2 shows in Nagoya (Misonoza), 4 in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, Asakusa Kôkaidô), 1 in Fukuoka (Hakataza), 1 in Kyôto (Minamiza), 1 in Toyooka (Eirakukan), 1 in Tachikawa (Tachikawa Stage Garden) and 2 tours (Kinshû Special Tour, Shôchiku Grand Kabuki)!

Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô & Nakamura Mantarô perform at the Misonoza !

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Danko & Nakamura Matagorô perform at the Kabukiza !

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô & Ichikawa Kudanji performs at the Hakataza & at the Minamiza!

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

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô and Bandô Hikosaburô perform at the Eirakukan!

Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Danko & Ichikawa Chûsha at the Tachikawa Stage Garden !

Onoe Kikugorô, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Jakuemon, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Mantarô, Kataoka Kamezô, Kamimura Kichiya, Ichimura Manjirô, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Nakamura Takanosuke

51st edition of the classic October kaomise programs in Nagoya! The previous edition was in ... October 2019! Onoe Kikugorô VIII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI celebrate their shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza.

Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Baigyoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Shikan, Nakamura Manju, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Ukon, Bandô Minosuke, Nakamura Hayato, Ichikawa Danko, Nakamura Matagorô, Ichikawa Monnosuke, Bandô Kamezô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Juen, Nakamura Matsue, Nakamura Yonekichi, Bandô Shingo, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Hashinosuke, Onoe Sakon, Ichikawa Seiko, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Ichimura Kitsutarô, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Nakamura Baika, Nakamura Kamenojô, Nakamura Tanetarô, Nakamura Hidenosuke, Nakamura Haruki, Nakamura Natsuki, Ichikawa Ukon, Morita Oto

The Autumn Brocade October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza, which features a full-length performance of one of the great classics of Kabuki, "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees). This is an epic story about the famous 12th century general Minamoto no Yoshitsune fleeing from the wrath of his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo, after the end of the war. 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. This month is also the omemie of Morita Oto, the son of Bandô Minosuke! There 2 different castings with 2 programs entitled A & B. Below, we've listed actors with a (Prog A/Prog B) format. If there is only one name, it means that the same actor performs the role in both programs.

Torii Mae: (In Front of the Fushimi Inari Shrine)
Yoshitsune (Bandô Minosuke/Nakamura Kashô) 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 (Ichikawa Emiya/Onoe Sakon), 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 (Ichikawa Danko/Onoe Ukon) rescues Shizuka from Yoritomo's troops and Yoshitsune decides to leave her in his care. Featuring also Nakamura Hashinosuke in the role of Musashibô Benkei.

Tokaiya/Daimotsu no Ura:
(Tokaiya Inn and Daimotsu Bay)
Yoshitsune (Nakamura Hayato/Nakamura Kashô) books passage on a boat to Kyûshû, but the captain is actually Taira no Tomomori (Bandô Minosuke), 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 (Kataoka Takatarô). 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 (Nakamura Kaishun/Ichikawa Monnosuke), the wife of the Heike commander Koremori, travels with her young son and their retainer Kokingo (Bandô Shingo/Onoe Sakon), searching for her husband. While resting in a small mountain village, they are met by Gonta (Onoe Shôroku/Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon), 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 (Ichimura Kitsutarô/Living National Treasure Nakamura Karoku) runs a sushi shop, but was formerly a retainer of Taira no Koremori. With his clan defeated, Koremori (Nakamura Manju) now lives with Yazaemon's family disguised as a humble apprentice. Innocently, Yazaemon's daughter, Osato (Onoe Sakon/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 3rs program starts with a musical travel scene. Hearing that Yoshitsune has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino, Tadanobu (Ichikawa Danko/Onoe Ukon) and Shizuka (Bandô Shingo/Nakamura Yonekichi) 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 Nakamura Baigyoku) has taken refuge in the mountains of Yoshino at the mansion of an old ally. Tadanobu (Ichikawa Danko/Onoe Ukon) arrives but has no recollection of Shizuka being placed under his care. Shizuka (Bandô Shingo/Nakamura Yonekichi) herself soon arrives with the other Tadanobu and after an investigation they discover that he is actually a fox (Ichikawa Danko/Onoe Ukon). 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

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Toranosuke, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Bandô Shinsha, Ichikawa Masusaburô

A special program starring Ichikawa Danjûrô in Fukuoka at the Hakataza.

Ichikawa Danjûrô, Ichikawa Udanji, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Nakamura Toranosuke, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Bandô Shinsha, Ichikawa Masusaburô

A special program starring Ichikawa Danjûrô in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

Nakamura Kankurô, Nakamura Shichinosuke, Nakamura Tsurumatsu, Nakamura Ichô, Sawamura Kunihisa, Nakamura Nakasuke, Nakamura Nakashirô, Nakamura Nakaya

The word kinshû means "Autumn Brocade". This Autumn tour in 5 cities stars Nakamura Kankurô and Nakamura Shichinosuke.

Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Tanetarô, Nakamura Hidenosuke

The Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Fall Tour in 18 cities.

Dorobô to Wakatono:
(The Thief and the Samurai Lord)
This is a new play that is a dramatization of a story by popular historical novelist Yamamoto Shûgorô which depicts the heartwarming bond between an ill-fated young lord and a good-natured thief. Matsudaira Narinobu (Nakamura Tanenosuke), the second son of lord Matsudaira Ôinokami, is confined in a dilapidated house due to a conspiracy hatched by the evil chief retainer. The thief Denkurô (Nakamura Kashô) breaks into the house but finds nothing to steal. Feeling pity for Narinobu who has not enough to eat, he takes care of him. After that, the extraordinary coexistence of Denkurô and Narinobu begins... This is a heart-warming piece depicting the bond between the charming and sympathetic thief, and the pessimistic and ill-fated young lord. Featuring also Nakamura Matagorô.

Omatsuri: Nakamura Matagorô as a gallant fireman boss at a festival telling a rueful tale of failure in love and showing the vigorous work songs of firefighters.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutarô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Nakamura Fukunosuke, Nakamura Utanosuke

15th Kabuki program at the Eirakukan, a renovated traditional theater built in the city of Toyooka (prefecture of Hyôgo).

Nakamura Kazutarô, Ichikawa Danko, Ichikawa Chûsha, Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Emisaburô, Ichikawa Emiya, Ichikawa En'ya, Ichikawa Seiko, Fujima Michinori

A special Kabuki program staged in Tachikawa at the Tachikawa Stage Garden to celebrate the coming 100th anniversary of the creation of the Tachihi Group. Fujima Michinori III is the son of the dance master Fujima Kanjûrô VIII.

Nakamura Takanosuke, Nakamura Kankurô

10th edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. The guest star is Nakamura Kankurô.