2004 was a busy and fruitful year for kabuki21.com. We completed the translation in English of all the pages. 300 actors pages and 103 summaries are from now on available. I would like to thank very much all the people who helped me building this site: Paul Binnie, Jeff Blair, Cha, Rolf M. Degener, Kayako Doi, Yuriko Fujiki, David "Bassman" Gardahaut, Horst Graebner, Paul Griffith, Richard Illing, James King, Curtis Knapp, Theo de Kreijger, Katarzyna Paczuska, Guy Pepermans, David Reinke, Hiroko Sonoyama, Jerry "V" Vegder, Jean Wilson, Yoshiko Yamashita and Akiko Yamauchi.

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

PROGRAMS: February 2005 (Kabukiza, Hakataza, Kabuki Forum Tour) and March 2005 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Minamiza, Shinbashi Enbujô).

OTHERS: opening of the Characters section.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Fujikawa Buzaemon I, Kaneko Kichizaemon, Kawarasaki Gonnosuke I, Miyazaki Denkichi, Morita Kan'ya I, Nakamura Kazuma II, Osagawa Jûemon, Sadoshima Chôgorô I, Sodesaki Karyû, Takeshima Kôzaemon I, Ukon Genzaemon and Yamashita Kyôemon I.

PLAYS: "Oguri Hangan", "Sagi Musume", "Sandanme", "Yodanme", "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" and "Yoshiwara Suzume".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES: Aragoto Sweatshirt.

ACTORS LINES: Kawarasaki Chôjûrô, Kawarasaki Gonnosuke and Ôtani Hiroemon.

OTHERS: Akô, akô rôshi, Banshû, ebizori, Harima and oguri-hanganmono are added to the glossary; the translation of all actors lines pages is completed; 5 new links; the bibliography page is reworked (new format and 1 new reference); the translation of all plays & dances pages is completed!

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Asao Jûjirô I, Ikushima Shingorô, Mizuki Tatsunosuke I, Sakata Tôjûrô I, Uemura Kichiya I and Yamanaka Heikurô I.

PLAYS: "Daijo", "Fuji Musume", "Ishikiri Kajiwara", "Migawari Zazen", "Narukami" and "Onatsu Kyôran".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES: Kabuki & Leather.

ACTORS LINES: Kataoka Nizaemon and Onoe Shôroku.

OTHERS: the Ejima-Ikushima affair; chirashi, emen no mie, nagabakama, teodori and yari odori are added to the glossary; 3 new links; the translation of all actors pages is completed!

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Koroku IV, Azuma Tôzô III, Ichikawa Ebijûrô I, Jitsukawa Yaozô I, Kataoka Ichizô I, Mimasu Daigorô I, Nakamura Karoku I, Ogino Senjo, Osagawa Tsuneyo II, Segawa Senjo and Seki Sanjûrô III.

PLAYS: "Akoya", "Botan Dôrô", "Moritsuna Jin'ya", "Musume Nanakusa", "Nozaki-mura", "Ochiudo" and "Tengajaya".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

PROGRAMS: January 2005 (Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô, National Theatre, Minamiza, Shôchikuza, Asakusa Kôkaidô).

DERIVATIVES: Kabuki Paintings (Part 4).

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Kuzô and Ichikawa Omezô.

OTHERS: 2 photographes of Nakamura Fukusuke (courtesy of Curtis Knapp); akattsura, atariyaku, Ansei, chonmage, Kaei, Kôka, mawari-butai, mottoi, ningyôburi and osome-hisamatsumono are added to the glossary; the page on Hakone is revised; 2 new links.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichimura Uzaemon X, Ichimura Uzaemon XI, Kataoka Nizaemon X, Kataoka Nizaemon XI, Kataoka Nizaemon XII, Morita Kan'ya XII, Morita Kan'ya XIII, Morita Kan'ya XIV, Nakamura Nakazô I, Nakamura Nakazô II and Nakamura Nakazô III.

PLAYS: "Bunshichi Mottoi", "Ibaraki", "Kamakura Sandaiki", "Kokaji", "Modoribashi" and "Renjishi".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

PROGRAMS: November 2004 (Shôchikuza) and December 2004 (Minamiza, Kabukiza, National Theatre).

DERIVATIVES: the Ebizô Teapot and Kabuki Paintings (Part 3).

ACTORS LINES: Nakamura Fukusuke, Nakamura Nakazô, Nakamura Shibajaku and Nakamura Utaemon.

OTHERS: En'ô Jûshu and Shichinin no Kai are added to the glossary; Kabuki Tour in Paris 2004 (France, not Texas); Kabuki tour in the USA 1985.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Sawamura Gennosuke IV, Sawamura Shirogorô II, Sawamura Shozan III, Sawamura Sônosuke I and Sawamura Tosshi VIII.

PLAYS: "Kagekiyo", "Tôyata Monogatari" and "Tsuri Onna".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

PROGRAMS: October 2004 (Yachiyoza).

DERIVATIVES: the Benkei Shopping Bag.

ACTORS LINES: Bandô Minosuke and Ôtani Oniji.

OTHERS: akuba and Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan are added to the glossary; The Jitsukawa Clan in English.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Gonjûrô, Ichikawa Jukai III, Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Ichikawa Sadanji II, Ichikawa Shôchô II, Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Sukegorô II, Nakamura Tsurusuke V, Nakamura Utaemon IV and Nakamura Utaemon V.

PLAYS: "Furisode Hajime", "Genta Kandô", "Mabuta no Haha", "Naniwa no Ashi", "Onna Shibaraku" and "Yotsuya Kaidan".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES: Kabuki Jacket.

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Komazô.

OTHERS: Paul Binnie's amazing prints are added to the Bandô Mitsugorô VIII, Ichikawa Danshirô and Nakamura Ganjirô pages; a new page dedicated to the Ôsaka Kabukiza; some details on the revivals of "Kenuki", "Narukami" and "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Furisode, ichibanme, Jiyû Gekijô, jizô, kikukichi, nibanme and toitagaeshi are added to the glossary; 1 new links; some details on the premiere of "Shuzenji Monogatari".

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Anegawa Shinshirô I, Arashi Yoshisaburô IV, Ichimura Takenojô V, Iwai Kumesaburô V, Jitsukawa Enjaku II, Nakayama Kiraku I, Onoe Tatsunosuke I, Segawa Rokô IV and Seki San'emon.

PLAYS: "Amiuchi", "Kamiyui Shinza", "Sakura Giminden", "Sasaki Takatsuna" and "Yudono no Chôbê".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES: Hello Kitty Dôjôji.

ACTORS LINES: Iwai Kumesaburô, Iwai Shijaku and Segawa Rokô.

OTHERS: an article on the end of the Nakaza; Paul Binnie's amazing prints are added to the Bandô Tamasaburô, Ichikawa Ennosuke and Nakamura Jakuemon pages; Ôoka-seidanmono, kamiyui, fûzoku buyô, hyakushô ikki, haritsuke, tako (!) and okonomiyaki (!!) are added to the glossary; the page on Nakamura Tokizô is reworked; a new case for the dark side of Kabuki; 3 new links.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX, Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Ichimura Uzaemon XVI, Morita Kan'ya IV, Morita Kan'ya VIII, Morita Kan'ya XI, Nakamura Kanzaburô I, Nakamura Kanzaburô XI and Nakamura Kanzaburô XIII.

PLAYS: "Izayoi Seishin", "Koman Gengobê", "Shibahama no Kawazaifu" and "Shunkan".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

PROGRAMS: September 2004 (the Kabuki Forum tour) and November 2004 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Hakataza, Shôchikuza, Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Tour).

DERIVATIVES: Murder at the Kabuki.

ACTORS LINES: Ichimura Kakitsu and Nakamura Denkurô.

OTHERS: Paul Binnie's amazing prints are added to the Ichikawa Danjûrô, Matsumoto Kôshirô and Nakamura Shikan pages; Shinpa is added to the glossary; 3 new links.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Rikan IV, Arashi Rikan V, Ichikawa Omezô I, Ichikawa Yaozô IX, Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Matsumoto Kôshirô VI, Nakamura Nakazô IV, Nakamura Tokizô IV and Nakamura Tomijûrô IV.

PLAYS: "Goten", "Kokingo Uchijini", "Ko-no-Mi", "Shigenoi Kowakare", "Take-no-Ma", "Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga" and "Yukashita".

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES: Benkei Plate.

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Yaozô.

OTHERS: an illustrated playbill for "Sushiya"; the pages on the Moritaza/Shintomiza and the Kadoza are in English (no more theater page in French); a new page dedicated to the Hongôza; more details on the premieres of "Banzui Chôbê Shôjin Manaita", "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji", "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (the premiere in Kyôto is also available), "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu" and "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; the links page is completely reworked; hikae yagura is added to the glossary.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Rikaku II, Arashi Rikaku IV, Sawamura Tanosuke II, Sawamura Tanosuke IV, Seki Sanjûrô II, Seki Sanjûrô IV, Suketakaya Takasuke II and Suketakaya Takasuke IV.

PLAYS: "Banchô Sarayashiki", "Fubuki Tôge", "Ga no Iwai", "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu", "Kioi Jishi", "Kurumabiki", "Ninin Wankyû", "Sanja Matsuri", "Sekisan Yakko", "Tachi Nusubito", "Tenpaizan", "Ya-no-Ne" and "Yasuna".

PROGRAMS: October 2004 (Kabukiza).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

DERIVATIVES (no update for almost one year!): Tenugui.

ACTORS LINES: Sawamura Shozan, Sawamura Tanosuke and Suketakaya Takasuke.

OTHERS: our first FAQ; the pages on the Minamiza, the Nakaza and the Yamamuraza are in English; new pages dedicated to the Tôkyôza and the Tôkyô Gekijô; The dark side of Kabuki; The Kabuki Tours Abroad; A fourth old postcard of the Kabukiza.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Danshirô II and Ichikawa En'ô I.

PLAYS: "Ippon Gatana Dohyô Iri", "Kamahige", "Kawashô", "Masakado" and "Yakko Dôjôji".

PROGRAMS: October 2004 (Shôchikuza, Mitsukoshi Gekijô, National Theatre).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: some details on the premiere of "Sumidagawa".

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Hinasuke VI, Arashi Tokusaburô VII, Ichikawa Ebizô VII, Ichikawa Sumizô VII, Iwai Hanshirô VII, Nakamura Kanzaburô VII and Sawamura Chôjûrô VII.

PLAYS: "Kumo no Hyôshimai" and "Benten Kozô".

PROGRAMS: September 2004 (Misonoza, Kabukiza, Western provinces tour).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: some details on the premieres of "Akegarasu", "Inazuma Zôshi" and "Utsubô Zaru"; the page on the Ôiso station is updated; the pages on the Ichimuraza, the Kabukiza, the Kawarasakiza and the Meijiza are translated in English.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Kichisaburô III, Ichikawa Danshirô III, Ichikawa Sadanji III, Ichikawa Sumizô III, Nakamura Daikichi III, Nakamura Kan'emon III, Nakamura Karoku III, Nakamura Tokizô III, Nakamura Tomijûrô III and Sakata Hangorô III.

PLAYS: "Osome no Michiyuki" and "Sanmon".

PROGRAMS: August 2004 (Kabukiza, Heisei Wakashû Kabuki, Shunjûza).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: some details on the Tôeikai.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Monnosuke VI, Iwai Hanshirô VI, Morita Kan'ya VI, Nakamura Denkurô VI, Nakamura Kanzaburô VI and Segawa Kikunojô VI.

PLAYS: "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

ACTORS LINES: Segawa Kikunojô.

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: some details on the Torikuma Shibai troupe.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Kodanji V, Ichikawa Monnosuke V, Ichikawa Shinnosuke V, Ichikawa Shinzô V and Ichikawa Sumizô V.

PLAYS: "Fûin Giri", "Horikawa" and "Shigure no Kotatsu".

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Monnosuke and Ichikawa Shinnosuke.

PROGRAMS: May 2004 (Nakamuraya Tour).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: we started to work on a PHP-based version of Kabuki21.com (just replace *.htm by *.php if you need to fix your links to our site); some important additions in the glossary: Tôkaidô, Nagauta, Gidayû, Modori, Ôzatsuma, Genpei-kassenmono and Giri/Ninjô; a new format for the actors pages (we keep the old format for contemporary actors or for the pages in French).

ACTORS: short biographies of the Meiji stars Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, Ichikawa Sadanji I, Jitsukawa Enjaku I, Nakamura Shikan IV, Onoe Kikugorô V and Sawamura Tanosuke III.

PLAYS: "Kinkakuji", "Kokusen'ya Gassen" and "Shibaraku".

ACTORS LINES: Bandô Shûka.

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: premieres of the dramas "Funa Benkei", "Ibaraki", "Modoribashi", "Momijigari", "Shima Chidori Tsuki no Shiranami" and "Tsuchi-gumo".

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Sangorô II, Arashi Sangorô III, Ichikawa Yaozô II, Ichikawa Yaozô IV, Iwai Hanshirô I, Iwai Hanshirô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô I, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Mimasu Daigorô III, Mimasu Daigorô IV, Ogino Izaburô I and Ogino Izaburô II.

PLAYS: "Ageya".

ACTORS LINES: Iwai Hanshirô and Nakamura Kanjaku.

PROGRAMS: April 2004 (Zenshinza tour) and July 2004 (Kabukiza, Shôchikuza, National Theatre, East and Centre tours).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: 57 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list, some data on the premiere of "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, Ichikawa Yaozô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô I, Nakamura Utaemon I, Nakayama Bunshichi I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Ogino Sawanojô, Ogino Yaegiri I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Onoe Taganojô I, Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Sanogawa Mangiku, Sawamura Kunitarô I, Sawamura Otoemon I, Yamatoya Jinbê II and Yamatoya Jinbê III.

PLAYS: "Okuni Gozen Keshô no Sugatami" and "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To".

PROGRAMS: May 2004 (Minamiza, NHK Hall) and June 2004 (Kabukiza, Hakataza, National Theatre, Kansai Tour).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: 14 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Ganshô, Arashi Kitsusaburô IV, Ichikawa Danzô I and Ichikawa Danzô III, Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I, Jitsukawa Gakujûrô II, Nakamura Fukusuke V, Nakamura Kanjaku III, Onoe Eizaburô VII and Onoe Fujaku III.

PLAYS: "Date no Jûyaku".

ACTORS LINES: Nakamura Kotarô and Onoe Eizaburô.

PROGRAMS: March 2004 (Komatsu), April 2004 (Kabukiza, Shinbashi Enbujô, Misonoza, Shôchikuza, Minamiza, Kanamaruza) and May 2004 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: details on the premiere of the drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari" and 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Arashi Rikan II, Arashi Rikan III, Arashi San'emon VI, Arashi San'emon IX, Asao Kuzaemon I, Asao Kuzaemon II, Asao Tamejûrô I, Asao Tamejûrô III, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Ichikawa Monnosuke III, Nakamura Denkurô I, Nakamura Denkurô IV, Nakamura Kanzaburô VIII and Nakamura Kanzaburô XII.

ACTORS LINES: Onoe Ushinosuke and Sawamura Genpei.

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: details on the premiere of the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" and 18 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list.

ACTORS: short biographies of the actors Ichikawa Danzô IV, Ichikawa Danzô V, Ichikawa Danzô VI, Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô IV, Sawamura Sôjûrô V, Segawa Kikunojô I, Segawa Kikunojô II, Segawa Kikunojô V, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Yamashita Kinsaku IV, Yoshizawa Ayame I, Yoshizawa Ayame II, Yoshizawa Ayame III and Yoshizawa Ayame IV.

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Shôchô, Nakamura Shikan and Sawamura Sôjûrô.

PROGRAMS: February 2004 (Kabukiza, Hakataza, Ichikawa Ennosuke tour, Koshibai tour), March 2004 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Minamiza, Shôchikuza).

PRINTS (the yakushae section):

OTHERS: the last glossary pages in French (K, M~N and S~T) are translated in English, 26 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list.