| Dates |
7 ~ 28 November 2022
Kichirei Kaomise Ôkabuki
Annual Festive Face-Showing Grand Kabuki |
| Matinée |
Iwau Narita Kobiki no Nigiwai
Uirô Uri
Kanjinchô
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| Evening |
Ya-no-Ne
Kôjô
Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura
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| Casting |
Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Shinnosuke,
Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô,
Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Ganjirô,
Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichikawa Sadanji, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Baishi,
Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ôtani Tomoemon, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Kataoka Ichizô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Komazô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Matsumoto Kingo, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Seiko,
Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Kangyoku, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Takanosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Ichikawa Somegorô, Nakamura Tamatarô, Onoe Sakon, Ichikawa Danko, Ichikawa Kudanji, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Kichinojô
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| Comments |
Ichikawa Ebizô XI takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza.
It is also the hatsubutai for his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.
This is the first month of a 2-month shûmei
for the Naritaya guild, in November and December 2022.
Iwau Narita Kobiki no Nigiwai: it is festival day in the bustling city of Edo, where the proprietress of a theatre teahouse,
chiefs of the fire brigade and geisha all turn out and dance happily.
This is a dance accompanied by Tokiwazu music, which grandly opens the performances celebrating
the name succession of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.
Uirô Uri: there are many plays based on the revenge by the Soga brothers
on Kudô Suketsune (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô), 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 Shinnosuke as the peddler.
Featuring also Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Sadanji and Kataoka Takatarô.
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 Ichikawa Ennosuke and Matsumoto Kôshirô as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.
Ya-no-Ne: like a picture come to life, this play combines the most
exaggerated costumes and movements with leisurely humor. The aragoto
hero Soga no Gorô is sharpening a giant arrow and sleeping in wishes of good fortune
for the New Year when he sees his brother Jûrô in a dream asking him to come and rescue him.
The two Soga brothers are part of one of the most popular vendetta stories in Kabuki,
suffering for eighteen years before being able to avenge the death of their father.
In this play, when Gorô finds out that his brother is in trouble, he jumps on
the horse of a passing daikon vendor and,
brandishing a giant daikon as a whip prepares to rush to his brother's side.
Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô and Bandô Mitsugorô as Gorô and Jûrô.
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
Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and the hatsubutai of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.
Sukeroku: the dandy Sukeroku is the most famous patron of the
Yoshiwara pleasure quarters.
But his reputation as the lover of Agemaki,
the highest ranking courtesan in the quarter is matched by that of his
tendency to pick fights. In fact, Sukeroku is the samurai Soga no Gorô
in disguise, and he uses the fights to find a lost heirloom sword.
His search takes place in the colorful atmosphere of the Yoshiwara
where processions of beautiful courtesans compete with the splendor of
cherry blossoms in full bloom. All the top stars in Kabuki appear in
a procession of beautiful, exciting and amusing roles.
Starring Ichikawa Danjûrô and Onoe Kikunosuke as Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki.
Featuring also Onoe Shôroku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Matagorô and Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon
in the roles of Ikyû, the shirozake seller Shinbê, Fukuyama Katsugi, Mankô, the passer-by, Asagao Senpei and Kanpera Monbê.
The role of the courtesan Miuraya Shiratama is played by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô (from the 22nd to the 28th) and Nakamura Baishi (from the 7th to the 20th).
Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
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| Dates |
2 ~ 25 November 2022
Kabuki & Rakugo Korabo Chûshingura
A collaboration related to Chûshingura between Kabuki and Rakugo |
| Program |
Denchû Degozaru
A famous rakugo narrated by Shunpûtei Koasa
Nakazô
A famous rakugo narrated by Shunpûtei Koasa
Kanadehon Chûshingura
Teppô Watashi, Futatsudama
Kanpei Harakiri
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| Casting |
Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Karoku, Ichimura Manjirô, Ichikawa Emiya, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Baika
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| Comments |
The 1st farewell Performances before the closing and the start of the rebuilding of this theater. This progam belongs to the series of performances from November 2022 to october 2023 labeled as Mirai e Tsunagu Kokuritsu Gekijô Purojekuto ~ Shodai Kokuritsu Gekijô Sayonara Kôen
(literally 'Project to Connect the National Theater to the Future ~ First generation National Theater Farewell Performances').
The November Kabuki at the National Theatre is mixed for the first time with another stage art: this program is entitled Kabuki & Rakugo Korabo Chûshingura (A collaboration related to Chûshingura between Kabuki and Rakugo).
Teppô Watashi/Futatsudama/Kanpei Harakiri:
this section of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is about
Hayano Kanpei (Nakamura Shikan) and his wife Okaru (Ichikawa Emiya). Kanpei survives as a hunter and is desperate
for the money that will allow him to become a samurai again. He encounters two
former retainers of Lord En'ya Hangan who offer to allow him to participate in
a vendetta to avenge Lord En'ya Hangan's death by attacking Kô no Moronô.
Unknown to him, though, Okaru's family has decided to raise the memory by
selling her into prostitution as a courtesan in the Gion district of Kyôto.
Okaru's father travels on a dark mountain road, eager to bring the first half
of the money to Kanpei. But he is attacked and robbed by Sadakurô (Nakamura Karoku),
also a former retainer of Lord En'ya Hangan who has gone bad and become a thief.
At this point, Kanpei aims and fires at s wild boar and instead kills Sadakurô.
He finds the purse with all the money and, thinking that is the gift of heaven,
rushes home. At home, the brothel keeper is already there to collect Okaru and
Kanpei wants to refuse to let her go, until he realizes where the money came
from and believes that he killed Okaru's father by mistake.
He urges Okaru to go to the pleasure quarters, not wanting her to know what has
happened. In one of the dramatic highlights of the play,
Kanpei commits suicide to atone for his multiple failures in duty.
Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
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| Heisei Nakamuraza (Tôkyô) |
| Dates |
3 ~ 27 November 2022 |
| 1st program |
Kotobuki Soga no Taimen
Shirabyôshi no Hana no En
Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa
(Sakanaya Sôgorô)
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| 2nd program |
Tônasuya ~ Fushigi no Kuni no Wakadanna
Noriaibune Ehô Manzai
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| Casting |
Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi
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| Comments |
The Heisei Nakamuraza is back in Tôkyô in Asakusa in October and November 2022. Not in the Sumida Park as it used to be but in the precincts of the Sensôji Temple (at the back of the main temple hall).
This program commemorate the 180th anniversary of the 1842 move of all major Kabuki theaters to the remote district of Saruwaka-chô (Edo).
Soga no Taimen: this is one of the oldest and most classical of all
Kabuki plays. In the Edo period, every January, plays appeared about the vendetta
carried out by the Soga brothers Jûrô and Gorô after eighteen years of hardship.
In "Soga no Taimen" the brothers confront Kudô Suketsune, the man responsible for
their father's death. More ceremony than play, it features each of the important
Kabuki character types, including the bombastic aragoto
style of Gorô and the soft wagoto style
of Jûrô. This month features a cast headed by Nakamura Hashinosuke as Kudô
and with Nakamura Fukunosuke as Gorô and Nakamura Utanosuke as Jûrô.
Featuring Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Bandô Shingo and Nakamura Kankurô as
Kobayashi no Asahina, the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover),
the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer).
Shirabyôshi no Hana no En:
(The flowery Banquet of the shirabyôshi)
In the medieval period there were beautiful dancers called shirabyôshi
who wore male court costume. they were famous for dances called otoko mai or "male dance".
In this dance, Nakamura Shichinosuke evokes one of these beauties of ancient Japan.
Sakanaya Sôgorô: Sôgorô (Nakamura Kankurô), 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 Senjaku, Kataoka Kamezô and Bandô Shingo.
Tônasuya:
(The Pumpkin Vendor' alias 'Young Master's Adventures in Wonderland')
This is a brand new Kabuki play written and directed by Kudô Kankurô.
It is based on the rakugo story "Tonasuya Seidan" which is set in Asakusa.
Disowned by his father for visiting the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters too often, the young master
Tokusaburô (Nakamura Kankurô), who is about to throw himself off the Azumabashi Bridge into the Sumida River, will live an adventure interwoven with elements of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
Featuring also Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tsurumatsu and Nakamura Toranosuke.
Noriaibune: at the new year a group of merrymakers happen to meet on a
ferry boat. They include a pair of manzai entertainers, who would go from door to door performing auspicious songs and dances.
Featuring Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Bandô Yajûrô and Kataoka Kamezô.
Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website
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