Kabukiza TheatreKabukiza Theatre
September Program at the Kabukiza Theatre
Daily: Sep 02 (Sat) - Sep 25 (Mon), 2023
Matinee:11:00 AM
Evening Show: 4:30 PM
*No performances on the 11th (Mon) and 19th (Tue).
[Important Notice]
●Precautionary Measures at the Kabukiza Theatre
(Updated)Notification of the absence and cast replacements of Matsumoto Kōshirō for the Matinee and the Evening Show September performances(Sep 23)
(Updated) Notification of the absence and cast replacement of Nakamura Fukusuke for the Matinee performances(Sep 5)
On sale: from Aug 14 (Mon), 2023 10:00 AM(JST)
Box Seat: 20,000 /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)
*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
- *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.
*No English supporting guide available.
*Free English flyer/Sold English program available.
This month's program is titled 'Shūzan-sai' (the Shūzan Festival). Shūzan was the pen name of Nakamura Kichiemon I, and the 'Shūzan-sai' will be held to honor his outstanding artistry and talent, as well as to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of his adopted son Nakamura Kichiemon II. Various works including historical plays, dances and a 'New Kabuki' play from 'The Ten Best Plays of Nakamura Kichiemon I' (a collection of the actor's most successful roles) will be performed by actors associated with them.
GION SAIREI SHINKŌKI
Kinkakuji
['The Golden Pavilion' from 'The Gion Festival Chronicle of Faith']
CAST :
- Matsunaga Daizen
- Nakamura Karoku
- Yukihime
- Nakamura Yonekichi
(2nd – 6th and 13th – 18th) - Nakamura Kotarō
(7th – 12th and 20th – 25th) - Kanōnosuke Naonobu
- Onoe Kikunosuke
- Sogō Gunpei, in reality, Satō Masakiyo
- Nakamura Kashō
- Matsunaga Kitōda
- Nakamura Tanenosuke
- Keijuin, the shogun's mother
- Nakamura Fukusuke
- Konoshita Tōkichi, later, Mashiba Hisayoshi
- Nakamura Kankurō
STORY :
This is a 'jidaimono', a history play portraying the life of warriors in the 16th century. Matsunaga Daizen has defeated the shogun and has set up base at the Golden Pavilion. The beautiful Yukihime is being held prisoner there by Daizen. The brilliant strategist Hisayoshi, disguised as a disgruntled retainer named Tōkichi, pretends to enter Daizen's employ to try to sabotage his plans from within. In a famous highlight of the play, Yukihime is bound to a cherry tree, but when she draws a mouse in the tree's petals the mouse miraculously comes to life and chews the ropes that bind her. The role of Yukihime is considered to be one of the most difficult 'princess' roles in kabuki.
Intermission: 35 minutes
TSUCHIGUMO
['The Earth Spider']
CAST :
- Priest Chichū from the temple on Mt. Hiei,
in reality, the spirit of the spider
Matsumoto Kōshirō- Minamoto no Raikō
- Nakamura Matagorō
- Tarō, a soldier
- Ichikawa Komazō
- Jirō, a soldier
- Nakamura Kashō
- Watanabe no Tsuna
- Ōtani Hirotarō
- Sakata no Kintoki
- Nakamura Takanosuke
- Usui no Sadamitsu
- Nakamura Kichinojō
- Otowaka, a sword bearer
- Nakamura Tanetarō
- A deity's statue, in reality, the page Shirōgo
- Nakamura Hidenosuke
- Sakaki, a shrine maiden
- Nakamura Kotarō
(2nd – 6th and 13th – 18th) - Nakamura Yonekichi
(7th – 12th and 20th – 25th) - Tōnai, a soldier
- Nakamura Kankurō
- Hirai Yasumasa
- Nakamura Kinnosuke
- Kochō, a maid
- Nakamura Kaishun
STORY :
This dance drama was adapted from a play in the classical Nō repertoire. In legend, the samurai lord Minamoto no Raikō is famous for destroying demons. In this work, Raikō is ill in bed. Distinguished priests visit him to pray for his recovery but they do no good. Then, another priest appears mysteriously at night also claiming to pray for his health. However, suspicious of the strange shadow the priest casts, Raikō cuts at him with his heirloom sword named 'Hizamaru'. The priest turns out to be the spirit of the Great Earth Spider that has the ambition to rule the country. In the end, the spider's plan to kill Raikō is thwarted and it is defeated by his retainers in an exciting fight.
Intermission: 25 minutes
NIJŌ-JŌ NO KIYOMASA
['Kiyomasa at Nijō Castle']
CAST :
- Katō Kiyomasa
- Matsumoto Hakuō
- Toyotomi Hideyori
- Ichikawa Somegorō
STORY :
This play was written by Yoshida Genjirō for Nakamura Kichiemon I, and first performed in 1933. The plot concerns true historical characters during a time of great political tension and instability. The year is 1611, and Tokugawa Ieyasu is visiting Kyoto. Though now supreme ruler of the country, there is still great antagonism between Ieyasu's stronghold in the east and the city of Osaka where Toyotomi Hideyori resides. Ieyasu has invited Hideyori to come and visit him at Kyoto's Nijō Castle and, against the wishes of his mother and others, the young man has agreed. With him is the wise commander Katō Kiyomasa who, despite his current illness, insists on accompanying him.
SUGAWARA DENJU TENARAI KAGAMI
Kurumabiki
['Pulling the Carriage Apart' from 'Sugawara's Secrets of Calligraphy']
CAST :
- Matsuōmaru
- Nakamura Matagorō
- Umeōmaru
- Nakamura Kashō
- Sakuramaru
- Nakamura Tanenosuke
- Sugiōmaru
- Nakamura Takanosuke
- Fujiwara no Shihei
- Nakamura Karoku
STORY :
Umeōmaru and his triplet brother, Sakuramaru, try to get revenge on Fujiwara no Shihei who falsely accused Umeōmaru's lord, Kan Shōjō of treason. However, they are confronted by their other brother, Matsuōmaru, who is one of Shihei's retainers. The energetic performance of Umeōmaru is a showcase for the bombastic 'aragoto' style of acting.
Intermission: 20 minutes
RENJISHI
['Parent and Child Lion Dance']
CAST :
- The actor Ukon, later, the spirit of the parent lion
- Onoe Kikunosuke
- The actor Sakon, later, the spirit of the lion cub
- Onoe Ushinosuke
STORY :
A dance adapted from a tale featuring the legendary 'shishi', a mythical lion-like beast. It is based on the belief that a 'shishi' will push its cubs over a steep cliff as a test of their strength, only nurturing those cubs strong enough to climb up by themselves. Two entertainers dance the tale of the legendary 'shishi' that live at the foot of a holy Buddhist mountain. The dance portrays a parent 'shishi' forcing its cub to undergo harsh training in order to grow up strong. In the finale, the 'shishi' themselves appear and perform their dance with the wild shaking of their long manes.
Intermission: 35 minutes
IPPON GATANA DOHYŌ IRI
['The Wrestling Ring and the Sword']
CAST :
- Komagata Mohē
- Matsumoto Kōshirō
- Tatsusaburō, a carver of ships' emblems
- Onoe Shōroku
- Horisage Nekichi
- Ichikawa Somegorō
- Funato no Yahachi
- Nakamura Kichinojō
- Namiichiri Gijū
- Nakamura Kinnosuke
- Otsuta
- Nakamura Jakuemon
STORY :
First performed in 1931, this is a so-called 'New Kabuki' ('Shin Kabuki') play by Hasegawa Shin. The protagonist Komagata Mohē is a starving, would-be sumō wrestler. He encounters a courtesan named Otsuta who takes pity on him. She gives him her purse and hair ornaments, making him promise to become a champion sumō wrestler. In turn, she promises to go to see him make his ceremonial entry into the ring. But ten years later, Mohē has become a gangster instead. Now a powerful fighter, he rescues Otsuta and her family. Ironically, this shameful form that his entry into the ring has taken is the only way that he can repay her kindness.