6 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô, New National Theatre, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô), 2 in Nagoya (Misonoza), 1 in Yamaga (Yachiyoza), 1 in Midori (Nagame Yokyôjô) and 1 tour (Kinshû Special Tour)!

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Minosuke and Onoe Matsuya perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Matagorô and Ichikawa Komazô perform at the National Theatre !

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke and Nakamura Shidô perform at the Misonoza !

Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Hayato perform at the Shinbashi Enbujô !

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

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Yachiyoza !

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Senjaku, Kataoka Ainosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Minosuke, Onoe Matsuya, Ichikawa Sai'nyû, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Bandô Kamezô, Onoe Ukon, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Mantarô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Bandô Kamesaburô, Terajima Maholo

The usual October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Kuruwa Sanbasô: the sanbasô is an auspicious dance based on the ritual play Okina in the classical Nô theater which shows an old man as a symbol of longevity and the energetic sanbasô as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. In Kabuki there are many different versions, but this particular one sets the dance in the pleasure quarters and has a beautiful top-ranking courtesan in place of the old man and a taiko mochi entertainer instead of the boisterous sanbasô. To celebrate the New Year, this dance features Nakamura Senjaku as the keisei, Nakamura Baishi as the shinzô and Bandô Minosuke as the taiko mochi.

Ataka no Seki: "Gohiiki Kanjinchô" was first performed in 1773 and is most famous for its comic aragoto version of the famous play "Kanjinchô" (The Subscription List). As they are fleeing, the powerful warrior priest Benkei (Onoe Shôroku) gets his master Yoshitsune (Bandô Kamezô) through the barrier by pretending to be very weak and allowing himself to be tied up. He cries like a baby when he is tormented by the barrier attendants. But when Benkei decides that his master is safe, he explodes with energy, showing off the bombastic aragoto style of acting. He breaks the ropes and pulls off the heads of the attendants, tossing them into a barrel and washing them like a bunch of potatoes. Featuring also Kataoka Ainosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Kamezô and Onoe Matsuya.

Kumo no Ito: one of the oldest dances related to the legend of a giant ground spider that attacked the medieval warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Yorimitsu is visited by the spider with magical powers disguised first as a koshô, second as a taiko mochi, third as a zatô and finally as a keisei. After revealing its true nature, the spider spins trying to trap the warrior in its web. Kataoka Ainosuke plays the five roles of this hengemono. Featuring Ichikawa Udanji as Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Featuring also Onoe Matsuya.

Omatsuri Sashichi: the fireman Sashichi (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) is in love with the geisha Koito (Nakamura Tokizô), but their happiness is ruined by Koito's greedy mother and her constant schemes to get money from them. Her plots go too far when she claims that Koito's true father murdered Sashichi's father. Already angered by what he thinks are Koito's broken promises, Sashichi attacks her on a rainy night in a famous killing scene. Featuring also Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichikawa Danzô, Kataoka Ichizô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Rakuzen and Ichimura Manjirô.

Sannin Kichisa:
(Three Thieves Named Kichisa)
The late 19th century playwright Kawatake Mokuami excelled at plays about thieves and this play is considered to be one of his greatest. Three thieves, all with the name Kichisa, meet on a riverbank. Ojô Kichisa (Onoe Matsuya oOn even-numbered days; Nakamura Baishi on odd-numbered days) was once a Kabuki onnagata and robs in the guise of a woman. Obô Kichisa (Kataoka Ainosuke) is a handsome young man while Oshô Kichisa (Onoe Shôroku) has more weight and stature as the head of a derelict temple. Though they start out as rivals, they decide to become blood brothers and form a gang. The three are bound by fate in many ways, with the crimes of one leading to hardship of the family of another. But the same sins and crimes also lead to rescue and salvation. The play combines dark drama with the most beautiful of poetry. In the famous scene on a riverbank Ojô Kichisa kills a young prostitute and then speaks in the playwright’s famous rhythmical speech of the moon on a hazy night and the gold coins that have fallen into his hands. Soon, these gold coins will link together the three thieves named Kichisa, and in turn, draw these three into a larger drama of crime and retribution. The play combines the playwright Kawatake Mokuami's gritty depiction of the lowest levels of society with intoxicatingly beautiful music and poetry to bring life to his vision of the cycles of sin and retribution. Featuring also Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Minosuke and Bandô Kamezô.

Futari Shizuka:
(The Two Shizukas)
As a woman picks herbs for a shrine ritual, the spirit of Shizuka Gozen possesses her and asks the priest to copy a sutra. As she dances at the priest's request, Shizuka's spirit dances with her, asking him to pray for her soul before disappearing. Starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Baika

Revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Tenjiku Tokubê"!

Tenjiku Tokubê: written in 1804, it was one of the first hit plays by the playwright Tsuruya Nanboku IV, who is famous for his ghost plays. The play features Tenjiku Tokubê, a villain who has magical skills. He escapes from pursuers by transforming himself into a giant toad and the star reveals himself as the actor inside the suit in an exciting fight scene. A mysterious blind monk arrives at the mansion of a samurai lord and entertains with the music of a strange xylophone-like instrument and stories of foreign countries, only to be unmasked as Tokubê. He jumps into the pond in the garden, with a spray of real water, only to appear instantly in a new guise at the end of the hanamichi runway. In the Edo period, rumors that these tricks were performed with illegal Christian magic led to an investigation by officials of the Shogunate. (These rumors may have been started deliberately as a publicity stunt). Instead of closing down the show, it made it wildly popular and gave it a sensational three-month run - unprecedented for a play that started as a stopgap, summer production. The play begins with a mysterious old man (Bandô Yajûrô) who reveals to Tokubê (Nakamura Shikan) that he is his son, and that he is actually Chinese and aims to take control of Japan. The old man commits suicide to pass on his secrets of magic. The mansion collapses and soon, Tokubê can be seen on the roof, standing on a giant toad holding the cut-off head of the old man. This production features all the spectacular scenes of the original play, using all the modern technical resources of the stage at the National Theatre for a play that is guaranteed to be an enjoyable treat. Featuring Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Matagorô and Ichikawa Komazô.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Ganjirô, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Shidô

50th edition of the classic October kaomise programs in Nagoya.

Kitsune to Fuefuki: this is a modern play by the late Hôjô Hideji. Based on an ancient tale, it combines the atmosphere of a fairy tale with very human emotions. A young court flute player (Nakamura Baigyoku) is disconsolate after the death of his wife, but comes to live with a woman that looks just like her (Nakamura Jakuemon). In fact, she is a fox whose life he saved. But they must not sleep together or she will die. One day, furious after losing the opportunity to play in front of the emperor, the flute player drinks, and, no longer able to control his desire, sleeps with her. The next day, the flute player commits suicide embracing her dead body.

Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki: first performed in 1749 in the puppet theatre, this is a popular play in Kabuki as well. However, usually only two scenes are performed, the climactic "Hikimado" ("the Skylight") scene and, less frequently, "Sumôba" ("the Sumô Bout"). This production shows not only "Hikimado" but scenes that make clear the complex relationships among the main characters. "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.

Sumôba: in order to help his master buy out the contract of the beautiful Azuma (Nakamura Kazutarô), 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 Shidô as Chôgorô and Nakamura Ganjirô as Chôkichi.

Nanba Ura: We see the tragic intrigues that force Chôgorô to kill a man and flee.

Hikimado: finally, in the "Hikimado" scene, Chôgorô takes refuge with his mother who lives with her stepson Jûjibê (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon). Unfortunately, Jûjibê has succeeded to his late father's duties and is ordered to capture Chôgorô. Jûjibê is caught between his duties and his loyalty to his stepmother while his mother is caught between her loves for her two sons. These conflicts are symbolized by the humble wooden skylight which opens and closes, showing both sides of the dilemma. Featuring also Kataoka Takatarô and Nakamura Kazutarô.

Ageya: At the Daikokuya, an ageya in Shin-Yoshiwara, the keisei Miyagino (Nakamura Jakuemon) meets a new girl named Shinobu (Kataoka Takatarô), who hails from the countryside. Realizing that Shinobu's unusual dialect is one from her hometown, Miyagino asks to hear the girl's backstory. She soon realizes the girl is her sister, from whom she has been separated. * Miyagino also learns that their mother has since passed away, and their father killed by the local governor. Their conversation is overheard by the master of the pleasure house, Daikokuya Sôroku (Nakamura Baigyoku). The sisters hatch a plan to run away and avenge their father's murder, but are interrupted by the appearance of Sôroku. Miyagino attempts to kill him but is easily stopped. Sôroku then advises them that in order to carry out a successful revenge, they should bid their time. Then, he returns to them their release papers, freeing them from their contract.

Migawari Zazen: a dance play adopted from a classical kyôgen farce. A man (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) wants nothing more than to visit his lover Hanako, but he has one important problem, his homely and overbearing wife (Nakamura Ganjirô). He creates a scheme saying that he will be practicing Zen meditation all night and has his servant (Nakamura Kinnosuke) take his place while he visits Hanako. He returns, giddy from a night of pleasure and tells his story to his servant in dance, unaware that his wife has discovered his deception and has taken his servant's place.

Mabuta no Haha:
(The Remembered Mother)
first performed in 1931, "Mabuta no Haha" is a play by Hasegawa Shin (1884~1963), who specialized in gritty realistic representations of the lower classes in the Edo period. Banba no Chûtarô (Nakamura Shidô) is a rough gangster, but has always regretted not knowing his mother (Living National Treasure Kataoka Hidetarô). After helping a friend and his mother, he decides to search for his own. He believes to have found her in Ohama, the mistress of a restaurant, but she refuses to acknowledge him to protect the reputation of her daughter, who is about to be married. Unable to meet his mother, he closes his eyes and tries to imagine her as the beautiful woman he remembers, not the horror of reality.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ennosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Bandô Shingo, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa Omezô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Kôtarô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Ichimura Takematsu, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichikawa Otora, Ichikawa Ukon, Asano Kazuyuki, Kashima Noritoshi, Ishibashi Shôji, Shimomura Ao, Ishiguro Hideo, Takahashi Yô

The Sûpâ Kabuki Sekando drama "Shinpan Oguri" is a revised version of 1991 Sûpâ Kabuki drama "Oguri".

Shinpan Oguri:
(Oguri, a New Version)
Oguri Hangan (alternatively Ichikawa Ennosuke or Nakamura Hayato) is the heaven-sent child of Vaisravana, a good-looking youth and a master of the martial arts and horsemanship. He comes across Princess Terute who lives in Sagami Province. They fall in love and pledge their troth. However, this is against the law and he is killed by her father. Oguri comes before Enma Daiô, the King of Hell, who sends him back to the world with his face disfigured and his limbs wasted away as a punishment for his self-indulgence and refusal to take notice of others. Totally disfigured, he cannot walk, and makes his way to Kumano Shrine to be cured, sitting in a cart drawn by volunteers. On the way, fatefully, he meets Princess Terute again but she does not notice him. Will he be able to return to his original appearance? What will become of his love for her?

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This Autumn tour stars Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The first item in the program is a talk on stage.

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

Fujikawa Yanosuke, Kitazawa Kanami, Tadamura Shin'ya, Matsunami Kihachirô, Hayase Einojô, Nakajima Kôtarô, Yamamoto Harumi, Tamaura Yûnosuke, Yamazaki Tatsusaburô, Matsuura Kainosuke

Revival in Tôkyô at the New National Theatre of Mayama Seika's drama "Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi" based on the story of the thief Nakamura Jirokichi, commonly called Nezumi Kozô.

Nakamura Kyôzô, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Shinjûrô

6th edition of the Buyô gala Nakamura Kyôzô Buyô no Yûbe, dedicated this time to the legend of Dôjôji.

Ôtani Keizô, Ôtani Ryûsei

1st edition of the Yû no Kai, a gala which stars Ôtani Keizô and his son Ôtani Ryûsei, at the Nagame Yokyôjô (Nagame Entertainment Theater), a traditional wooden-built theater (1937) in the city of Midori in Gunma Prefecture.

Onoe Ukon, Nakamura Tanenosuke

The 10th edition of the Seidôkai, a gala for the Kiyomoto school of traditional music, at the Asakusa Kôkaidô. The first item in the program is music only, performed by the music master Kiyomoto Enjudayû VII (father of Onoe Ukon) and his son Kiyomoto Saiju (brother of Onoe Ukon). The second item will be performed by both a Kiyomoto ensemble (led by Kiyomoto Shizuodayû and Kiyomoto Saiju) and by the actors Onoe Ukon and Nakamura Tanenosuke.