2 shows in Nagoya (Misonoza), 4 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza) and 2 tours (Kinshû Tokubetsu Kôen, Zenshinza)!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke and Nakamura Fukusuke perform at the Misonoza!

Onoe Kikugorô, Bandô Tamasaburô, Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Tokizô and Onoe Kikunosuke perform at the Kabukiza!

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ôtani Tomoemon and the young stars of the Omodakaya guild perform at the Hakataza!

Matsumoto Kôshirô and Ichikawa Somegorô perform at the National Theatre!

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Kataoka Nizaemon, Kataoka Gatô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukusuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Shinnosuke

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

Kabuto Aratame/Shinmotsu/Ninjô: daimyô lords from around the country gather for an important ceremony in the presence of Tadayoshi, the younger brother of the Shôgun. Under the watchful eye of the official Moronô (Ichikawa Sadanji), lords En'ya Hangan (Nakamura Hashinosuke) and Wakasanosuke (Kataoka Ainosuke) have been charged with making sure everything goes according to protocol. En'ya Hangan's wife Kaoyo (Nakamura Fukusuke) is asked to identify a helmet to be used in the ceremony. Moronô is in love with Kaoyo and tries to woo her, but Wakasanosuke stops him. In return, Moronô uses his position of authority to berate the young lord and Wakasanosuke decides to kill Moronô. But the next morning at the Shôgun's mansion, Wakasanosuke's head retainer bribes Moronô to keep his master from causing an incident and although Wakasanosuke is about to attack Moronô, the aged official groveling stops him. As a result, though, Moronô is frustrated and angry and vents his feelings on En'ya Hangan, especially after Hangan innocently brings him a letter in which Kaoyo refuses Moronô's love. Moronô steadily insults Hangan, who tries to ignore the pressure, but finally draws his sword and attacks. Drawing a sword in the Shôgun's palace is a crime punishable by death, but Moronô himself escapes with only a slight wound as others within the mansion hurry in to stop Hangan.

Hangan Seppuku/Shiro Akewatashi: emissaries from the Shôgun arrive at En'ya Hangan's mansion to announce that he has received the strictest penalty for his actions. He is ordered to commit ritual suicide and his household is to be disbanded. Hangan's hate for Moronô grows when he hears that Moronô has received no punishment. Hangan waits and waits for his head retainer, but he does not arrive. Finally, Hangan plunges in the blade. At that moment, his head retainer Yuranosuke (Ichikawa Danjûrô) arrives from their home province. With his last breaths, Hangan gives Yuranosuke the knife he used to commit suicide and tells him to take revenge. Now that the clan has been disbanded, Hangan's men become masterless samurai. Though some urge an immediate attack on Moronô, Yuranosuke bids them not to do anything rash. When alone in front of the closed mansion gates, though, he secretly reveals his determination that his lord will not have died in vain.

Ochiudo: after the death of his lord, the retainer Kanpei (Kataoka Nizaemon) and his lover, the lady-in-waiting Okaru (Kataoka Takatarô) 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 (Kataoka Nizaemon) lives a poor life with Okaru (Kataoka Takatarô) 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 (Kataoka Ainosuke) 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.

Gion Ichiriki Jaya: Yuranosuke (Ichikawa Danjûrô) 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 Fukusuke), 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 Hashinosuke), 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.

Uchiiri/Okuniwa Sensui/Sumibeya: disguised as firemen, En'ya Hangan's retainers attack Moronô's mansion on a snowy night. After a fierce fight, they find Moronô hiding in a charcoal shed and take revenge for their lord's wrongful death.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Onoe Kikugorô, Bandô Tamasaburô, Sakata Tôjûrô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Bandô Mitsugorô, Nakamura Tomijûrô, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Kaishun, Ichikawa Danshirô, Sawamura Tanosuke, Ichikawa Danzô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tôzô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Shûchô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Mantarô, Bandô Minosuke, Onoe Matsuya

10th of the 16 Kabukiza Sayonara Kôen, the Kabukiza Farewell Performances, which will be held up to April 2010.

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. Bandô Mitsugorô stars in a play that features the bombastic aragoto style of acting that is a specialty of his family.

Kumo no Hyôshimai:
(The Dance of the Spider-Woman)
One of the favorite themes for the gala performances that would open a theatre year was the general Yorimitsu and his work in vanquishing ghosts and mysterious creatures. This particular dance is one of the oldest classics in the repertory, but only the music remains and what is presented today is a spectacular modern staging. The general Yorimitsu and his retainers Sadamitsu and Kintoki are keeping guard over the palace over the Kazan retired emperor and are astonished to find a mysterious woman in the mansion. She wants to see Yorimitsu's precious sword and they dance rhythmically to the names of famous sword makers, and with beautiful branches of cherry blossoms. But she is actually the spirit of the earth spider who is trying to capture Yorimitsu and make him her retainer and the dance ends with revealing her true form and fighting with magical spider webs. Starring Bandô Tamasaburô in the role of the spirit of the earth spider. Featuring Onoe Kikunosuke in the role of Minamoto Raikô. Featuring also Bandô Mitsugorô and Onoe Shôroku as the shitennô Sakata Kintoki and Usui Sadamitsu.

Kawashô: this late love suicide play by Chikamatsu Monzaemon is considered by many to be his masterpiece. The paper seller Jihê (Sakata Tôjûrô) is in love with the courtesan Koharu (Nakamura Tokizô) and all those around them are afraid that they will commit love suicide. Jihê’s wife Osan urgently pleads with Koharu to pretend that she does not love Jihê any more, in order to save his life. In the first and most famous scene in the Kawashô teahouse, Jihê’s brother Magoemon (Ichikawa Danshirô) masquerades as a samurai to find out Koharu’s true feelings. Jihê listens in from the outside and is astonished to hear her say that she does not want to commit love suicide. In a rage, Jihê breaks off all relations with her, while Magoemon is moved to learn that she has done this out of consideration for Osan’s feelings. This play is a classic example of the Ôsaka style of acting.

Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari:
(The danmari on Otowa Peak)
A danmari is a fight in the dark where all the characters grope in the dark over some key object. When it occurs in a play, it showcases the different characters, while the movement of objects creates plot complications that motivate the rest of the play. When a danmari is an independent play, it has some central characters and some special plot twist and each time it is performed, the rest of the cast is filled out with typical Kabuki characters to fit the actors who will appear. "Otowa-ga-Dake Dammari" was first performed in 1935 in memory of Onoe Kikugorô V. It is a special play for actors with the yagô or "house name" of Otowaya and this month celebrates the first appearance on stage (omemie) of little Fujima Taiga, the son of Onoe Shôroku. Featuring also the stars of the Otowaya guild, Onoe Kikugorô and Onoe Kikunosuke.

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura:
(Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)
This play was first performed in the Bunraku puppet theatre and is an epic story about the famous 12th century general Yoshitsune. After the end of the war between the Genji and Heike clans, the Genji clan was victorious, making its leader Yoritomo the ruler. But even though his brother Yoshitsune’s brilliant strategies were responsible for the victory, Yoritomo came to suspect Yoshitsune of treason and made him a fugitive. Although Yoshitsune is the title character, the main characters of the play are actually different and this month features the acts of the play about the Heike warrior Tomomori and the acts about the magical fox Tadanobu.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura: Yoshitsune (Nakamura Tomijûrô) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Nakamura Kichiemon), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war between their clans, but in this play, he is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid Suke-no-Tsubone (Bandô Tamasaburô). Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to take his revenge on Yoshitsune, but is defeated again. Holding a giant anchor, Tomomori plunges to a watery death.

Yoshinoyama: this is a musical travel scene. Hearing that Yoshitsune has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino, Yoshitsune’s loyal retainer Tadanobu (Onoe Kikugorô) and his lover Shizuka Gozen (Onoe Kikunosuke) go to try to meet him there. Although Tadanobu keeps disappearing, he always appears when Shizuka Gozen plays the precious drum that she received from Yoshitsune. In dance Tadanobu recounts episodes from the Genpei war, including the battle in which his brother died to save Yoshitsune’s life. Featuring Onoe Shôroku in the role of the comical villain Hayami no Tôta.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: Yoshitsune (Nakamura Tokizô) has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino at the mansion of an old ally. Tadanobu (Onoe Kikugorô) arrives but has no recollection of Shizuka Gozen being placed under his care. Shizuka Gozen (Onoe Kikunosuke) herself soon arrives with the other Tadanobu and after an investigation they discover that he is actually a fox. In a touching story, the fox tells how he took on human form to be close to the hand drum, which is made from the skins of his fox parents. Moved, Yoshitsune gives the fox the drum and he flies away joyously.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Fukusuke

A special 1-day program called "Nô and Kabuki", with one Nô play and one Kabuki dance. The Nô "Matsukaze" stars Kanze Kiyokazu and Kanze Yoshinobu. The Kabuki dance "Ninin Shiokumi" stars Bandô Tamasaburô and Nakamura Fukusuke in the roles of Matsukaze and Murasame.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Somegorô

There are few writers who have been more popular than Edogawa Rampo (1894-1965). His pen name is based on Edgar Allan Poe and he introduced detective stories to Japan with his super detective Akechi Kogorô. The writer also was a master of the grotesque and erotic and created characters with strange passions, masquerading as chairs to get close to the beloved, trying to preserve the bodies of beautiful men and women by turning them into perfect looking mannequins.

In November 2008 the National Theatre presented "Edo no Yami Ayashi no Kagizume", a new Kabuki play that dramatized one of Edogawa Rampo’s most haunting and popular novels, "Ningenhyô" ("The Were-Panther"), about a man who has the lustful and bloodthirsty tastes of an animal and even resembles a panther, with glittering eyes, huge mouth and sharp teeth. He comes to battle the master detective Akechi Kogorô and stalks the women that are nearest and dearest to him. But instead of the jazzy atmosphere of the 1920’s of the original, the play was transferred to the Edo Period (1603-1868). That play ended with the villain escaping on a giant kite. In October 2009, the National Theatre will present a sequel, that takes the villain into the turbulent days of Kyôto during the battles that brought the Tokugawa Shogunate to an end. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô as Akechi Kogorô and Ichikawa Somegorô as the were-panther.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Shibajaku, Ôtani Tomoemon, Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Kataoka Ichizô, Bandô Shinsha, Ichikawa Shun'en, Ichikawa En'ya, Sawamura Sônosuke

Tôshi kyôgen production of the spectacular drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which includes "Kenuki", "Narukami" and "Fudô" (which all belong to the Kabuki Jûhachiban). Ichikawa Ebizô plays the roles of Kumedera Danjô, the wicked priest Narukami, Prince Hayagumo, Abe Kiyoyuki and the Deity Fudô Myôô. The role of Princess Taema is played by Nakamura Shibajaku.

Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke

The first item in this program is a taiko show (led by Hayashi Eitetsu), the second one is a tsugaru jamisen concert (led by Takahashi Chikudô), the third one is a Kabuki dance and the last one ("Shin") is a new creation mixing all the previous arts (with a choreography done by Fujima Kanjûrô VIII and the collaboration of Tanaka Denzaemon XII for the musical accompaniment).

Arashi Keishi, Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Hironari, Anegawa Shinnosuke, Ikushima Kigorô, Matsunami Kihachirô

The Zenshinza troupe is on tour all over Japan:

Source: Earphone Guide website