wife Okatsu (Nakamura Kazutarô), who desperately defends her mother, despite the fact that she cannot speak and must express herself in koto music instead.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by stage announcements, usually lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. This month at the Eirakukan, it is a stage speech delivered by the main actors.

Haru o Kasanete Shikai Nami: a newly-created Kabuki drama, which was based on a script written by Ikkai Gyojin, who was in reality the Shinkigeki actor Soganoya Gorô. Okitsu Shunsai (Nakamura Jûjirô) serves as the Izumo lord's martial-arts coach. He is a master of the Ittô-ryû school of swordsmanship. He has a beautiful daughter, named Namiji (Nakamura Kazutarô), who is as good as father in swordsmanship. Shunsai could not find a suitable husband for Namiji in his clan and he has to find a son-in-law from other feudal clans. A potential husband is a young samurai named Takasago Tanomo (Kataoka Ainosuke). He is good-natured and good-looking but he belongs to the Bokuden-ryû school of swordsmanship. Shunsai is ready to accept the wedding at one condition related to swordsmanship, which puts the feasibility of the wedding at risk.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Kamimura Kichiya, Kataoka Sentarô

A special 3-city (Matsuyama, Kôchi and Sendai) Autumn Kabuki Buyô tour sponsored by the Shôchiku!

Goaisatsu: a kôjô on stage made by Kataoka Ainosuke. Goaisatsu means greetings in Japanese.

Sagi Musume: one of the most famous dances in Kabuki, this figure is familiar through pictures and Japanese dolls. A beautiful young woman all in white appears in the snowy landscape. She dances lightly of love, but then reveals that she is the spirit of a bird, a magnificent heron that struggles wounded through a snowstorm. Starring onnagata superstar Kamimura Kichiya in a dance that he has made famous through performances around the world.

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 Kataoka Ainosuke in the role of the parent shishi and Kataoka Sentarô in the role of the cub.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô

A special Buyô program starring the amazing Living National Treasure onnagata Bandô Tamasaburô in Yamaga at the Yachiyoza, a traditional wooden-built theater.

Kôjô: the close relationship between the actors and the audience is shown by stage announcements, usually lavish ceremonies to commemorate various important events. This month at the Yachiyoza, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Aki no Irokusa:
(The Colors of Autumn)
A beautiful dance about autumn and all its associated images : morning glories, violets, arrowroot, pampas grass, the cry of passing geese sounding over the sailing ships, the sweet cacophony of insects, the moon and winds of autumn. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Genroku Hanami Odori:
(Viewing the Cherry Blossoms in the Genroku Period)
It is in the Genroku period (late 17th century) and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom on the hill of Ueno in Edo (present day Tôkyô). Men and women dressed up in showy outfits gather to view cherry blossoms and begin to dance. After the song about the custom of flower viewing in Kyoto, the drunken people start a lively dance. The dance under the cherry blossoms continues endlessly. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kosaburô, Nakamura Ichô, Nakamura Nakashirô, Nakamura Nakanosuke, Sawamura Kunihisa

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This Autumn tour stars Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The first item in the program is a speech/presentation on stage about some aspects of Kabuki.

Kabuki-juku: literally the "Kabuki cram school". A speech on stage and a lively presentation of some aspects of the art of Kabuki.

Shiokumi: in the classical Nô Theatre, there are few plays as evocative as Matsukaze, the story of a court noble exiled to the seacoast where he falls in love with two fisher women. The women make their living scooping up heavy buckets of sea water to make salt and this has become a famous dance. Starring Nakamura Shichinosuke as the shiokumi Matsukaze.

Shiokumi: in the classical Nô Theatre, there are few plays as evocative as Matsukaze, the story of a court noble exiled to the seacoast where he falls in love with two fisher women. The women make their living scooping up heavy buckets of sea water to make salt and this has become a famous dance. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as the shiokumi Matsukaze.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Somegorô

A newly-created Kabuki dance at the Shibuya-ku Bunka Sôgô Center Ôwada. Ichikawa Somegorô shares the stage with the dance masters Onoe Kikunojô III, Onoe Miyako and Gojô Tamatarô.