4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shibuya-ku Bunka Sôgô Center Ôwada), 3 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza, National Bunraku Theatre), 2 in Nagoya (Misonoza), 1 in Toyooka (Eirakukan), 1 in Sakai (Daisen Park) and 1 in Yamaga (Yachiyoza)!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Shidô and Bandô Minosuke perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan and Kataoka Takatarô perform at the National Theatre !

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Bandô Hikosaburô and Bandô Kamezô perform at the Misonoza !

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Ichikawa Udanji and Ichikawa Sai'nyû perform at the Shôchikuza!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Yachiyoza !

Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Eirakukan!

The Zenshinza troupe perform at the National Bunraku Theatre!

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Matsumoto Hakuô, Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Kataoka Hidetarô, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Shidô, Bandô Minosuke, Matsumoto Hakuô, Ichimura Manjirô, Bandô Takesaburô, Kataoka Kamezô, Sawamura Sônosuke, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Kashô, Ichimura Takematsu, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Kichinojô, Bandô Kamezô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô

The Kabukiza commemorates the 6th anniversary (7th memorial services) of the passing away of the Heisei star Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII.

Sannin Kichisa:
(Three Thieves Named Kichisa)
The playwright Kawatake Mokuami excelled at portrayals of thieves and this short scene, with its music and poetic lines, is one of his most famous. A beautiful young woman helps out a woman who is lost on the road. But she is actually Ojô Kichisa, a male thief who is disguised as a woman. He steals an immense sum of money that the woman is carrying and this leads to an encounter on this riverbank of three thieves, all with the name Kichisa. The two others Kichisa are Oshô Kichisa, a bonze turned thief, and Obô Kichisa, an ex-samurai turned thief Though they start out as rivals, they decide to become blood brothers and form a gang. Featuring Nakamura Shichinosuke as Ojô Kichisa, Nakamura Shidô as Oshô Kichisa and Bandô Minosuke as Obô Kichisa.

Ôeyama:
(The Demon of Mt. Ôe)
One of the most famous stories about demons is about Shuten Dôji, the demon of Mt. Ôe, who loved sake and terrorized Kyôto by kidnapping beautiful women and forcing them to serve him before he ate them. Finally, he is defeated by the famous demon-quelling warrior Minamoto no Raikô and his four followers. Starring Nakamura Kankurô as Shuten Dôji and Nakamura Senjaku as Raikô. Based on a classical Nô play, this is a dance that was created by Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII. Also featuring Nakamura Kinnosuke and Ichikawa Komazô.

Sakura Giminden: this play is rare among classics in having a political theme. It depicts a country landlord Kiuchi Sôgô (Matsumoto Hakuô) who cannot stand the suffering of the farmers around him. A series of bad harvests has made things very hard, but corrupt officials refuse to lower taxes or relent in any way. Finally, Sôgô decides to bring the case directly to the Shôgun, a move punishable by death. The play shows Sôgô as he persuades the old keeper of the river crossing (Nakamura Karoku) to let him pass and says a final farewell to his wife Osan (Nakamura Shichinosuke) and children. Meanwhile, he is watched by a villainous informer, Maboroshi no Chôkichi (Bandô Yajûrô). Finally, Sôgô brings his case directly to the Shôgun (Nakamura Kankurô), knowing that whether he is successful or not, he will be executed.

Miyajima no Danmari: the beautiful courtesan Ukifune (Nakamura Senjaku) appears at Itsukushima Shrine, but she is actually the famous and daring thief Kesatarô coming to steal the treasures of the shrine. Other famous characters from the Heike clan, closely associated with the shrine, appear, and there is a dreamy fight in the dark. This play is especially famous for the odd way in which Ukifune mixes both masculine and feminine movements. Featuring also Nakamura Kinnosuke, Ichimura Manjirô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichikawa Komazô and Bandô Yajûrô.

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 Nakamura Kankurô as Tadanobu, with Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as Shizuka. Featuring also Bandô Minosuke as Hayami no Tôta.

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 Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and Nakamura Shichinosuke as Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kankurô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Nakamura Kotarô, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Matagorô and Bandô Minosuke in the roles of Ikyû, the shirozake seller Shinbê, Fukuyama Katsugi, the courtesan Miuraya Shiratama, the passer-by, Kanpera Monbei and Asagao Senpei. Featuring also Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô (Mankô), Kataoka Hidetarô (the Miuraya nyôbô) and Bandô Takesaburô (Otatsu).

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kikaku, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Baika, Bandô Shingo

Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima" is staged as a tôshi kyôgen at the National Theatre. The "Shikina no Ura" act was staged for the last time in October 1995 (only revival since the end of WWII). The other rarely-staged act, "Rokuhara Kiyomori Yakata", was staged three times, always at the National Theatre: April 1967, October 1995 and October 2007.

Heike Nyogo no Shima: Taira no Kiyomori (Nakamura Shikan), the dictator in the 12th century, exiles the priest Shunkan (Nakamura Shikan) and two noblemen to Kikai-ga-Shima for plotting against him. He takes Shunkan’s wife Azumaya (Kataoka Takatarô) to his mansion and compels her to serve him, but she preserves her chastity by committing suicide. A boat arrives in the island with the envoys of Kiyomori. A pardon is given to Shunkan’s fellow conspirators, but Shunkan is only saved by an additional pardon given by Kiyomori's compassionate son. Even so, he gives up his place on the boat to freedom so his companion's new wife Chidori can accompany her husband back to the capital. The boat leaves and Shunkan is left watching it disappear in the distance, knowing he will be left on the island forever. As the boat arrives at Shikina Bay, a roofed pleasure boat Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa (Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô) and Kiyomori are on board passes by. Kiyomori plots to make Goshirakawa drown, pretending to visit Itsukushima Shrine. Chidori tries to rescue Goshirakawa but is killed by Kiyomori. In time, the spirits of Azumaya and Chidori who resent cold-hearted Kiyomori haunt him.

Source: National Theatre

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô, Bandô Shûchô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Baishi, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Nakamura Mantarô, Onoe Ukon

The classic October kaomise programs in Nagoya. For the first time at the Misonoza since its reopening in April 2018. This is the 49th kaomise in Nagoya.

Torii Mae:
(In Front of the Fushimi Inari Shrine)
This is a short scene showing the troubles of Yoshitsune after his brother Yoritomo, the Shôgun, turns against him. Yoshitsune (Bandô Kamezô) is forced to flee from the troops sent by his brother Yoritomo. The trip will be hard and he decides he must leave behind his lover Shizuka Gozen (Onoe Ukon), despite her passionate pleas to remain with him. As a reminder of himself, he presents her with a precious hand drum that he had received from the emperor. Yoshitsune's retainer Tadanobu (Onoe Shôroku) rescues Shizuka from Yoritomo's troops and Yoshitsune decides to have Tadanobu protect her on the road, not knowing that this Tadanobu is actually a magical fox in disguise. Featuring also Bandô Hikosaburô as Musashibô Benkei.

Ninin Wankyû: the fabulously wealthy Wan'ya Kyûbê (nicknamed Wankyû) is disowned by his family for falling in love with the courtesan Matsuyama. Then, when she dies, he goes mad with grief and wanders through the countryside. This dance shows him as he imagines meeting Matsuyama again and there is a lively dance recalling their happiness together before the vision fades and he is left alone. Starring Nakamura Tokizô as Wankyû and Nakamura Tokizô's son Nakamura Baishi as Matsuyama.

Nozarashi Gosuke: this is a sewamono play, a work portraying in a realistic way the lives of ordinary people in the Edo period (1603-1868). Gosuke (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) is a chivalrous commoner in Ôsaka and a pupil of a famous priest. Being a very handsome and suave man, he finds himself proposed to by two women. But he is perplexed because he is undergoing ascetic practices. Nor is this all, having inadvertently insulted a local gang boss, he is challenged by the gang. Since it is the anniversary of his mother's death, however, he refrains from fighting back due to his religious observances. Finally, he takes his own revenge on the gang boss later, in front of a large temple gate in a spectacular fight scene. Featuring also Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Bandô Shûchô, Ichikawa Danzô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô and Ichikawa Sadanji.

Onna Shibaraku: more ceremony than play, "Shibaraku" is one of the oldest pieces in Kabuki. Just as an evil villain is about to execute a group of loyal retainers, a voice calls out for him to wait and a hero appears to save the day. This version is a parody, though, as the hero is played by an onnagata female role specialist, who mixes the super-human strength of an aragoto hero with the soft gentleness of a Kabuki heroine. Featuring Nakamura Kaishun as the heroine Tomoe Gozen and Bandô Rakuzen as the larger-than-life villain Kaba no Kaja Noriyori, with Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô as a friendly stage attendant who makes sure that everything goes right. Featuring also Nakamura Baigyoku, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Bandô Kamezô and Bandô Shûchô.

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 Onoe Shôroku in the role of the parent shishi and his son Nakamura Mantarô in the role of the cub.

Kirare Yosa: Yosaburô (Nakamura Baigyoku), the refined young son of a wealthy merchant falls in love with Otomi (Nakamura Tokizô) 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 Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Sakata Tôjûrô, Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Ichikawa Udanji, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Ichikawa Ukon, Ôtani Tomoemon, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichimura Kakitsu, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Jûjirô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Ichikawa Otora, Ichikawa Kôtarô

Ichikawa Udanji III and Ichikawa Sai'nyû II celebrate their shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza.

Kaka Saiyûki:
(Journey to the West)
One of the most popular Chinese classics is the story of the Journey to the West, about a Buddhist priest that traveled along the Silk Road from China to India to collect Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by a magical monkey spirit and some other creatures who protect him as they encounter all sorts of hazards on their journey. This play shows the group as they meet a beautiful princess, who is actually the spirit of spider. Udanji's great master Ichikawa Ennosuke III revived this work and his version was a sensation that included all kinds of stage tricks. Featuring Ichikawa Udanji and Ichikawa Ukon.

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 Udanji III and Ichikawa Sai'nyû II.

Megumi no Kenka: they used to say that fights and fires were the flowers of the city of Edo and many plays feature the gallent members of firefighting troupes, who were popular heroes. This particular play depicts a rivalry between the members of the Megumi firefighting band and a group of sumô wrestlers, which ultimately is a confrontation between the firefighters, who represent the commoner class and the samurai patrons of the sumô wrestlers. The fight begins with a minor incident, but grows into a situation of such tension, that when Tatsugorô, the leader of the firefighting gang, goes to his final fight, he goes with the full intention that this may be a fight to the death. Before he leaves, he has an emotional parting from his family. Featuring Ichikawa Ebizô as Tatsugorô and Ichikawa Udanji as the leader of the group of sumô wrestlers. Featuring also Nakamura Jakuemon (Tatsugorô's wife Onaka), Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Nakamura Ganjirô and Ôtani Tomoemon.

Tamaya Seikichi: this brand-new dance staged with a cutting-edge technique for image projection will be performed for the first time this month. Fireworks lit up night sky in Edo (the old name for Tôkyô). Seikichi (Ichikawa Ebizô) dreams of becoming the best pyrotechnician in the city and works on various ways to develop and expand his fireworks to please people of Edo.

Futago Sumidagawa: this is a spectacular jidaimono history play written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon and based on a tragic legend about twins and their mother in the Heian period (10th century). Incurring the enmity of Jirobô Tengu (the tengu Jirobô, Yoshida no Shôshô Yukifusa's son Matsuwakamaru (Ichikawa Ukon) is kidnapped and he himself is killed. Yukifusa (Ichikawa Monnosuke), who plots to take over the Yoshida clan, persuades Matsuwakamaru's twin brother Umewakamaru to draw the eyes on the carp in a scroll painting that he took from the Imperial Court. With its eyes painted in, the carp comes to life and jumps out of the scroll, after which Umewakamaru goes into hiding. Sarushima Sôta (Ichikawa Udanji), who was once a retainer of the Yoshida clan, makes a living as a slave trader to compensate for the gold coins he embezzled from his lord. He beat a boy to death only to learn later that the boy was Umewakamaru. He commits suicide by disembowelment, becomes Shichirô Tengu (the tengu Shichirô) and vows to restore the Yoshida clan. Hanjo Gozen (Ichikawa Ennosuke) wanders in search for her son Umewakamaru. Hearing that Umewakamaru is dead, she is about to throw herself into the river when she reunites with Matsuwakamaru. Shichirô Tengu flies away with Hanjo Gozen and Matsuwakamaru to the capital. Featuring also Ichikawa Ebizô, Nakamura Ganjirô and Ichikawa Sai'nyû.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kamimura Kichiya, Ôtani Keizô

This is the 11th Kabuki program at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo).

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. There is a mix of video projection (with video sequences coming from the high-quality Shinema Kabuki, "Cinema Kabuki") and real dancing on stage.

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.

Kagami Jishi: one of the most important dances for onnagata female role specialists and is an audience favorite. The maidservant Yayoi performs an auspicious lion dance for the Shôgun in his opulent palace, but she gradually finds herself under the control of the lion spirit. In the second half of the dance, the lion spirit itself appears and performs its crazed dance among peonies and fluttering butterflies. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô as both Yayoi and the spirit of the lion.

Fuji Musume: the spirit of wisteria blossoms dances of love in the form of a beautiful young maiden. One of Kabuki's most famous and colorful dances, it will feature the dancing skills of Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kawarasaki Kunitarô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Fujikawa Yanosuke, Matsunami Kihachirô, Tadamura Shin'ya

Special Zenshinza performances in Ôsaka. Not at the Minamiza, as it used to be, but at the Kyôto Gekijô. "Ura Nagaya Sôdôki", which was written by the veteran movie director Yamada Yôji and was premiered in May 2017 at the National Theatre, is based on two famous rakugo stories, "Rakuda" and "Ido no Chawan".

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô

A special Kabuki performance on a temporary stage built at the Daisen Park in the city of Sakai. This is the 37th edition of the World Heritage Theater, theater performances in world heritage sites in Japan. Mozu Kofungun, the Mozu Tombs in Sakai. The first item in this program is a talk about the event. The second item is a Kyôgen dance-drama performed by the kyôgenshi Shigeyama Ippei. The third and last item is the famous Kabuki dance "Yoshinoyama".

Matsumoto Kôshirô

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