2017 in figures:

660 actors

465 summaries

460 actors lines

76 playwrights

10 playwrights lines

70 lesser known actors

1800 entries in the Kabuki plays list

30 entries in the list of roles

I would like to thank very much all the friends who helped me building this site. Happy new year of the Dog 2018. We wish that 2018 will be the year of Nakamura Fukusuke's comeback on stage. We also wish for two successful series of shûmei performances for the Kôraiya guild!

ACTORS: Murayama Heijûrô II, Murayama Heijûrô III, Murayama Jûheiji I and Murayama Shirôji.

PLAYWRIGHTS: Murayama Jûheiji I.

ACTORS LINES: Arashi Matsunojô and Arashi Minshi.

KAOMISE: Kyôto 1717 (Miyako Handayû's theater), Kyôto 1717 (Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater) and Kyôto 1717 (Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater).

PROGRAMS: January 2018 (details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre and Shinbashi Enbujô programs), February 2018 (details for the Hakataza programs, Ôtsuka Museum of Art), March 2018 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shungyô Special Tour, Ichikawa Ebizô Special Tour) and April 2018 (Misonoza, Kanamaruza, Shungyô Special Tour, Ichikawa Ebizô Special Tour).

OTHERS: 2 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 11 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration for Arashi San'emon II and Osagawa Jûemon; a new dictionary for nicknames or common names; a new illustration page for the actors Arashi San'emon II, Murayama Heijûrô I and Shibazaki Rinzaemon I; the pages on Arashi Rikô I, Arashi San'emon I, Arashi San'emon II, Arashi San'emon VI, Arashi San'emon IX, Arashi San'emon XI, Arashi Shinpei I and Morita Kan'ya XI have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); bashi, motoyuiya and zôsu have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Kirinami Senju I and Kirinami Takie.

PLAYS: "Harusame Gasa" and "Kane no Yo no Naka".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Fukuchi Ôchi.

ACTORS LINES: Kirinami Senju.

KAOMISE: Ôsaka 1717 (Naka no Shibai), Ôsaka 1717 (Kado no Shibai) and Ôsaka 1717 (Higashi no Shibai).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Kirinami Hanazuma, Kirinami Taminosuke and Kirinami Wakanojô.

PROGRAMS: December 2017 (details for the National Theatre and Chûnichi Theatre programs, Shunjûza, National Theatre), January 2018 (Shinbashi Enbujô), February 2018 (Hakataza, Chûnichi Theatre) and March 2018 (National Theatre).

OTHERS: 9 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; a new picture for Sakata Tôjûrô I and Yamamoto Kamon; an illustration page for Kaneko Kichizaemon, Nakamura Shirogorô I, Sakata Tôjûrô I and Yamashita Kyôemon I; the pages on Shinozuka Jirozaemon I and Shinozuka Kazaemon have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); bôeki-shô, en, eta, gôyoku, hatoba, hon'anmono, imado hachiman, kenkaba, ôkubo hikozaemon, ôkubo tadataka, setomono, shakkin, ton'ya and yômyô have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Matsuyama Sanjûrô and Wakaura Kinjûrô.

PLAYS: "Michiyuki Kotoba no Amaikai" and "Mitsu Ningyô".

ACTORS LINES: Sodesaki Wakaura.

KAOMISE: Edo 1717 (Nakamuraza), Edo 1717 (Ichimuraza) and Edo 1717 (Moritaza).

PROGRAMS: November 2017 (details for the Kabukiza and National Theatre programs), December 2017 (Kabukiza), January 2018 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shôchikuza, Asakusa Kôkaidô) and February 2018 (Kabukiza).

OTHERS: 5 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; a new illustration page for Fujikawa Hanzaburô III; a new illustration for the actor Arashi Koroku III; two illustrations for the actor Fujikawa Hachizô I ([1] [2]); the illustration page for "Hirakana Seisuiki" was reworked and two new pictures were added ([1] [2]); the pages on Imamura Motojûrô, Imamura Shichisaburô II, Yamanaka Takejûrô and Yamashina Shirojûrô have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); amaikai, ame-uri, daijin-mai, dôkyô, sansa shigure, wakashu and yasui have been added to the glossary.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Matsushima Hanji and Matsushima Yôsuke.

DERIVATIVES: Kabuki Sport Bike.

STROLLING AROUND: Stars Hands 2012 (Bandô).

PROGRAMS: October 2017 (Ôsaka IMP Hall, National Theatre, details for the Kabukiza, National Theatre, NTK Hall, NHK Hall and Classics Tour programs), November 2017 (Kabukiza, details for the Shôchiku Grand Kabuki Tour and Classics Tour programs), December 2017 (Chûnichi Theatre, details for the ROHM Theatre programs) and January 2018 (a few items in the programs of the Kabukiza, dates and casting for the Shôchikuza and the Asakusa Kôkaidô).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 2 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; a new illustration for Ichikawa Omezô I, Ichikawa Omezô III, Ichikawa Omezô IV, Ichikawa Omezô VI, Kanai Sangyô and Matsushima Chôfu I; the pages on Ichikawa Omezô I, Kyôgendô Sakô II, Onoe Kikujirô II, Onoe Kikujirô III, Onoe Kikujirô IV, Onoe Kikunosuke II, Onoe Koisaburô I, Onoe Koisaburô III, Matsushima Chôfu I, Yamashita Kamenojô I and Yamashita Kamenojô IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); the pages of the Ichikawa Omezô and Onoe Shinshichi lines of actors have been reworked; kagami-biraki, kagami mochi and mochi have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Kôdan Yomiya no Ame".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Masuyama Kinpachi II.

ACTORS LINES: Matsushima Han'ya and Matsushima Sakuya.

PLAYWRIGHTS LINES: Kanai Sanpei, Kanazawa Ryûgoku, Kawatake Shinshichi, Masuyama Kinpachi, Matsui Kôzô, Nagawa Shimesuke, Nakamura Jûsuke and Namiki Gohei.

STROLLING AROUND: Stars Hands 2012 (Sawamura).

PROGRAMS: September 2017 (details for the Kabukiza programs, Nagoya Nô Gakudô, ROHM Theatre, Cerulean Tower Nô Theater), October 2017 (Kabukiza, NHK Hall, Yachiyoza), November 2017 (Eirakukan, Shôchiku Grand Kabuki, Yachiyoza, illustration for the National Theatre) and December 2017 (ROHM Theatre, National Theatre).

OTHERS: 1 new entry in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; the pages on Arashi Kitsusaburô I and Arashi Kitsusaburô IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); chômoto, gagô, hayaokeya, izushi-han, kaya, nezumitori-gusuri, nezumitori-gusuri uri, sengoku sôdô and torafugu have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Ten'ichibô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Hon'ya Hanshichi and Hon'ya Sôshichi.

ACTORS LINES: Matsushima Hanshichi and Nakamura Kashichi.

STROLLING AROUND: Stars Hands 2012 (Kataoka).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Kirinoya Shinshichi and Kiriyama Sôshichi.

PROGRAMS: August 2017 (details for the Kabukiza programs), September 2017 (Kabukiza), October 2017 (Bunka Sôgô Center Ôwada) and November 2017 (National Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujô, Kinshû Special Tour, Classics Tour).

OTHERS: 6 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 2 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on Nakamura Kashichi IV and Tsuruya Nanboku IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); a new illustration for Arashi Sangorô VI and Nakamura Kashichi IV; gekidan wakajishi, hitachi, jôshû, kada no ura, mito-han, mujômon, rakuin, shinkokugeki, ten'ichibô jiken, ten'ichibômono, tennichibô, tokugawa tsunaeda and tokugawa yoshimune have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Kari no Tayori".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Matsui Kôzô I and Matsui Kôzô II.

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Takinojô, Ichikawa Unosuke, Mizuki Somenosuke, Mizuki Tatsunosuke, Nakamura Baishi and Nakamura Genzaemon.

KABUKI VISUAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Doro.

PROGRAMS: July 2017 (details for the Kabukiza programs, Patria Hita), August 2017 (Kabukiza, National Theatre), September 2017 (Hakataza, ROHM Theatre) and October 2017 (National Theatre, NTK Hall, Shinbashi Enbujô, Classics Tour).

OTHERS: 8 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 2 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the page on "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" has been reworked; the pages on Sawamura Sôjûrô IV, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Yamashita Kinsaku II and Yamashita Kinsaku IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); arima onsen, doro, doroba, dorobune, hondoro, kashin, noda-ban and tôjiba have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Fukuda Dan'emon, Gatten Yazaemon, Kokon Shinzaemon, Ôkuma Utaemon and Sawai Sonoemon.

PLAYS: "Daimotsu no Ura", "Engakuji", "Funayagura", "Ôuchi", "Shika Koroshi" and "Tokaiya".

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Sakata Seiemon, Sawamura Jûrôzaemon, Shibazaki Kikuemon, Shinozuka Jûzaemon and Somekawa Rokurôzaemon.

PROGRAMS: June 2017 (details for the Kabukiza, Hakataza and National Theatre programs), July 2017 (Kabukiza, details for the Shôchikuza and National Theatre programs), August 2017 (Chûnichi Theatre, Festival Hall, National Theatre, Kintetsu Art Kan) and September 2017 (Tour in the western provinces).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 8 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 1 illustration page for the Yachiyoza; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; 3 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the prints & illustrations page of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" was reworked; engakuji, gofukuya, gorô nyûdô masamune, hôjô tokimune, masamune, naka, shika, shinroku, shisha, tsuzurayama, wakakusayama and yakusha ôkagami have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Sakakiyama Danshirô I.

PLAYS: "Gonge" and "Gonjô".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Sakakiyama Kansuke I.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Bandô Kamesaburô VI.

ACTORS LINES: Sakakiyama Danshirô and Sakakiyama Jûtarô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Sakakiyama Fujisaburô, Sakakiyama Onojûrô, Sakakiyama Sengiku and Sakakiyama Shirojûrô.

PROGRAMS: May 2017 (details for the Meijiza programs, Orchard Hall, Niigata Kenmin Kaikan), June 2017 (Kabukiza, Tango Bunka Kaikan, Aichi Arts Center) and July 2017 (Shôchikuza, National Theatre).

OTHERS: 9 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; an illustration page for the actors Onoe Montarô and Tatsuoka Hisagiku; the pages on Sakakiyama Koshirô I, Sakakiyama Koshirô III and Sakakiyama Sagisuke have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); the pages of the Sakakiyama Koshirô and Sakakiyama Shirotarô lines of actors have been reworked; a picture of the special celebration curtain for the April 2017 shûmei of Nakamura Jakuemon V at the Kanamaruza; a new illustration for the actor Yamatoyama Sensuke II; gonpachi-komurasakimono, hirai gonpachi, keijô, miuraya komurasaki, rokugôgawa, shirai gonpachi, suzu-ga-mori and yume have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Tamon Shôzaemon I and Tamon Shôzaemon II.

PLAYS: "Goban Taiheiki", "Tsuchiya Chikara" and "Yasaku no Kamabara".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Takarada Jurai and Takarada Jusuke.

ACTORS LINES: Tamon Shôzaemon.

NI-NO-KAWARI: Kyôto 1721 and Kyôto 1753.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Tamagawa Genzaburô, Tamagawa Kasen and Tamagawa Kindayû.

PROGRAMS: April 2017 (details for the Kabukiza, Kanamaruza and Akasaka Act Theater programs), May 2017 (details for the Kabukiza and Shôchikuza programs, casting for the Meijiza), June 2017 (Hakataza, Heisei Nakamuraza) and July 2017 (Eastern Provinces, Central Provinces).

OTHERS: 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; the pages on Arashi Keishi, Arashi Kitsusaburô, Arashi Yoshisaburô, Ikushima Hanroku, Nakamura Hayato, Nakamura Karoku, Nakamura Kashô, Nakamura Kichiemon, Nakamura Kichinojô, Nakamura Kinnosuke, Nakamura Matagorô, Nakamura Tanenosuke, Nakamura Tôzô, Nakamura Yonekichi, Onoe Kikunosuke, Tamiya Shirogorô, Tatsuoka Hisagiku and Tatsuoka Someemon have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; 1 new case for the dark side of Kabuki; asano naganori, asano takumi-no-kami naganori, chikara, enomoto kikaku, geisha, gengo, goke, gûkyo, hana no edo kabuki nendaiki, hyakushô, kama, kamabara, kanzaki noriyasu, katsuta shinzaemon taketaka, katsuta taketaka, kira yoshihisa, kokon yakusha monogatari, kuranosuke, maiko, miyagawa-chô, ôboshi rikiya, ôboshi yuranosuke, ôishi chikara, ôishi kuranosuke, ôishi yoshikane, ôishi yoshitaka, ôtaka gengo tadao, ôtaka tadao, ôwashi bungo, shin kikaku, tokugawa tsunayoshi, tsuchiya chikara michinao, tsuchiya michinao, tsûshô and yogorô have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Yamamoto Hikogorô and Yamamoto Kamon.

PLAYS: "Dontsuku" and "Oshizu Reiza".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Yamamoto Kaseki.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Danko.

ACTORS LINES: Nakamura Chôzaburô and Nakamura Tsurumatsu.

SOGAMONO: Nakamuraza 1762, Ichimuraza 1762 and Moritaza 1762.

KABUKI VISUAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Nezumi.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Yamamoto Kanbê and Yamamoto Kyôzô.

PROGRAMS: March 2017 (details for the Kabukiza and National Theatre programs), April 2017 (Kabukiza, Classics Tour), May 2017 (Kabukiza, Shôchikuza) and June 2017 (Hakataza).

OTHERS: 11 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; a new illustration for the actors Anegawa Daikichi I, Asao Jûjirô, Ichikawa Ebizô II and Sakurayama Shirosaburô I; an illustration page for the actors Hayakawa Dengorô, Hyakunin'isshu Genzaburô, Imamura Motojûrô, Kirinoya Gonjûrô I, Onoe Genji and Takenaka Tôzaburô; a new dictionary for roles; the pages on Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Yamashita Matashirô I and Yamashita Kyôemon I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); the pages on the Ichikawa Komazô and Mimasu Inemaru lines of actors have been reworked (contents); the pages on the dramas "Honchô Nijûshikô", "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" and "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" have been reworked (contents); a picture of the special celebration curtain for the February 2017 hatsubutai of Nakamura Kantarô III and Nakamura Chôzaburô II at the Kabukiza; 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; chaya nyôbô, daiku, fubuki, ichiban daiko, inaka zamurai, kado reisha, kakubê, kameido tenjin, miko, negishi, nezumi, nimochi, ogyô no matsu, onna tayû, reisha, shibai kinmô zui, shûtanba, tenchi tennô and wakadanna have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Sanjô Namie I.

PLAYS: "Futago Sumidagawa".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Shinoda Sasuke.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Nakamura Chôzaburô and Nakamura Kantarô.

ACTORS LINES: Sanjô Kantarô.

SOGAMONO: Moritaza 1721, Ichimuraza 1755 and Nakamuraza 1779.

NI-NO-KAWARI: Kyôto 1764.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Somekawa Ubê.

PROGRAMS: February 2017 (details for the Kabukiza programs), March 2017 (Kabukiza, more details (list of acts) for the National Theatre), April 2017 (Akasaka Act Theater, Makuhari Messe) and May 2017 (Meijiza, National Theatre).

OTHERS: 2 new links; 29 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; the pages on Kawatake Mokuami, Yamashita Matatarô I, Yamashita Yaozô I, Yamatoya Jinbê II, Yamatoya Jinbê III, Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I, Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II and Yashio Ikuemon have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data for some of them); a picture of the special celebration curtain for the January 2017 shûmei of Nakamura Shikan VIII at the Shôchikuza; a picture of the special celebration curtain for the January 2017 shûmei of Ichikawa Udanji III at the Shinbashi Enbujô; byôbu, ennosuke shijûhassen, fukkatsu tôshi kyôgen jûhachiban, handayû bushi, hanyû-mura, hirose kinzô, hitokai, kaka jûkyoku, shinsaku sûpâ kabuki jûban and sumidagawa have been added to the glossary.