Kabukiza TheatreKabukiza Theatre
June Program at the Kabukiza Theatre
Daily: Jun 01 (Sat) - Jun 24 (Mon), 2024
Matinee:11:00 AM
Evening Show: 4:30 PM
*No performances on the 11th (Tue) and 17th (Mon).
On sale: from May 14 (Tue), 2024 10:00 AM(JST)
First Class Seat: 18,000
Second Class Seat: 14,000
Upper Tier A: 6,000
Upper Tier B: 4,000
Unit: Japanese Yen (tax included)
*Box Seat: 20,000 (Not available online. Click here for details.)
*Children over the age of 4 must purchase tickets to enter.
*Tea will not be offered at the Box Seats.
Kabukiza Theatre (at TOKYO) Theatre Information
- Single Act Tickets
- *Online Single Act Tickets will go on sale from the day before the performance date at 12:00PM (noon).
*Tickets for dates shown as "Sold Out" or for other preferred seating areas, may still be available from the promoter, Shochiku Co., Ltd. Please confirm the availability by phone or stop by the Box Office.
*Simplified English Audio Guide available (1,000 yen, cash only; brief description and synopsis only).
*Free English flyer/Sold program (Detailed English synopses are found at the end of the Japanese program) available.
The June program features a brilliant selection of works commemorating the Name Succession of Nakamura Manju I and Nakamura Tokizō VI.
In the Matinee, there is a domestic play adapted from the American short story 'After Twenty Years' (1906), a dance set against the beautiful background of nature, and a history play depicting a woman's passionate attachment to the man she loves.
In the Evening Show, you will see a history play featuring a fierce fight scene, a classical dance, and a warmhearted masterpiece of the 'sewamono', domestic play genre.
Kabukiza Theatre Stage Photo
JŌSHŪ MIYAGE HYAKURYŌ KUBI
['The Hundred Ryō Reward for a Man's Head']
CAST :
- Shōtarō
- Nakamura Shidō
- Gajirō
- Onoe Kikunosuke
- Osode, Uhē's daughter
- Nakamura Yonekichi
- Migurumi no Sanji
- Nakamura Hayato
- Uhē, the proprietor of the restaurant Tatsumi
- Matsumoto Kingo
- Oseki, Kanji's wife
- Ichimura Manjirō
- Kinteki no Yoichi
- Nakamura Kinnosuke
- Hayabusa no Kanji
- Nakamura Karoku
STORY :
This is a play adapted from the American short story 'After Twenty Years' (1906).
Two childhood friends meet for the first time in fifteen years. While one prides himself on his skill as a pickpocket, the other has always been very clumsy. The clever pickpocket steals his friend's purse, only to find that there is nothing in it and that his clumsy friend has stolen his purse instead. The two decide to live honestly, vowing to meet again in ten years. The play shows the lives of the two friends during the turbulent final years of the Tokugawa regime.
Intermission: 35 minutes
YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA
Hototogisu Hana Arusato
['A Cuckoo in a Field of Flowers' from 'Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees']
CAST :
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune
- Nakamura Matagorō
- Tanekichi, a puppeteer
- Nakamura Tanenosuke
- Washio Saburō
- Ichikawa Somegorō
- Fuseya, a shirabyōshi dancer
- Onoe Sakon
- Hahakigi, a shirabyōshi dancer
- Nakamura Kotarō
- Sonohara, a shirabyōshi dancer
- Nakamura Yonekichi
- Miyoshino, a shirabyōshi dancer
- Kataoka Takatarō
STORY :
Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his retainers are on their way from Daimotsu Bay to Mt. Yoshino, and rest here along the road to Yamato Province. Shirabyōshi dancers and a puppeteer pass by. Each dances in a lively manner and gives comfort to Yoshitsune. This is a lively dance accompanied by the nagauta lyrical ensemble.
Intermission: 20 minutes
IMOSEYAMA ONNA TEIKIN
Mikasayama Goten
['Exemplary Tales of Womanhood at Mt. Imo and Mt. Se - The Mikasayama Palace']
CAST :
- Omiwa, daughter of the Sugi Sakaya
- Nakamura Tokizō VI, changing his name from Nakamura Baishi IV
- Fukashichi, a fisherman, in reality, Kanawa no Gorō Imakuni
- Onoe Shōroku
- Princess Tachibana, Iruka's sister
- Nakamura Shichinosuke
- Ohiro, Omura's daughter
- Nakamura Baishi V, making his stage debut
- Kiri, a court lady
- Nakamura Hayato
- Kiku, a court lady
- Nakamura Tanenosuke
- Ashi, a court lady
- Nakamura Mantarō
- Hagi, a court lady
- Nakamura Kashō
- Katsura, a court lady
- Nakamura Shidō
- Kashiwa, a court lady
- Nakamura Kinnosuke
- Sakura, a court lady
- Nakamura Matagorō
- Ume, a court lady
- Nakamura Karoku
- Motome, a headgear folder, in reality, Fujiwara no Tankai
- Nakamura Manju I, changing his name from Nakamura Tokizō V
- Omura, a woman buying bean curd
- Kataoka Nizaemon
STORY :
This act depicts the intrigues at the imperial court in ancient Japan. More than a tale about politics, however, this is a tragedy that entails love and sacrifice. The country is under the dominance of the dictator Iruka. His supernatural power, which makes him invulnerable, can only be defeated by hearing the sound of a flute into which has been poured the blood of a sacred deer together with the blood of a living jealous woman. Omiwa, the daughter of a saké shop owner, is jealous because her fiancé Motome is going to marry another princess. At the peak of her jealous passion, Omiwa is stabbed by Fukashichi, who is a retainer of Kamatari, the opponent of Iruka. The living blood of Omiwa finally helps to defeat the evil Iruka.
NANSŌ SATOMI HAKKENDEN
['The Tale of Eight Warriors']
CAST :
- Inuyama Dōsetsu
- Nakamura Kashō
- Inumura Kakutarō
- Nakamura Tanenosuke
- Inusaka Keno
- Nakamura Kotarō
- Inukawa Sōsuke
- Ichikawa Somegorō
- Inue Shinbē
- Onoe Sakon
- Inuta Kobungo
- Nakamura Hashinosuke
- Hamaji, Inuzuka Shino's fiancée
/ Inuzuka Shino - Nakamura Yonekichi
- Aboshi Samojirō / Inukai Genpachi
- Bandō Minosuke
STORY :
The original novel is an immense epic by the 19th century novelist Kyokutei Bakin, which was published over many years, eventually reaching 106 volumes. The Satomi clan is being attacked, and its lord offers his daughter Fusehime as a reward for bringing the head of his enemy to him. However, the one to kill and behead the enemy happens to be his loyal dog. Saying that her father must not go back on his word, Fusehime departs with the dog. Nevertheless, the Satomi clan is defeated and one of its loyal retainers goes to rescue Fusehime. He shoots the dog, but unfortunately shoots Fusehime as well. The eight crystal beads of her rosary, each engraved with the Chinese character of one of the Confucian virtues, scatter through the air and go flying in all directions. Miraculously, each will be found with a newborn baby. These eight children all have the Chinese character ''inu'' (dog) in their names, and eventually meet and join together to restore the Satomi clan.
A scene from this story, Maruzukayama, will be staged this month. In this act, the eight children meet and fight against each other, not knowing their bond.
Intermission: 20 minutes
YAMANBA
['Mountain Witch']
CAST :
- Mountain witch
- Nakamura Manju I, changing his name from Nakamura Tokizō V
- Minezō, a woodcutter, in reality, Mita no Tsugou
- Nakamura Shikan
- Kaidōmaru, later, Sakata no Kintoki
- Nakamura Baishi V, making his stage debut
- Minamoto no Raikō
- Nakamura Shidō
- Shiragiku
- Nakamura Tokizō VI, changing his name from Nakamura Baishi IV
- Inokuma Nyūdō
- Nakamura Mantarō
- Watanabe no Tsuna
- Nakamura Haruki I, making his stage debut
- Urabe no Suetake
- Nakamura Natsuki I, making his stage debut
- Genken Ajari
- Nakamura Kinnosuke
- Hirai Yasumasa
- Nakamura Matagorō
- Tada no Mitsunaka
- Nakamura Karoku
- Fujiwara no Kanefuyu
- Onoe Kikugorō
STORY :
Raised by a mountain witch, Kaidōmaru has grown up quickly on Mt. Ashigara. The mountain witch and Kaidōmaru encounter a woodcutter in the mountains now covered in beautiful autumn leaves. He is, in reality, Mita no Tsugou who has been ordered by his lord Minamoto no Raikō to seek out those warriors who deserve to be his lord’s retainers. He appreciates Kaidōmaru's ability and decides to employ the boy in the capital as his lord’s retainer. The mountain witch is glad to hear that, but …
Intermission: 35 minutes
Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa
SAKANAYA SŌGORŌ
['Sōgorō the Fishmonger']
CAST :
- Sōgorō the Fishmonger
- Nakamura Shidō
- Ohama, Sōgorō's wife
- Nakamura Shichinosuke
- Yokichi, an apprentice
- Nakamura Haruki I, making his stage debut
- Chōkichi, an apprentice
- Nakamura Natsuki I, making his stage debut
- Onagi, a lady-in-waiting
- Kataoka Takatarō
- Kichigorō, a fireman
- Onoe Shōroku
- Sankichi, Sōgorō's servant
- Nakamura Mantarō
- Isobe Kazuenosuke
- Nakamura Hayato
- Oshige, Omitsu's daughter
- Ichikawa Otora
- Urato Jūzaemon
- Bandō Kamezō
- Tahē, Sōgorō's father
- Kawarasaki Gonjūrō
- Omitsu, the proprietress of the Kiku teahouse
- Nakamura Kaishun
STORY :
This is a 'sewamono' play, a work portraying in a realistic way the lives of ordinary people in the Edo period. Sōgorō, a fishmonger, has made a vow not to drink. But when he learns about his sister's unjust murder at the hands of a daimyō lord, a death that they were told was an execution for her wrongdoing, he starts to drink again. Becoming drunk, he storms into the lord's mansion to seek an apology. This play by the playwright Kawatake Mokuami (1816-1893) is known for its realistic portrayal of members of the working class during the Edo period, and highlights their fierce pride as well as their frustration at the privileges of the dominant samurai class.