5 shows in Tôkyô (Kabukiza, National Theatre, NHK Hall), 1 show in Kyôto (Minamiza), 1 in Nagoya (NTK Hall), 1 in Ôsaka (National Bunraku Theatre), 1 in Musashino (Musashino Shimin Kaikan) and 1 tour (Western Provinces)!

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku and Nakamura Matagorô perform at the Kabukiza !

Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke and Ichikawa Chûsha perform at the Minamiza!

Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku and Onoe Matsuya are on tour in the Western Provinces !

Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon, Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon, Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô, Matsumoto Kôshirô, Nakamura Jakuemon, Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Baigyoku, Nakamura Kaishun, Kataoka Takatarô, Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Onoe Shôroku, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Kotarô, Nakamura Baishi, Bandô Kamezô, Matsumoto Kingo, Nakamura Matsue, Sawamura Sônosuke, Nakamura Yonekichi, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Mantarô, Ôtani Hirotarô, Ôtani Hiromatsu, Nakamura Takanosuke, Kataoka Sennosuke, Onoe Ushinosuke, Kataoka Matsunosuke, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Kichinojô, Ogawa Sôma

The 12th edition in Tôkyô of a special program called "Shûzan Matsuri" (the festival of Shûzan) is staged at the Kabukiza to commemorate the great actor Nakamura Kichiemon I, whose's haimyô was Shûzan. "Numazu" and "Matsuura no Taiko" are staged to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing away of Nakamura Karoku III (who died the 17th of May 1919). There is also the omemie of Nakamura Kashô's son Ogawa Sôma.

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 (Matsumoto Kôshirô). But this frustrates the ambitions of the samurai Mizuno (Onoe Shôroku) 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 Jakuemon) and son. Finally, Chôbê is killed when he is defenseless in the bath.

Omatsuri: 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. In this dance, a gallant fireman (Nakamura Baigyoku) and a geisha (Nakamura Kaishun) appear on stage and show their Edo-style spirit. In the end, a young man comes out and a beautiful fighting scene unfolds on stage.

Numazu: a dramatization of one of the most famous historical vendattas of the Edo period. "Numazu" is one act that tells of the sacrifices of those not directly involved in the vendetta itself but members of the same family who are indebted to the two opposing sides. The kimono merchant Jûbê (Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon) meets a porter Heisaku (Nakamura Karoku) as he travels west on business. They find that not only are they long-separated father and son, but that they also lie on opposite sides of the vendetta. Their loyalties prevent them from openly acknowledging their relationship. Heisaku sacrifices his life to get information from his son essential to his side's cause. Starring Nakamura Jakuemon in the role of Heisaku's daughter Oyone. Featuring also Nakamura Kashô, his brother Nakamura Tanenosuke and his son Ogawa Sôma in the role of a traveler, the traveler's wife and the traveler's son.

Terakoya: Genzô and his wife Tonami run a small school and are protecting Kan Shôjô's son and heir, saying that he is their son. However, word has gotten out Kan Shôjô's son is there and Genzô has been ordered to behead him. Moreover, Matsuômaru is to come to inspect the head. Their only alternative is to kill one of the other students as a substitute, but all of the students are farmer's children who could never pass for the son of a court aristocrat. However, a new boy arrives that day and Genzô makes the terrible decision to kill him in the place of his lord. As it turns out, Matsuômaru has sent his own son to be sacrificed, because of his family's long loyalty to Kan Shôjô. But he must face the most terrible situation for a father, inspecting the head of his own son and lying when he says that it is the genuine head of the son of Kan Shôjô. Finally Matsuômaru reveals his true feelings to Genzô and he and his wife Chiyo mourn their dead son. Starring Living National Treasure Nakamura Kichiemon as Matsuômaru, Matsumoto Kôshirô as Genzô, Onoe Kikunosuke as Chiyo and Nakamura Kotarô as Tonami. Featuring also Nakamura Matagorô and Nakamura Fukusuke as Shundô Genba and Sonoo-no-Mae.

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 Living National Treasure Kataoka Nizaemon (odd-numbered days) and Matsumoto Kôshirô (even-numbered days) in the role of Benkei. Starring Matsumoto Kôshirô (odd-numbered days) and Nakamura Kinnosuke (even-numbered days) as the barrier keeper Togashi. Featuring also Kataoka Takatarô in the role of Yoshitsune.

Matsuura no Taiko: Lord Matsuura (Nakamura Karoku) lives next door to the enemy of the loyal retainers and is disgusted because they do not seem to be interested in avenging the death of the lord. He is especially upset because he studied with the same fighting teacher as Kuranosuke, the senior retainer who should be leading the vendetta. Moreover, he learns from the haiku teacher Takarai Kikaku (Living National Treasure Nakamura Tôzô) that his student Ôtaka Gengo (Nakamura Matagorô) who should be part of the vendetta left a poem suggesting that he was forgetting his former lord and going to take service with another samurai lord. Gengo's sister Onui (Nakamura Yonekichi) serves Lord Matsuura and in disgust he is about to dismiss her, when there is a disturbance from next door. The attack has begun, and in joy, Lord Matsuura counts out the strokes of the drum, struck in a pattern that is only known by students of his fighting teacher.

Sources: Earphone Guide Website or Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Nakamura Shichinosuke, Kataoka Ainosuke, Ichikawa Chûsha, Nakamura Kazutarô, Kataoka Kamezô, Ichimura Manjirô, Nakamura Kamenojô

Tôshi kyôgen production of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Yotsuya Kaidan" in Kyôto at the Minamiza!

Yotsuya Kaidan: Tamiya Iemon, a villainous masterless samurai (Kataoka Ainosuke) is in love with Oiwa (Nakamura Shichinosuke) 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 Shichinosuke), 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. The vengeful ghosts do not rest until all of their enemies are dead and, in another famous scene, Oiwa and Kohei appear floating on the river, calling out to Iemon. The concluding scene shows the ghost of Oiwa appearing mysteriously from inside a paper lantern and pulling her enemies into the wall and disappearing magically. Featuring Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Shichinosuke and Ichikawa Chûsha in the roles of Oiwa's sister Osode, Satô Yomoshichi and Naosuke Gonbê.

Source: Earphone Guide website

Nakamura Ganjirô, Nakamura Senjaku, Onoe Matsuya, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Komazô, Kamimura Kichiya, Nakamura Jûjirô, Nakamura Toranosuke, Kamimura Kichitarô

The usual September Grand Kabuki Tour in the western provinces.

Fûin Giri:
(Breaking the Seals)
In the pleasure quarters, the most important possessions were money and reputation. In danger of losing his lover, the courtesan Umegawa, the money courier Kameya Chûbê breaks the seals on a package of money entrusted to him after being taunted by a rival, even though the use of such money is punishable by death. Starring Nakamura Ganjirô as Chûbê, Ichikawa Komazô as Umegawa, Onoe Matsuya as Chûbê's treacherous friend Tanbaya Hachiemon and Kamimura Kichiya as Oen, the proprietress of the teahouse.

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 child, second as a blind masseur and third as a courtesan. After revealing its true nature the spider spins trying to trap the warrior in its web. Starring Nakamura Senjaku. Featuring also Onoe Matsuya in the role of Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

Sources: Shôchiku Kabuki Official Website

Onoe Ukon, Ichikawa Danzô, Bandô Hikosaburô, Kataoka Ichizô, Ichikawa Kudanji, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Nakamura Umemaru, Bandô Kamesaburô

5th edition of the Ken no Kai, which stars Onoe Kikugorô VI's great-grandson Onoe Ukon. Ken no Kai literally means 'Ken's Association' with Ken being the first ideogram in Onoe Ukon's real first name Kensuke.

6th edition of the Shô no Kai, a gala program which stars Nakamura Tomijûrô V's son Nakamura Takanosuke. This year, it celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of Nakamura Tomijûrô I. The dance master Fujima Kanjûrô VIII and Nakamura Takanosuke's sister Watanabe Aiko also perform.

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

Revival in Nagoya at the NTK Hall of Mayama Seika's drama "Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi" based on the story of the thief Nakamura Jirokichi, commonly called Nezumi Kozô.

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

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

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

Revival in Musashino at the Musashino Shimin Kaikan (Musashino Civic Hall) of Mayama Seika's drama "Nezumi Kozô Jirokichi" based on the story of the thief Nakamura Jirokichi, commonly called Nezumi Kozô.

Onoe Kikunosuke, Nakamura Tokizô, Nakamura Baishi, Nakamura Mantarô, Onoe Kikuichirô

46th edition of Koten Geinô Kanshô Kai (literally the "Classics Entertainment Appreciation Association"), a yearly performance produced by the National TV network NHK. The program includes traditional music, one kyôgen and one Kabuki drama.

Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata: the epic "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees" ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura") features many characters around the famous general Yoshitsune, but none more memorable than a magic fox that takes the guise of Tadanobu, one of Yoshitsune's most trusted retainers. The fox wants to get close to a precious drum that Yoshitsune has made from the skins of his fox parents. In this excerpt from the longer play, the fox reveals his true identity with a series of spectacular stage tricks and Yoshitsune is moved to grant him the drum. Starring Onoe Kikunosuke as the fox Tadanobu. Also featuring Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Tokizô as Shizuka Gozen and Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

Source: Earphone Guide website