Osaka Shochikuza TheatreOsaka Shochikuza Theatre
April Program at the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre
Daily: Apr 03 (Fri) - Apr 26 (Sun), 2026
Matinee:11:00 AM
Evening Show: 4:15 PM
*No performances on the 10th (Fri), 20th (Mon).
*Reserved seats for the Matinee are sold out on the 19th (Sun), 25th (Sat).
Time Schedule
On sale: from Feb 22 (Sun), 2026 10:00 AM(JST)
First Class: 26,000 / Second Class: 13,000 / Third Class: 7,000
*Children over the age of 4 must purchase tickets to enter.
Unit: Japanese Yen (tax included)
Osaka Shochikuza Theatre (at OSAKA) Theatre Information
- *No English supporting guide available.
- 【🔗How to buy tickets】Shochiku Multilingual Online Ticket serves as a ticket agency, meaning you can only purchase tickets allocated to it. This service becomes unavailable two days before the performance date, at which point a "Sold Out" message will appear. However, tickets may still be available from the promoter, Shochiku Co., Ltd. for dates that are shown as "sold out". To check availability and other preferred seating areas, please call +81(0)3 6745-0888 or visit the box office.
*Free English commentary booklet available.
At the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre, which has announced its closure in May 2026, the “Farewell Performances at Osaka Shochikuza” are being held in April and May.
The matinee program begins with a famous period drama portraying a master swordsman who is driven by parental love and revenge. This is followed by a dance rich in the emotional atmosphere of the Kamigata region (Kyoto/Osaka), and a comedy originally staged by the Shochiku Shin-Kigeki troupe and later revived as a kabuki work.
The evening program presents a powerful human drama set against the tragic fate of Sugawara no Michizane, a dynamic dance portraying the encounter between Yoshitsune and Benkei, and finally, a love story regarded as a masterpiece of Kamigata kabuki, based on a classic work by Chikamatsu Monzaemon.
HIKOSAN GONGEN CHIKAI NO SUKEDACHI
Keyamura
['Keyamura Village' from 'Rokusuke helps his Fiancée take Revenge']
CAST :
- Keyamura Rokusuke
- Nakamura Shidō
- Mijin Danjō, in reality Kyōgoku Takumi
- Nakamura Hayato
- Yasomatsu
- Nakamura Natsuki
- Onoemon, a wood-cutter
- Sawamura Kiyoshirō
- Okō
- Kamimura Kichiya
- Osono
- Kataoka Takatarō
STORY :
Rokusuke, a farmer who lives at the foot of Mt. Hiko in Buzen Province, is a master swordsman. In the Kokura Domain, a proclamation has been issued stating that they will employ any man who defeats Rokusuke as a retainer. After his mother's death, Rokusuke keeps vigil at the Sugisaka Grave for 49 nights. One night, when Rokusuke is praying to Amida Buddha, Mijin Danjō, a masterless samurai passes by with his old mother. Mijin Danjō, wanting to be a good son, asks Rokusuke to let him win the sword match. Touched by his filial piety towards his mother, Rokusuke promises to do so. After they part, a young samurai serving Rokusuke's master, Yoshioka Ichimisai, is attacked by a bandit. Rokusuke drives the bandit away, but he breathes his last after leaving the boy he was with in Rokusuke's care. A few days later the sword match is held at Rokusuke's house and Rokusuke allows Danjō to win the match as he had promised. Just after, Rokusuke's fiancée Osono whom Rokusuke has never met comes to Rokusuke's house disguised as a Zen priest. To Rokusuke's surprise, Yasomatsu, the boy left in Rokusuke's care, turns out to be the son of Osono's sister. Furthermore, Rokusuke finds out that Danjō is in reality Kyōgoku Takumi who attacked Ichimisai, Osono's father and Rokusuke's master, under the cover of darkness. Rokusuke becomes furious now that he knows he was deceived, and goes out with Osono to avenge himself on Kyōgoku Takumi.
YŪGIRI NAGORI NO SHŌGATSU
Yukari no Tsuki
['Yūgiri and Memories of Love']
CAST :
- Fujiya Izaemon
- Nakamura Toranosuke
- Yūgiri, a courtesan of the Ōgiya House
- Nakamura Kazutarō
- Tsurushichi, a jester
- Nakamura Kikaku
- Ofusa, Saburobē’s wife
- Nakamura Senjaku
- Ōgiya Saburobē
- Nakamura Ganjirō
STORY :
The roots of this play go back to the earliest days of kabuki. The young lover Izaemon has been disowned by his family for loving a courtesan. This role is a classic example of 'wagoto', the gentle style of acting that was popular in the Kyoto and Osaka region. His lover Yūgiri, the fabulous courtesan, died pining away with love for him. As he prays to Amida Buddha to hold a memorial service for her, he faints, and Yūgiri appears before him. They celebrate their reunion and reminisce about the past, but she disappears. He is pleased that he was reunited with her even though it was only in a dream.
ŌATARI FUSHIMI NO TOMIKUJI
['A Winning Lottery Ticket of Fushimi']
CAST :
- Kōjirō, a waste paper man
- Matsumoto Kōshirō
- Nioteru, a courtesan
- Nakamura Ganjirō
- Kurozumi Heima
- Nakamura Shidō
- Okinu, Kōjirō’s sister
- Nakamura Kazutarō
- Kisuke
- Ōtani Hirotarō
- Hōkichi
- Nakamura Toranosuke
- Chidori, a courtesan of the Shimabara Pleasure Quarters
- Sawamura Sōnosuke
- Kumataka no Otsume
- Kamimura Kichiya
- Shinanoya Denshichi
- Ichikawa Monnosuke
- Sesshūsai, a painter
- Nakamura Karoku
STORY :
This is a light comedy portraying Kōjirō, now a waste paper man but who was originally a clerk in a large business that went bankrupt. Now he dreams of restoring the shop of his old master. He has also lost his heart to the courtesan Nioteru. It looks like his dreams will come true when he buys a winning lottery ticket, but it seems that the ticket gets lost among his wastepaper. This month's performance is a revival of this play, giving new life to an old-fashioned Osaka comedy.
SUGAWARA DENJU TENARAI KAGAMI
Terakoya
['The Village School' from 'Sugawara's Secrets of Calligraphy']
CAST :
- Matsuōmaru
- Kataoka Nizaemon (Program A)
Matsumoto Kōshirō (Program B) - Chiyo, Matsuōmaru’s wife
- Kataoka Takatarō
- Takebe Genzō
- Matsumoto Kōshirō (Program A)
Nakamura Hayato (Program B) - Tonami, Genzō’s wife
- Nakamura Kazutarō
- Kotarō
- Nakamura Haruki
- Yotarō, a drooling kid
- Kamimura Kichitarō
- Sansuke, Matsuōmaru’s servant
- Kataoka Matsunosuke
- Gosaku, a farmer
- Matsumoto Kingo
- Shundō Genba
- Nakamura Kikaku
- Sono'o no mae
- Ichikawa Komazō
STORY :
Takebe Genzō was Kan Shōjō's most gifted disciple. Kan Shōjō has been exiled and his family is in grave danger. Genzō runs a small school in the country and shelters Kan Shōjō's son and heir, Kan Shūsai, whom they are trying to pass off as their own son. However, word has gotten out that Kan Shūsai is at their school and Genzō has been ordered to behead him. Moreover, the retainer Matsuōmaru who knows Kan Shūsai's face is to come to inspect the head. Genzō's only hope is to kill one of the other students as a substitute. On that day, a new student named Kotarō who has a refined bearing arrives. Genzō takes the terrible decision to kill him in place of his lord's son.
GOJŌ BASHI
['Gojō Bridge']
CAST :
- Musashibō Benkei
- Nakamura Shidō
- Ushiwakamaru
- Nakamura Haruki
STORY :
A short dance showing Ushiwaka, a delicate young man who actually is a powerful warrior picking fights on the Gojō bridge and Benkei, the stout warrior priest who challenges him.
Shinjū Ten no Amijima
KAWASHŌ
['The Kawashō Teahouse' from 'The Love Suicides at Amijima']
CAST :
- Kamiya Jihē
- Nakamura Ganjirō (Program A)
Nakamura Senjaku (Program B) - Kinokuniya Koharu
- Nakamura Senjaku (Program A)
Nakamura Kazutarō (Program B) - Edoya Tahē
- Matsumoto Kōshirō
- Gokan’ya Zenroku
- Nakamura Kazutarō (Program A)
Nakamura Kikaku (Program B) - Sangorō, an apprentice
- Nakamura Toranosuke
- Kawachiya Oshō
- Kamimura Kichiya
- Koya Magoemon
- Nakamura Ganjirō (Program B)
Nakamura Karoku (Program A)
STORY :
Despite being married, the paper seller Jihē is in love with the courtesan Koharu, and all those around them are afraid that they will commit lovers' suicide. Jihē's brother Magoemon masquerades as a samurai to find out Koharu's true feelings. Jihē listens in from the outside and is astonished to hear her say that she does not want to commit suicide. In a rage, Jihē breaks off all relations with her, while Magoemon is moved to learn that she has done this out of consideration for the feelings of Osan, Jihē's wife.