10 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Heisei Nakamuraza, Tôkyô Skytree), 1 in Nagoya (Misonoza), 1 in Ôsaka (Shôchikuza) and 1 in Narita (Naritasan Shinshôji Temple)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Monnosuke and Bandô Minosuke perform at the Kabukiza !

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Yonekichi perform at the National Theatre !

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô performs at the Misonoza !

Kataoka Ainosuke and Nakamura Kazutarô perform at the Shôchikuza !

Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke perform at the Heisei Nakamuraza!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Jakuemon, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Ichikawa Ennosuke, Kataoka Takatarô, Ichikawa Sadanji, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Minosuke, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Kamezô, Nakamura Matsue, Ichikawa Seiko, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô, Kataoka Sennosuke, Ichikawa Otora, Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Onoe Sakon, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Baika

The October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

Onizoroi Momijigari:
(The Autumn Leaves and the Demon of Mt. Togakushi)
This dance is a modern adaptation of a colorful Kabuki play based on an austere Nô classic. The aristocrat Koremochi (Matsumoto Kôshirô) has travelled to view the autumn leaves and encounters a beautiful princess (Ichikawa Ennosuke) and her entourage. The entire party of beautiful women turns out to be vicious demons and attack Koremochi after lulling him to sleep with a beautiful dream-like dance.

Arakawa Jûdayû: the street in front of the Sengakuji Temple is bustling with people who come to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the death of the loyal retainers of Akô Domain. Arakawa Jûdayû (Onoe Shôroku), a foot guard of the Matsudaira clan in Iyo Province, comes to visit the grave in fine attire which is unsuitable for a warrior of lower rank. Sugita Gozaemon (Nakamura Kichinojô), an inspector of the same clan who happens to be present, rebukes him for assuming a false rank which is a serious crime for a warrior. Later at court, as his lord Matsudaira Oki-no-Kami Sadanao (Bandô Kamezô) interrogates him about the reason why he assumed a false rank, he begins to talk about the day when he acted as second for Horibe Yasubê (Ichikawa Ennosuke), one of the loyal retainers of Akô Domain, as he committed seppuku ritual disembowelment

and ...

Gion Koi Zukushi: on his way back from a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine to Edo, Tomegorô (Matsumoto Kôshirô) stays at the Ôtsuya, an utensil's shop of the tea ceremony, run by Jirôhachi (Nakamura Ganjirô) in Kyôto. Jirôhachi has invited Tomegorô because he owes Tomegorô's father a great deal in his youth and also because it is just the time of Gion Festival in Kyôto. Tomegorô falls in love with Osono (Kataoka Sennosuke), the sister of Jirôhachi's wife Otsugi (also played by Nakamura Ganjirô), at first sight. Otsugi asks him to spy on Jirôhachi whether he is in love with another woman or not. Since this spring, Jirôhachi often came home late at night. As Otsugi suspects, Jirôhachi is head over heels in love with Someka (also played by Matsumoto Kôshirô), a geisha in Gion, but Someka has a patron and dislikes Jirôhachi. In the mean while, Osono asks Tomegorô to take herself along to Edo; she is in love with Bunshichi (Bandô Minosuke), a clerk of Ôtsuya, but Otsugi doesn't know their relation and recommends her to marry the son of Mochimaruya. She asks Tomegorô to help her elope with Bunshichi. In exchange for telling Otsugi the name of a woman who Jirôhachi loves,Tomegorô asks her to approve the marriage between Osono and Bunshichi. Hearing this, Jirôhachi thinks that Tomegorô talked them in to humiliating him,and bears a grudge against Tomegorô and they quarrel with each other. They are reconciled at last to hear that Mochimaruya Tahê (Nakamura Karoku) has given up getting Osono as his son's bride and approved the marriage between Osono and Bunshichi.

Tsuri Onna: a dance based on a classical Kyôgen farce. A master (Nakamura Kashô) longs for a wife and is told by the gods in a dream to go fishing for one. He is united with a beautiful princess (Ichikawa Emiya). His servant Tarôkaja (Onoe Shôroku) wants a wife as well, but when he goes fishing, is stuck with a very surprising companion, played by Matsumoto Kôshirô in a rare, humorous, female role.

Yûgao no Maki: Hikaru Genji (Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku) cannot get accustomed to his lawful wife Lady Aoi and finds peace of mind with other women. One day, while visiting the concubine of the Emperor's elder brother who lives in Rokujô, he becomes attracted to a woman who lives quietly in a house, on the fence of which a moonflower is in bloom. On the night of the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when a beautiful moon appears, he at last calls on her, led there by his follower Koremitsu (Kataoka Ichizô). While he enjoys a moon-viewing party and dances with her, another suspicious woman (Kataoka Takatarô) thrusts herself between them and …. Featuring also Nakamura Kaishun.

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 Nakamura Shikan, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku and Nakamura Jakuemon as Dôgen, Matsuzô, the firefighter that defeats him, and Okane. Featuring also Ichikawa Sadanji, Ichimura Kakitsu and Nakamura Matsue.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Kanze Kiyokazu, Kanze Tetsunojô

Ichikawa Ebizô XI takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza in a 2-day special program. The first item is a Nô dance-drama performed by the Nô masters Kanze Kiyokazu (the 26th sôke of the Kanze School) and Kanze Tetsunojô IX. The second item is a hand-clapping ceremony to celebrate the shûmei of the new Danjûrô.

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 Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô and Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon as Yoshitsune and the barrier keeper Togashi.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Rakuzen, Nakamura Matagorô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Mantarô, Ichimura Takematsu, Ichimura Hikaru, Onoe Ushinosuke, Ichimura Kitsutarô

The October Grand Kabuki at the National Theatre with the tôshi kyôgen of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", chopped up into 3 programs, all of them starring Onoe Kikunosuke in the main roles. 3 hours and 20 minutes for Program A. 3 hours and 30 minutes for Program B. 2 hours and 40 minutes for Program C. Although Yoshitsune is the title character, the main characters of the play are actually Tomomori, Gonta and Tadanobu, the heroes of the different sections of the play.

Torii Mae: (In Front of the Fushimi Inari Shrine)
Yoshitsune (Nakamura Kinnosuke) is forced to flee from the troops sent by his brother Yoritomo. The trip will be hard and he decides that he must leave behind his lover Shizuka Gozen (Nakamura Yonekichi), 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 Kikunosuke) rescues Shizuka from Yoritomo's troops and Yoshitsune decides to leave her in his care.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura:
(Tokaiya Inn and Daimotsu Bay)
Yoshitsune (Nakamura Kinnosuke) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Onoe Kikunosuke), a general of the Heike clan that Yoshitsune helped to defeat. Tomomori was supposedly killed by Yoshitsune in the final battle of the war, but in this play, Tomomori is shown as surviving, living in disguise with the child emperor Antoku and his nursemaid (Nakamura Baishi). Tomomori uses the opportunity to try to get his revenge on Yoshitsune but is defeated again. Finally Tomomori holds a giant anchor and plunges into the sea.

Ko-no-Mi/Kokingo Uchijini: (The Chestnut Tree and the Death of Kokingo)
Wakaba-no-Naishi, the wife of the Heike commander Koremori, travels with her young son and their retainer Kokingo (Nakamura Mantarô), searching for her husband. While resting in a small mountain village, they are met by Gonta (Onoe Kikunosuke), a local bully who skillfully cons them out of their money. Later they are set upon by Genji forces, and in a spectacular fight scene, Kokingo sacrifices himself to save his mistress and her son.

Sushiya: (The Sushi Shop)
Gonta's father Yazaemon (Kawarasaki Gonjûrô) runs a sushi shop, but was formerly a retainer of Taira no Koremori. With his clan defeated, Koremori (Nakamura Baishi) now lives with Yazaemon's family disguised as a humble apprentice. Innocently, Yazaemon's daughter, Osato (Nakamura Yonekichi) is in love with him. But knowing of the bounty on Koremori's head, her brother Gonta kills him and turns his wife and child over to the Genji commander. Furious at his son, Yazaemon stabs him, but before his death, Gonta reveals that he only pretended to kill Koremori and sacrificed his own wife and son to save the real Koremori and his family.

Michiyuki Hatsune no Tabi: the matinee program closes witha musical travel scene. Hearing that Yoshitsune has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino, Tadanobu (Onoe Kikunosuke) and Shizuka (Nakamura Tokizô) go to try to meet him there. Although Tadanobu keeps disappearing, he always appears when Shizuka 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.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: Yoshitsune (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino at the mansion of an old ally. Tadanobu (Onoe Kikunosuke) arrives but has no recollection of Shizuka being placed under his care. Shizuka (Nakamura Tokizô) herself soon arrives with the other Tadanobu and after an investigation they discover that he is actually a fox (Onoe Kikunosuke). 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.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Kitamura Rokurô, Kawai Yukinojô

No classic October kaomise programs in Nagoya this year but a special Kabuki program starring Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

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 Misonoza, it is a stage speech delivered by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô.

Jusshukô: Princess Yaegaki is mourning the death of his fiance Katsuyori, but as she burns incense in his memory, she notices the resemblance between the new gardener and her fiance's portrait. The gardener is in fact Katsuyori, who has entered the household of Yaegaki's father to regain the possession of a stolen family treasure, a famous helmet, with the help of Nureginu, a woman who also mourns for the man that died in the place of the real Katsuyori. Unfortunately, Yaegaki's father has also seen through the disguise and plans to kill Katsuyori. The role of Princess Yaegaki, one of the most important onnagata roles, is played by Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, supported by Nakamura Hashinosuke, Kawai Yukinojô and Kitamura Rokurô in the roles of Katsuyori, Nureginu and Nagao Kenshin.

Kitsunebi: magical foxes possess Princess Yaegaki (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) to help her stealing a precious helmet, the treasure of the Shingen clan, and to allow her to save the life of her beloved Katsuyori.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Imai Tsubasa

A special program at the Shôchikuza starring Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô and Imai Tsubasa. The newly-created kaidanmono drama, which is entitled "Toki o Koe Rinne no Furuido", is a mix of "Sarayashiki" and the world of Sadako, the ghost in Suzuki Kôji's J-horror series "Ring".

Toki o Koe Rinne no Furuido:
(Transmigration over the Times through the Old Well)
The brand new kabuki play named J Horâ Kabuki (J-horror Kabuki) is performed for the first time in Kabuki history at the Shôchikuza in Ôsaka. Sadako, a revengeful spirit in the "Ring" series and known worldwide, will make her appearance on a Kabuki stage. The story of Sadako ("Ring") and the Kabuki drama "Sarayashiki" go beyond time and space by way of an old well. The story is first set in the latter half of the Muromachi period. The Ashikaga Shogunate no longer functions effectively as the central government and the country is in turmoil. It is divided between the daimyo of two powerful provincial military clans that are now at war: the Hosokawa clan led by Hosokawa Tomoenosuke (Kataoka Ainosuke) and the Yamana clan led by Yamana Sôzen (Ichikawa Omezô). Taking advantage of this, Asayama Tessan (Kataoka Ainosuke), the chief retainer of the Hosokawa clan, has the ambition to rule over the whole country. He kills the loyal retainer Funase Sanpei (Nakamura Kangyoku, who celebrates his shûmei in Ôsaka!) and Sanpei’s fiancée Okiku (Nakamura Kazutarô) who stand in his way and throws them into a well, but he himself is also dragged into the well by a mysterious power. 500 years pass, and now, in modern times, young people are dying from mysterious causes near the same old well. What is common to all the victims is that they watched the same old videotape. Informed of this case, the Shintô priest Muroto Mitsuru (Imai Tsubasa) begins to investigate, but ….

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Nakamura Shidô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Kantarô, Nakamura Chôzaburô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Sawamura Kuniya, Ogawa Haruki, Arakawa Yoshiyoshi

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).

Sumôba: "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. In order to help his master Yamazakiya Yogorô (Bandô Shingo) buy out the contract of the beautiful Azuma (Nakamura Shichinosuke), 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 Nakamura Kankurô as Chôgorô and Nakamura Toranosuke as Chôkichi.

Banzui Chôbê: in the early Edo period, gallant men like Banzuiin Chôbê led the commoners. But this incurred the wrath of members of the samurai class, who were theoretically in control. This play begins with a recreation of Kabuki in its earliest days, then a fight breaks out which is settled by Chôbê (Nakamura Shidô). But this frustrates the ambitions of the samurai Mizuno (Nakamura Kankurô) who invites Chôbê to visit. All of Chôbê's men tell him not to go because it is a trap, but Chôbê decides to meet his end and bids farewell to his wife (Nakamura Shichinosuke) and son. Finally, Chôbê is killed when he is defenseless in the bath. Featuring also Nakamura Senjaku and Kataoka Kamezô.

Aya no Tsuzumi: This is a dance drama by the novelist Ariyoshi Sawako (1931~1984) which will be performed for the first time in 35 years. It dramatically portrays the relationship between Saburôji (Nakamura Toranosuke) and the woman he loves, Hanahime (Nakamura Tsurumatsu) who merely toys with him, as well as that between Saburôji and Akishino (Nakamura Senjaku) who watches over him.

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, Nakamura Shidô, Bandô Yajûrô, Kataoka Kamezô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Tsurumatsu and Nakamura Toranosuke.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Ebizô

This event at the 4th floor of the famous Tôkyô Skytree in the Sumida Ward is staged to celebrate the coming shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and the hatsubutai of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII. The 1st item in the program, Sukaitsurî Tentô-shiki, is a lighting ceremony (tentô-shiki) at Skytree (sukaitsurî). The 2nd item, Ensô / Tokubetsu Eizô Jôei, is a special video screening (tokubetsu eizô jôei) with music (ensô). The 3rd item is a sanbasô dance performed by Ichikawa Ebizô. It is an auspicious dance based on the ritual Nô play "Okina", which shows the sanbasô as a symbol of fertility and prosperity.

Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Horikoshi Kangen, Ichikawa Botan

Outdoors Kabuki performance in the precincts of the famous Naritasan shinshôji Temple which is located in the city of Narita. This program is staged to celebrate the coming shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and the hatsubutai of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.

Nakakuni: This is a play selected as one of the Shin Kabuki Jûhachiban ('The New Eighteen Favorite Kabuki Plays of the Ichikawa Danjûrô Family'). It was revived with a new composition by Ichikawa Ebizô in January 2020 at the Shinbashi Enbujô. Though Lady Kogô (Nakamura Kotarô) is loved by Emperor Takakura, she fears the Empress' father Taira no Kiyomori and goes undercover. While she is absent, a period of turmoil ensues caused by famine and epidemic in the capital. Ordered to protect her by the Emperor, Minamoto no Nakakuni (Ichikawa Ebizô) sets out for Ôhara with the spirits of insects and butterflies in order to pray for an abundant harvest and peace throughout the Empire. Lady Kogô awaits him there.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website