Program / Single Show (4F)
February

February Grand Kabuki(February 1 - 25, 2010)

The February program at Kabuki-za features the top stars in kabuki in two colorful programs that start off the gala farewell to the old Kabuki-za building. This will be one of your final chances to see kabuki in the largest and most important kabuki theatre in Japan.

Matinee 11:00am
Act Performance Time On Sale
at		 Price
(Yen)
1 TSUMEO
 11:00am - 11:34am 10:30am 1,100
2 SHUNKAN
 11:54am - 1:13pm
3 KOJO 1:43pm -2:05pm 1:20pm 700
4 JIISAN BAASAN 2:30pm - 3:45pm 2:10pm 1,200

TSUMEO (The Talons of the King)
This is a rare performance of a unique dance based on a children’s story of a falconer and his young falcon by Togawa Yukio (1912 – 2004). His stories are based on a wealth of observation of nature and this unlikely theme for a kabuki dance was first staged in a commemorative performance for the Saruwaka school of classical Japanese dance, a school closely associated with the Nakamura Kanzaburo family.
SHUNKAN
The priest Shunkan has been exiled to "Devil's Island" for plotting against the dictator Kiyomori. A pardon is given to his fellow conspirators, but Shunkan is only saved by an additional pardon given by Kiyomori's compassionate son. Even so, he gives up his place on the boat to freedom so his companion's new wife can accompany her husband back to the capital. The boat leaves and Shunkan is left watching it disappear in the distance, knowing he will be left on the island forever.
KOJO (Stage Announcement)
There is a close relationship between the stage and the audience in kabuki and this is shown by these ceremonial stage announcements where the top stars of the company address the audience directly. This month’s program commemorates the late Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII (1909 – 1988), one of the most beloved actors of the 20th century and features plays for which he was famous. The stars of the program will share their memories of the late Kanzaburo, both onstage and off.
JIISAN BAASAN (The Old Couple)
Based on a short story by Mori Ogai, this modern play by Uno Nobuo shows a loving young couple. The samurai Iori travels to Kyoto with his lord, leaving Run, his beloved wife, behind. While there, he attacks another man in a fight over a sword and is forced into house arrest, separating him from his wife. Many years later, he returns to his home as an old man. There he meets an elderly woman and they do not recognize each other until she sees the one thing that has not changed with age, Iori's peculiar habit of putting his hand to his nose.

Evening Show 4:30pm
Act Performance Time On Sale
at		 Price
(Yen)
1 TSUBOSAKA REIGENKI 4:30pm - 5:45pm 4:00pm 800
2 TAKATSUKI
 6:05pm - 6:36pm 5:50pm 700
3 KAGOTSURUBE SATO NO EIZAME 7:06pm - 9:02pm 6:40pm 1,500

TSUBOSAKA REIGENKI (The Miracle at Tsubosaka)
This Meiji period play captures the flavor of medieval theater with a miracle tale of the history of a temple, in this case, the Tsubosaka temple outside Nara. It is also famous for its spectacular Takemoto shamisen music. Sawaichi, a blind masseur laments being a burden on his loving wife and tries to commit suicide, but is saved by the miraculous help of the merciful Kannon.
TAKATSUKI (The Raised Tray)
A light comical dance based on the style of classical Kyogen farce. In Kyogen, there are many plays where a master sends out a servant to get something, only for the servant to come back with something totally different. This is a modern play written in the early 20th century to introduce tap dancing into kabuki. While they are viewing the cherry blossoms, a master sends his servant for a “takatsuki,” which is a kind of tray on a stand. Instead, the servant meets an unscrupulous clog peddler who sells him a clog or “takaashi.” The servant gets drunk and finally, as he tries to explain to his master how the clogs are exactly right, he wears them and starts to dance, ending the play with an exuberant kabuki version of a tap dance.
KAGOTSURUBE SATO NO EIZAME (The Courtesan Yatsuhashi and Sano Jirozaemon)
The play shows a humble, pockmarked merchant from the country named Jirozaemon. He is wealthy, but because of the way he looks, has never thought that it would be possible to have a woman. He and his servant go sightseeing in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters and a chance look at top courtesan Yatsuhashi who smiles at him, makes Jirozaemon fall in love. However, the pleasure quarters are full of intrigue, and on the eve of the day that Jirozaemon is to buy up Yatsuhashi's contract, her true love Einojo forces her to reject and humiliate Jirozaemon in the middle of the celebratory banquet. Jirozaemon seems to forgive her, but returns with the sword Kagotsurube to exact his revenge.
Admission (Including Tax) (1F) 20,000yen 15,000yen
(2F) 20,000yen 15,000yen
(3F) 6,000yen 3,000yen