KOTOBUKI SHIKI SANBASŌ

['Festive Dance']

CAST :

Sanbasō

Onoe Matsuya

Sanbasō

Nakamura Kashō

Sanbasō

Nakamura Mantarō

Sanbasō

Onoe Ukon

Sanbasō

Nakamura Tanenosuke

Apprentice Senzai

Nakamura Yonekichi

Senzai

Nakamura Jakuemon

Okina

Nakamura Matagorō

STORY :

'Sanbasō' is an important celebratory dance, a ritual featuring the old man Okina (actually a divine character) and a pair of vigorous Sanbasō characters. The old man is a symbol of abundant harvests, eternal youth and a peaceful reign. As the Sanbasō stamps and shakes his bells on stage, he prays for agricultural fertility and prosperity for all.

KANJINCHŌ

['The Subscription Scroll']

CAST :

Musashibō Benkei

Ichikawa Danjūrō

Togashi no Saemon

Onoe Kikugorō VIII, changing his name from Onoe Kikunosuke

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Nakamura Baigyoku

STORY :

Disguised as traveling priests, the fugitive general Yoshitsune and his band of retainers are stopped at a road barrier. The head retainer Benkei claims they are soliciting contributions for the rebuilding of a temple, but the barrier guard Togashi insists that, if so, they must have the temple's book of solicitation. Benkei elaborately improvises the text with an empty scroll. When one soldier points out that one of the group resembles Yoshitsune, Benkei is forced to strike Yoshitsune with his staff. Togashi is convinced that they are the fugitives but, sympathizing with Benkei's loyalty, he tells them to proceed on their way.

SANNIN KICHISA TOMOE NO SHIRANAMI

['Three Thieves Named Kichisa']

CAST :

Ojō Kichisa

Nakamura Tokizō

Obō Kichisa

Bandō Hikosaburō

Oshō Kichisa

Nakamura Kinnosuke

STORY :

A woman follows after a streetwalker and robs her of her money. The woman is actually a man in disguise. A masterless samurai also appears and they begin to fight over the money. Soon, a priest also arrives on the scene and mediates between the other two. This priest is actually the disreputable head of a rundown temple. The three eventually realize that they are all thieves who happen to share the same name 'Kichisa', and so they become sworn brothers. Today we can still savor the somewhat decadent atmosphere in this piece that is typical of the late 19th century, and with its famous poetic speeches that sound so melodic, the play is all the more beautiful.

KYŌKANOKO MUSUME DŌJŌJI
'Three-person' version

['The Maiden at Dōjōji Temple']

CAST :

Hanako, a shirabyōshi dancer

Onoe Kikugorō VIII, changing his name from Onoe Kikunosuke

Hanako, a shirabyōshi dancer

Onoe Kikunosuke, changing his name from Onoe Ushinosuke

Hanako, a shirabyōshi dancer

Bandō Tamasaburō

STORY :

This is the most famous of all kabuki dances and is considered to be the pinnacle of the art of the 'onnagata' female role specialist. A beautiful young woman dances under cherry blossoms at a dedication ceremony for a temple bell. During her performance, she describes the many aspects of a woman in love. However, in reality she is the spirit of a serpent, driven to destroy the bell.

YOSHITSUNE KOSHIGOE JŌ
Goto Sanbasō

['Gotobē's Sanbasō Dance' from 'Yoshitsune's Letter sent from Koshigoe']

CAST :

Gotobē Moritsugu

Onoe Shōroku

Nishikido Tarō

Bandō Kamezō

Date no Jirō

Nakamura Tanenosuke

Izumi no Saburō Tadahira

Kawarasaki Gonjūrō

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Nakamura Manju

STORY :

Though set in the 12th century, this history play in fact concerns Toyotomi Hideyori and his retainers who will be crushed by the military dictator Tokugawa Ieyasu. Minamoto no Yoshitsune is suspected by his brother Yoritomo of being a traitor, despite his distinguished service in destroying their rival Heike clan. He indulges in drinking after being turned down by his brother. His retainer Kamei no Rokurō remonstrates with him, but he will not listen. Another loyal retainer Izumi no Saburō leads in Gotobē, who is disguised as a swordsmith and maker of hilt ornaments, to recommend as a strategist for the battle against Yoritomo, but his evil retainers make Gotobē drunk. Yoshitsune is enraged at Gotobē's drunkenness and Saburō exits mortified. Gotobē performs the Sanbasō dance while fighting off the Takeda footmen before leaving the mansion.

Shūmei Hirō KŌJŌ

['Stage Announcement Commemorating the Name Succession']

CAST :

Onoe Kikugorō VIII, changing his name from Onoe Kikunosuke;
Onoe Kikunosuke, changing his name from Onoe Ushinosuke.

Plus other top-ranking actors who are present

STORY :

The actors will appear as themselves to make a stage announcement to commemorate the name succession.

BENTEN MUSUME MEO NO SHIRANAMI
From Hamamatsuya Misesaki to Namerigawa Dobashi

['The Five Thieves'
- 'From the 'Hamamatsuya Misesaki' scene to the 'Namerigawa Dobashi' scene']

CAST :

<Hamamatsuya Misesaki>

Benten Kozō Kikunosuke, a thief

Onoe Kikugorō VIII, changing his name from Onoe Kikunosuke

Nippon Daemon, chief of the gang of thieves

Ichikawa Danjūrō

Nangō Rikimaru, a thief

Onoe Matsuya

Sōnosuke, Kōbē's son

Nakamura Mantarō

Seiji, the chief of a fire brigade

Onoe Shōroku

Kōbē, owner of the Hamamatsuya

Nakamura Karoku

<Inasegawa Seizoroi>

Benten Kozō Kikunosuke, a thief

Onoe Kikunosuke, changing his name from Onoe Ushinosuke

Tadanobu Rihei, a thief

Bandō Kamesaburō

Akaboshi Jūzaburō, a thief

Nakamura Baishi

Nangō Rikimaru, a thief

Onoe Maholo

Nippon Daemon, chief of the gang of thieves

Ichikawa Shinnosuke

<Gokurakuji Yane, Namerigawa Dobashi>

Benten Kozō Kikunosuke, a thief / Isarago Shichirō

Onoe Kikugorō VIII, changing his name from Onoe Kikunosuke

Nippon Daemon

Ichikawa Danjūrō

Aoto Saemon Fujitsuna

Onoe Kikugorō VII

STORY :

Written by the famous playwright Kawatake Mokuami, this play is a perfect display of kabuki's stylized beauty. It includes a dynamic fight scene that is performed on a particularly gorgeous stage set. A beautiful woman is suspected of shoplifting and is beaten. When it is proved that she was not stealing, her servant demands compensation. However, a samurai who happens to be present uncovers their ruse and reveals that the woman is actually a man. The former 'woman' and her accomplice are, in fact, Benten Kozō and Nangō Rikimaru, two members of the same infamous gang of thieves. Even the samurai who supposedly exposed their plot turns out to be none other than Nippon Daemon, the head of this gang. Finally, the gang is hunted down by officers and when they are surrounded, the five gang members remain defiant, delivering elaborate rhythmic speeches dressed in their finest kimono and accompanied by beautiful music. The last chase is shown in one of kabuki's most famous and spectacular fight scenes that even incorporates a temple rooftop that flips up to reveal another beautiful set below.