2022 in figures:

731 actors

550 summaries

530 actors lines

115 playwrights

130 lesser known actors

30 lesser known playwrights

50 playwrights lines

2280 entries in the Kabuki plays list

840 entries in the list of roles

I would like to thank very much all the friends who helped me building this site. Happy new u year 2023! We hope that the 5th year of the Reiwa era will be a great one for the Kabuki world ! A thought for Bandô Takesaburô V and Living National Treasure Sawamura Tanosuke VI who passed away in 2022.

PLAYWRIGHTS: Matsui Shôô and Tsubouchi Shôyô.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII [updated] and Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII [updated].

KAOMISE: Ôsaka 1722 (Naka no Shibai), Ôsaka 1722 (Kado no Shibai), Ôsaka 1722 (Higashi no Shibai), Kyôto 1722 (Miyako Mandayû's theater), Kyôto 1722 (Hoteiya Umenojô's theater) and Kyôto 1722 (Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Segawa Sangorô and Segawa Shinzô.

LESSER KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS: Sono Bunpei and Sono Tôhachi.

PROGRAMS: January 2023 (details for the Kabukiza programs, new flyers for the Kabukiza and the Shinbashi Enbujô), February 2023 (Kabukiza), March 2023 (Minamiza, Shungyô Special Tour, Tôkyô International Forum, Kanagawa Kenmin Hall) and April 2023 (Meijiza, Misonoza, Kanamaruza).

OTHERS: 5 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration page for the actors Bandô Hikosaburô III, Kataoka Gatô II and Onoe Taganojô II; new illustrations for the actors Bandô Hikosaburô II, Bandô Hikosaburô III, Ichikawa Danjûrô VI, Nakamura Jûzô II [1771 | 1773 | 1773] and Segawa Kikunojô III; the pages on the actors Kataoka Gatô II, Nakamura Baigyoku II, Nakamura Ganjirô II, Nakamura Jûzô II, Nakayama Bunshichi II, Nakayama Nanshi II, Nakayama Shinkurô II, Onoe Shinshichi II, Onoe Taganojô II, Onoe Tamizô II, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II and Sanogawa Hanazuma II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); eshi, kawari kyôgen, mago and rikuzen have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Keisei Haru no Tori".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Kanazawa Ryûgoku II.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII [updated] and Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII [updated].

KAOMISE: Edo 1722 (Nakamuraza), Edo 1722 (Ichimuraza) and Edo 1722 (Moritaza).

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Kanazawa Heigorô and Kanazawa Heiroku.

LESSER KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS: Kanazawa Ginsuke and Kanazawa Kinsuke.

PROGRAMS: December 2022 (a new flyer and details for the Kabukiza programs, National Theatre), January 2023 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, details and a new flyer for the Asakusa Kôkaidô), February 2023 (Hakataza (dance), more details and a flyer for the Kabuki performances at the Hakataza) and March 2023 (Succession Announcement Tour).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 5 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 20 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on the actors Kawarasaki Gonnosuke I, Morita Kan'ya I, Morita Kan'ya IV, Morita Kan'ya VI, Morita Kan'ya IX, Morita Kan'ya XII, Nakamura Kanzaburô I, Nakamura Kanzaburô III, Nakamura Kanzaburô V, Nakamura Kanzaburô VII and Nakamura Kanzaburô XI have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); a temporary page for the drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko" (without any global summary); a new guild in the guilds list (Yamazakiya); bishû, dôsha, jûshin, kakinoki kinsuke, kinjô, kinshachi, kobun, meijô, nagoya-han, nagoya-jô, oshi, owari, owari-han, saigokudôsha, shachihoko and tsuri tenjô have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Kôyasan".

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII and Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.

PROGRAMS: November 2022 (details for the Kabukiza and Heisei Nakamuraza programs, a new flyer for the Kabukiza, National Theatre and Heisei Nakamuraza, Shôchiku Special Tour), December 2022 (a new flyer and details for the Minamiza programs), January 2023 (Asakusa Kôkaidô) and February 2023 (Hakataza).

OTHERS: 15 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; new illustrations for the actors Ogino Izaburô I [1718–1728 | 1734], Ôkawa Hashizô I and Ôtani Tomoemon I; a new illustration page for the actors Arashi Wakano I and Onoe Matsusuke III; the pages on the actors Ogawa Kichitarô I, Ogawa Zengorô I, Ogino Izaburô I, Ogino Yaegiri I, Ôkawa Hashizô I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Onoe Shôroku I, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ôtani Tomoemon I and Otowa Jirosaburô I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); 3 more pictures for the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" 1 new guild in the guilds list (Yamashinaya); (hanshiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi, (shiro)kô-jô-jô-kichi, kô-jô-jô-kichi, (shiro)ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi and ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi added to the ranking system page; (hanshiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi, kakegawa-juku, kani, ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi, (shiro)kô-jô-jô-kichi, (shiro)ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi and tateguya have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto".

PROGRAMS: October 2022 (Kabukiza, Naritasan Shinshôji Temple, details and new flyers for the Kabukiza, Shôchikuza, National Theatre and Heisei Nakamuraza programs), November 2022 (Kabukiza, details and a new flyer for the National Theatre), December 2022 (Kabukiza, Minamiza) and January 2023 (Shôchikuza, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Shinbashi Enbujô).

OTHERS: 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on the Ogawa Kichitarô, Segawa Kikusaburô and Sôryô Jinroku lines of actors have been reworked; a new illustration page for the actor Sôryô Jinroku II; a new illustration for the actor Segawa Kikujirô I; the pages on the actors Segawa Kikujirô I, Segawa Kikunojô VI, Segawa Rokô IV, Seki Sanjûrô V, Sengoku Hikosuke I, Sôryô Jinroku II, Sugiyama Kanzaemon I, Sugiyama Kanzaemon III and Suzuki Heizaemon I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; 5 new guilds in the guilds list (En'ya, Fushimiya, Kawachiya, Shimaya, Tomitaya); karukaya, karukaya dôshin, karukaya dôshin monogatari, katô saemon shigeuji and tsukushi has been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Aibiki no Onna".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Ikenami Shôtarô.

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Nakamura Hidenosuke [updated], Nakamura Tanetarô V [updated] and Sawamura Kuniya.

LESSER KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS: Nagawa Jôsuke, Nemoto Mosaku, Nishikawa Sensuke and Nora Aisuke.

PROGRAMS: September 2022 (details for the Kabukiza programs and a new flyer for the Kabukiza, the Shôchikuza and the Shunjûza), October 2022 (Kabukiza, Heisei Nakamuraza, a new flyer for the Shôchikuza) and November 2022 (Heisei Nakamuraza).

OTHERS: 6 new links; 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration for the actors Ichimura Takenojô V and Seki Sanjûrô II; a new illustration page for the actor Ichimura Takenojô V; the pages on the actors Segawa Kikunojô I, Segawa Kikunojô II, Segawa Kikunojô V, Segawa Senjo, Seki San'emon, Seki Sanjûrô II, Seki Sanjûrô III and Seki Sanjûrô IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); 4 new guilds in the guilds list (Kikuya, Ômiya, Sekiya, Tachibanaya); hasegawa heizô, hasegawa nobutame, kanda suda-chô, kasama-han, kasama-jô, kashi, kashiya, onihei hankachô, teishu and yanaka sansaki-chô have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Jôshû Miyage Hyakuryô Kubi" and "Oedo Miyage".

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Nakamura Hidenosuke and Nakamura Tanetarô V.

PROGRAMS: August 2022 (details for the Kabukiza programs, a new flyer for the Kabukiza, National Bunraku Theatre, Hakodate Kôkaidô, Iai Gakuin Kôdô), September 2022 (Kabukiza, Ôtsuki Nô Theatre), October 2022 (Misonoza), November 2022 (National Theatre, Kabukiza, Heisei Nakamuraza) and December 2022 (Kabukiza).

OTHERS: 3 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; new illustrations for the dramas "Nami no Tsuzumi" and "Nebiki no Kadomatsu"; new illustrations for the actors Arashi San'emon V, Mimasu Tokujirô I and Nakamura Tamasuke; a new illustration page for the drama "Kirare Yosa"; the pages on the actors Iwai Tojaku, Iwata Somematsu I, Mikuni Fujigorô, Mimasu Tokujirô I, Nakamura Tamasuke, Nakayama Bunshichi I, Takenaka Tôzaburô and Takeshima Kôzaemon I have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); a new guild in the guilds list (Izumiya); 1 book was referenced in the bibliography; honryûin, kawamura karyô, kawamura kyûsuke, matsuchiyama shôden, miyage, shitaya, torikata and yûki-han have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Manjû Musume", "Mikagehama Hamabe", "Nanba Ura Koroshi", "Shichijô Kawara", "Shushaka Zutsumi" and "Yasui no Hama".

PROGRAMS: July 2022 (new flyers for the Kabukiza, the Shôchikuza and the National Theatre, details for the Kabukiza, the Shôchikuza, the National Theatre and the Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour programs), August 2022 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, National Bunraku Theatre, Nihonbashi Kôkaidô), September 2022 (Shunjûza) and October 2022 (National Theatre, Misonoza, Shôchikuza).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on the Nakamura Nakazô, Nakamura Shibajaku and Nakamura Yonekichi lines of actors have been reworked; the pages on the actors Nakamura Jakuemon I, Nakamura Jakuemon II, Nakamura Jakuemon III, Nakamura Jakuemon IV, Nakamura Nakazô I, Nakamura Nakazô II, Nakamura Nakazô III and Nakamura Nakazô IV have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); new illustration pages for the actors Nakamura Jakuemon II, Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Jakuemon IV; new illustrations for the dramas "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" [1782 | 1790 | 1796], "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" and Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami [1763 | 1771]; 4 new guilds in the guilds list (Himejiya, Maizuruya, Narijakuya, Sakaeya); hangandai, hôbiki, horikawa gosho, ichi-no-tani, ichi-no-tani no tatakai, mikagehama, okabe rokuyata, okabe rokuyata tadasumi, okabe tadasumi, taira atsumori and taira tadanori have been added to the glossary.

PLAYS: "Horikawa Gosho", "Hôsho Jiai", "Iruka Chûbatsu", "Kinai Sumika" and "Tsuji Hôin".

PROGRAMS: June 2022 (details for the Kabukiza, Hakataza and the National Theatre programs, a new flyer for the Kabukiza and the National Theatre, Tsuru-no-Ko-Kai Tour), July 2022 (a new flyer for the Shôchikuza, flyer and details for the Minamiza), August 2022 (Shinbashi Enbujô, flyer for the Kabukiza) and September 2022 (Shinbashi Enbujô, Minamiza).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 1 new entry in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; the pages on the actors Mishima Sadohachi, Miyazaki Denkichi, Nakamura Shibajûrô, Nakayama Hyakka, Onoe Genji, Onogawa Ugenji, Somekawa Jûrobê and Somenoi Hanshirô have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); 2 new guilds in the guilds list (Beniya, Bintsukeya); aisu hisatada, cho hakkai, chûbatsu, daijo, horikawa, hôsho, hôsô, imoseyama, jigai, kage-ryû, kamiizumi nobutsuna, kôriyama-han, kôriyama-jô, kozuka, kumagai jirô naozane, kumagai kojirô naoie, kumagai naoie, kumagai naozane, matsudaira nobuyasu, naka, okazaki saburô, ômi ôtsu-no-miya, ôtsu-no-miya, shiga no miyako, shikan, shinkage-ryû and tokugawa nobuyasu have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Arashi Matsunojô III, Hanagiri Toyomatsu I and Matsumoto Kojirô I.

PLAYS: "Ikake Matsu".

PLAYWRIGHTS: Matsuda Bunkôdô.

ACTORS LINES: Matsumoto Hidejûrô, Matsumoto Kôtarô, Matsushima Samon and Matsuyama Koshikibu.

LESSER KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS: Matsui Seizô, Matsukawa Sada, Matsushima Kumesuke and Matsuzawa Bunroku.

PROGRAMS: May 2022 (Rai BoC Hall, Hitotsubashi Hall, a new flyer and details for the Kabukiza programs), June 2022 (Kabukiza, Asakusa Kôkaidô, Ibuki Tour), July 2022 (Shôchikuza, Kabukiza, National Theatre) and August 2022 (Minamiza, Hakataza, Misonoza).

OTHERS: 11 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 5 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration page for the actors Matsumoto Kôshirô I and Matsumoto Yonesaburô I; new illustrations for the actors Matsumoto Kôshirô IV [1782 | 1789 | 1789 | 1794 | 1795], Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Onoe Shôroku I and Suketakaya Takasuke II; a new illustration for the sakusha Kyôgendô Sakô II; the pages on the actors Matsumoto Kojirô II, Matsumoto Kôshirô I, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII, Matsumoto Shirosaburô, Matsumoto Tomojûrô I and Matsumoto Tomojûrô II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); a temporary page for the drama "Katakiuchi Takasago no Matsu", "Tenmangû Aiju no Meiboku" and "Yukihira Isonare Matsu" (without any global summary); hashizume, ikake, ikakeya, shishô and yakatabune have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Sawamura Genjûrô III, Sawamura Kunitarô III and Sawamura Shirogorô III.

ACTORS LINES: Sawamura Kimihei, Sawamura Minegorô and Sawamura Seishi.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Sawamura Daizô, Sawamura Kasen and Sawamura Shônosuke.

LESSER KNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS: Sawaarashi Tôrô, Sawai Shôzô and Sawano Gensuke.

PROGRAMS: April 2022 (details for the Kabukiza programs, Zenshinza, Makuhari Messe), May 2022 (Kabukiza, Misonoza, flyer and details for the National Theatre), June 2022 (Hakataza, National Theatre, Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour) and July 2022 (Shôchikuza, Minamiza, Shôchiku Kabuki Dance Tour).

OTHERS: 10 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; a new illustration page for the drama "Dômyôji"; a new illustration page for the actors Arashi Izaburô II, Onoe Kikujirô II and Seki Sanjûrô III; new illustrations for the dramas "Kurumabiki" and Terakoya; new illustrations for the actors Arashi Kichisaburô III [Dômyôji | Kurumabiki], Bandô Shûka I, Ichikawa Ebizô V [Dômyôji | Kurumabiki | Terakoya], Iwai Tojaku, Nakamura Utaemon IV [Dômyôji | Kurumabiki | Terakoya], Sawamura Tanosuke II, Sawamura Tosshô I [Dômyôji | Kurumabiki], Yoshizawa Ayame II and Yoshizawa Ayame IV; the pages on the actors Sawamura Kameemon, Sawamura Sônosuke I, Sawamura Tanosuke II, Sawamura Tanosuke III, Sawamura Tanosuke IV, Sawamura Tetsunosuke V, Sawamura Tosshi VII and Sawamura Tosshi VIII have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them).

ACTORS: Ichikawa Aragorô III and Ichikawa Arajirô I.

PLAYS: "Ichimatsu Kozô no Onna".

CONTEMPORARY ACTORS: Ichikawa Seiko II (who used to be referenced as Ichikawa Kôtarô).

ACTORS LINES: Ichikawa Kohanji and Ichikawa Seiko.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Ichimura Miyonosuke and Ichiyama Shimanosuke.

PROGRAMS: March 2022 (details for the Kabukiza programs), April 2022 (Kabukiza), May 2022 (Minamiza) and June 2022 (Hakataza).

OTHERS: 1 new link; 3 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on the Sawamura Shirogorô, Sawamura Sôjûrô and Suketakaya Takasuke lines of actors have been reworked; new illustrations for the actors Kanazawa Goheiji, Kaneko Kichizaemon, Nakamura Shirogorô I, Otowa Jirosaburô I, Sakata Tôjûrô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô I, Sawamura Kodenji I, Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô III [1779 | 1796 | 1797], Sawamura Tanosuke II, Segawa Kikunojô I, Takeshima Kôzaemon I and Yamashita Kyôemon I; a new illustration page for the actors Nakamura Shôchô and Sawamura Kodenji I; the pages on the actors Sawamura Otoemon I, Sawamura Otoemon II, Sawamura Shirogorô II, Sawamura Shozan III, Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII and Sawamura Sôjûrô IX have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); a new guild in the guilds list (Kawatakiya); dôshin, futomono, futomonoya, gofuku, gosai, ôbantô, sensai, shôkatsu kômei, shôkatsu ryô and suri have been added to the glossary.

ACTORS: Nakayama Sayonosuke.

PLAYS: "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

ACTORS LINES: Nakamura Tarô.

LESSER KNOWN ACTORS: Nakayama Monjûrô.

PROGRAMS: February 2022 (details for the Kabukiza programs, a new flyer for Cocoon Kabuki, a few details about Roppongi Kabuki), March 2022 (Kabukiza, National Theatre, Shungyô Special Tour, a new flyer and the details for the Minamiza performances, a few details about Roppongi Kabuki), April 2022 (Misonoza) and May 2022 (National Theatre, Tango Bunka Kaikan).

OTHERS: 7 new entries in the Japanese-English Kabuki plays list; 10 new roles in the bilingual list of roles; the pages on the Iwai Shijaku, Sawamura Kunitarô and Sawamura Tanosuke lines of actors have been reworked; 2 new illustrations for the 4th book of "Hana no Edo Kabuki Nendaiki" (1811); new illustrations for the actors Hanai Saizaburô III, Ichikawa Danjûrô III [1732 | 1733 | 1735 | 1736], Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Ichikawa Ebizô II [1732 | 1733 | 1735 | 1735 | 1736 | 1745], Ogino Izaburô I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Sawamura Sôjûrô I and Segawa Kikunojô II [1754 | 1770 | 1771]; an illustration page for the actors Bandô Hikosaburô II and Ichimura Uzaemon VIII; the pages on the actors Sawamura Chôjûrô I, Sawamura Chôjûrô VII, Sawamura Genjirô, Sawamura Gennosuke III, Sawamura Gennosuke IV, Sawamura Gennosuke V, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Sawamura Kunitarô II have been reworked (past tense, day of passing away in western calendar and added data/illustrations for some of them); a temporary page for the drama "Kokubyakuron Oriwake Hakata" (without any global summary); 4 new guilds in the guilds list (Kawasakiya, Mikasaya, Oginoya, Tenmaya); ashikaga tadayoshi, cha no sôshô, chikuzen, chûshin, fukuoka-han, gômon, kôshaku, kuroda sôdô, kuroda-sôdômono, ryôjin and sôshô have been added to the glossary.