4 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Asakusa Kôkaidô), 1 in Nagoya (Misonoza), 1 in Tachikawa (Tachikawa Stage Garden) and 2 tours (Kinshû Special Tour, Succession Announcement Tour)!

Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Matagorô and Ichikawa Komazô perform at the Kabukiza !

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Yonekichi perform at the National Theatre !

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon and Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô perform at the Misonoza !

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

Ichikawa Danjûrô and Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku are on Succession Announcement Tour!

The Omodakaya guild and Nakamura Kazutarô at the Tachikawa Stage Garden !

Nakamura Kaishun, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Shôroku, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Shidô, Kataoka Kamezô, Bandô Minosuke, Bandô Yajûrô, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Komazô, Nakamura Kikaku, Bandô Kamezô, Matsumoto Kingo, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Matsue, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Ôtani Hirotarô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke, Nakamura Toranosuke, Nakamura Tamatarô, Ichikawa Otora, Ichimura Hikaru, Terajima Shinobu

The October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza.

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 (Nakamura Matagorô) who reveals to Tokubê (Onoe Shôroku) 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 Kabukiza for a play that is guaranteed to be an enjoyable treat. Featuring Ichikawa Komazô, Bandô Minosuke and Bandô Kamezô.

Bunshichi Mottoi: Adapted from a classical rakugo story by San'yûtei Enchô, this play shows the gallant spirit of the commoners of Edo. This version is directed by the veteran movie director Yamada Yôji! Chôbê spends his days and nights gambling, but is finally made aware of his family's problems when his daughter takes a job in the pleasure quarters. Having received the money for her contract, he shows his good side to save a young man on the edge of suicide after losing a large sum of money, but nobody believes Chôbê, thinking that he has gambled the money away. The performance stars Nakamura Shidô, Terajima Shinobu and Bandô Shingo in the roles of Chôbê, Chôbê's wife Okane and Bunshichi. Featuring also Bandô Yajûrô and Kataoka Takatarô.

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 Minosuke) buy out the contract of the beautiful Azuma (Nakamura Tanenosuke), 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 Bandô Minosuke as Chôkichi.

Kiku: this Nagauta-based dance symbolizes a woman's life through the spirit of chrysanthemum (kiku). It starts first as a kamuro, second as a machi musume, then as a goshuden and finally a mura musume. From girl to adult woman through musume. After the autumn festival and the strong storms, the white chrysanthemum does not wither, just like the life of a woman. Featuring Nakamura Jakuemon and Nakamura Kinnosuke in the roles of the spirits of chrysanthemum.

Mito Kômon: Mito Mitsukuni (Bandô Yajûrô), commonly known as Mito Kômon, the former Middle Councillor and the retired lord of Mito Domain, is traveling incognito around Japan. He is now in Sanuki, and is accompanied by his attendants Sasaki Sukesaburô (Nakamura Fukunosuke) and Atsumi Kakunoshin (Nakamura Utanosuke). Kakunoshin loses sight of Kômon and encounters the beautiful girl Ochô (Nakamura Toranosuke). Thanks to Sukesaburô's help, Ochô turns out to be a man, who picks Kakunoshin's pocket of a wallet. Mito Kômon is at an udon noodle shop pretending to be an old farmer, when he hears people of people complaining about the lord Matsudaira Yoritsune (Nakamura Kashô) who is in fact his eldest son. Will Kômon and his party be able to remove the root of the evil which thrives in the domain, while various people including the kind girl Osode (Bandô Shingo) whom he met in the noodle shop get involved?

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Tokizô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Karoku, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Mantarô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô

There will be a 2nd generation National Theatre in a near future! From November 2022 to October 2023, Sayonara Kôen ('Farewell Performances') were staged in the existing theater. Then, the 1st generation National Theatre, which opened in November 1966, will be closed and rebuilt. These farewell performances have been precisely 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'). In November 1966 [more details] and December 1966 [more details], the opening of the theater was celebrated with a tôshi kyôgen production of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". In September 2023 and October 2023, the closing is celebrated with ... a tôshi kyôgen production of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". Second part of the tôshi kyôgen production of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" with a troupe led by Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô.

Intro: The original National Theatre will close at the end of October. As part of the National Theatre Special Farewell Performances Upon the Reconstruction Project –Towards a New Adventure– series, the final Kabuki performance in October at the original Theatre will feature "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", one of the greatest masterpieces of gidayû kyôgen, in the two-month full-length play that started in September. It is being performed in this way at this theatre for the first time since 1996 and will place the crown on the original National Theatre. This piece premiered in 1771 at Ôsaka Takemotoza as a ningyô jôruri piece. Adapted into Kabuki that same year, it has been performed repeatedly through the ages and has become a popular program. Both imaginary and real characters are actively involved in the story themed on the historical account of the assassination of Soga no Iruka by Fujiwara no Kamatari, also incorporating other various legends. The National Theatre has presented this piece with various compositions, creating famous stage scenes over the years. In the Part 2 performance in October, the story leading up to the assassination of Iruka unfolds dramatically and involves a wide variety of characters. Eventually, the tale comes to its conclusion through the unexpected sacrifice of a character in the throes of unrequited love..

Michiyuki Koi no Odamaki:
(The Spool of Love)
Motome (Nakamura Baishi), the son of an important aristocrat opposed to the rule of the dictator Soga no Iruka is secretly planning to kill him. Having disguised himself as a commoner, he has had nightly trysts with a mysterious woman, an elegant princess (Nakamura Yonekichi). In this dance, he has attached a string to her kimono to follow her and discover her identity. But Motome is followed as well by Omiwa (Onoe Kikunosuke), the beautiful daughter of a humble sake shop owner who has fallen in love with him during his time living undercover as a humble maker of court caps.

Mikasayama Goten:
(The Mikasayama Palace Scene)
Fisherman Fukashichi (Nakamura Shikan), the messenger of Fujiwara no Kamatari, arrives at Iruka’s mansion with a letter from Kamatari. Not being upset by the threat from Iruka (Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku), who tries to sound out Kamatari’s views, Fukashichi becomes a hostage but in a fearless manner. Having returned to the palace, Princess Tachibana realizes that Motome, who followed her, is actually Kamatari’s son Tankai, who secretly aims to assassinate Iruka. She pledges her intent to marry him. Omiwa, who has come there following them, is teased mercilessly by the court ladies, and finally loses her temper among the lively voices celebrating the marriage between Motome and Princess Tachibana. Fukashichi then appears and suddenly stabs Omiwa in the stomach, turning the sword around as he does it. Fukashichi is actually Kamatari’s servant Kanawa Gorô Imakuni. Kamatari has known Iruka’s weak point in that he loses consciousness when he sees the lifeblood of a jealous woman and the blood of black-hoofed sacred deer. Thus, he has worked out a plot to kill Iruka in order to take back the precious sword stolen from the Imperial court. Knowing that her blood mad with jealousy will contribute to the cause of her loved one, Omiwa dies content.

Iruka Chûbatsu: Iruka is anguished by the sound of the flute that is stained with the blood of Omiwa and the deer. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the army under the command of Kamatari (Living National Treasure Onoe Kikugorô) brings Iruka to bay and regains the treasured sword thus restoring peace in the land.

Source: National Theatre

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô, Nakamura Hayato, Kamimura Kichiya, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Kamenojô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Kataoka Sennosuke

No classic October kaomise programs in Nagoya this year but a special Kabuki program starring the goruden konbi Living National Treasures Bandô Tamasaburô and Kataoka Nizaemon.

Yotsuya Kaidan: Tamiya Iemon, a villainous masterless samurai (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) is in love with Oiwa (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) and even kills her father Yotsuya Samon to be united with her, cynically promising to help her to avenge her father's death. But at the same time, the granddaughter of a wealthy doctor falls in love with him and her grandfather tries to ensure the match by sending a horrible disfiguring poison to Oiwa. In the most famous scene of the play, face destroyed, hair falling out, Oiwa carefully dresses and puts on make-up to pay a proper visit to those who have wronged her. Iemon kills Oiwa and his servant Kobotoke Kohei (Nakamura Hayato), has their bodies nailed to a door and thrown into the river. Iemon is happily married into the wealthy family, but no sooner does the beautiful young bride arrive than Oiwa's ghost causes Iemon to kill her. Featuring Kataoka Sennosuke and Kamimura Kichiya in the roles of Oume and the goke Oyumi.

Kanda Matsuri:
(The Kanda Festival)
The gallant commoners of Edo's neighborhoods loved nothing better than a festival, and this performance is a dance based on one of the biggest festivals in Edo (Kanda Matsuri). In this dance, a gallant fireman (Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon) and a geisha (Living National Treasure Bandô Tamasaburô) appear on stage and display their 'Edo-style' spirit. In the end, a young man comes out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Nakamura Kotarô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Kangyoku

A special tour celebrating the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII with performances in 20 cities.

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 actors of the cast assemble to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII.

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

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This Autumn tour in 14 cities stars Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke. The first item in the program, entitled Tôku Kônâ (literally 'Talk Corner') is a speech/presentation on stage about some aspects of Kabuki.

Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Nakamura Takanosuke, Ichikawa Juen, Ichikawa Seiko, Ichikawa Danko

A special version of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" focusing on Tadanobu is staged in Tachikawa at the Tachikawa Stage Garden under the supervision of Ichikawa En'ô to celebrate the coming 100th anniversary of the creation of the Tachihi Group.

Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kotarô, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Kudanji, Watanabe Aiko

8th edition of the Shô no Kai, a 1-day 2-performance gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. Nakamura Takanosuke's sister Watanabe Aiko also performs in this gala. It will commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Tomijûrô V.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website