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- NEW
- KABUKI
- SUMO
- ART
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- DRAMA
- LANGUAGE
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| Masterpieces of Kabuki Theatre Series |
A new series of Kabuki Plays from NHK
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| Series of
33 DVDs, with English commentary option |
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Volume One
KANJINCHO: THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST
Featuring ICHIKAWA Danjuro XII, NAKAMURA Tomijuro V, ONOE Kikugoro VII
78 minutes, 1997
Kanjincho, a central piece in the Kabuki Repertoire, is one of the “Great 18 Plays” and dates back to 1840. Based on the Noh play, Ataka, Kanjincho recounts General Yoshitsune’s narrow escape from capture through the guileful intrigue of his loyal retainer Benkei.
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Volume Two
TOGITATSU NO UTARE: THE REVENGE ON TOGITATSU
Featuring NAKAMURA Kankuro V, BANDO Mitsugoro X, NAKAMURA Fukusuke IX
Directed by NODA Hideki / 112 minutes, 2001
First staged in 1925, this version has been updated by noted contemporary director NODA Hideki. A comic drama, inspired by a real life event from1827, this piece takes the age-old theme of samurai honour and revenge presenting it in a refreshingly modern light with touches of irony.
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Volume Three
KUMAGAI JINYA: KUMAGAI’S BATTLE CAMP
Featuring MATSUMOTO Koshiro IX, NAKAMURA Jakuemon IV, ICHIKAWA Somegoro VII
86 minutes, 2002
One of the classics of the jidaimono or historical plays, this famous act chronicles a dramatic incident during the Battle of Ichinotani, during the long war between Genji and the Heike Clans.
General Kumagai is, like many Kabuki tragic heros, a victim of the medieval Japanese code of honor. Confronted with the prospect of having to kill the Emperor’s son, he beheads his own son instead. Released from further duty, he spends his last days as a wandering priest.
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Volume Four
YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA: YOSHITSUNE & THE 1000 CHERRY TREES
(Three Scenes: Kawatsura Hôgen Yakata no Ba, Okuniwa no Ba, Zaôdôhanayagura no ba)
Featuring ICHIKAWA Ennosuke III, BANDO Tamasburo V, ICHIKAWA Danshiro IV
99 minutes, 2000
Three scenes presented here come from the fourth and fifth act of this historical drama. Originally a Bunraku play, this is one of the most gorgeous and luxuriant works in the Kabuki repertoire. In the final scene, teamed with the great onnagata performer BANDO Tamasaburo, ICHIKAWA Ennosuke performs his signature piece as the enchanted fox.
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Volume Five
KOCHIYAMA: THE ROBBER KOCHIYAMA
Featuring NAKAMURA Kichiemon II, ICHIKAWA Sadanji IV
90 minutes, 1999
This play is a late masterpiece by KAWATAKE Mokuami, perhaps the last of the great traditional Kabuki playwrights. The main character, Kochiyama, is a notorious gambler and extortionist masquerading as a Buddhist Priest. NAKAMURA Kichiemon plays the lead role, which was also a specialty of his grandfather.
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Volume Six
SHIRANAMI GONIN OTOKO: THE FIVE BANDITS
Featuring ONOE Kikugoro VII and ICHIKAWA Sadanji IV
102 minutes, 2000
The story of the notorious bandit Benten Kozô and his cohorts, a sinister and menacing group who live outside the law but who nevertheless abide by their own code of honour. ONOE Kikugoro, skillful at both male and female roles, plays both the samurai’s daughter and the villain Benten Kozô.
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Volume Seven
FUINKIRI- BREAKING THE SEAL
Featuring NAKAMURA Ganjirô III, NAKAMURA Senjaku III, NAKAMURA Tomijûrô V
83 minutes, 1999
Fuinkiri is the central act of the great Chikamatsu drama, MEIDO NO HIKYAKU (THE COURIER FOR HELL). NAKAMURA Ganjirô plays the courier Chubei who, tormented by love for the courtesan Umegawa, cannot resist the temptation to break open a packet of money he is carrying for a customer. Once the seal is broken, all is lost and Chubei rushes to off to meet his lover.
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Volume Eight
ISE ONDO KOI NO NETABA: THE ISE DANCES & LOVE’S DULL BLADE
Featuring KATAOKA Nizaemon XV, NAKAMURA Jakuemon IV, BANDO Tamasaburo V
109 minutes, 1995
Based on an actual multiple murder in the Aburaya Tea House, this play is one of the most popular in the Kabuki repertoire, combining action, intrigue and a spectacularly grotesque murder. This play is a staple of summer Kabuki performances in the belief that the audience will be cooled as they shiver with fear through the horrific killing scene.
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Volume Nine
FUJI MUSUME: THE WISTERIA MAIDEN Featuring ONOE Baiko VII (1987)
YASUNA Featuring NAKAMURA Shikan VII (2003)
SAGI MUSUME: THE HERON MAIDEN Featuring BANDO Tamasaburo V (2002)
73 minutes
The three great dances of Kabuki performed by some of the greatest onnagata performers.
FUJI MUSUME is a dance of unrequited love; the Wisteria Maiden recalls the promises of an unfaithful lover. YASUNA is a court astrologer who goes mad with grief after his betrothed
commits suicide when caught up in a court intrigue. SAGI MUSUME, is also a story of unrequited love. The heron is transformed as a maiden who remembers her tragically unfulfilled longings through dance.
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Volume Ten
TERAKOYA: THE VILLAGE SCHOOL
Featuring MATSUMOTO Koshiro VIII, NAKAMURA Ganjirô II, NAKAMURA Shikan VII
1975, 89 minutes
The final act of SUGAWARA’S SECRETS OF CALLIGRAPHY is one of the great tragic scenes in all Kabuki in which Matsuomaru and his wife Chiyo sacrifice their own child so that the son of their Lord Michizane may live.
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Volume Eleven
DATTAN – THE FIRE RITUAL
Featuring NAKAMURA Shoroku II
1970, 42 minutes
First performed in 1967, this dance piece is a recreation of the annual Shuni-e ritual that takes place at the great Todaiji Temple in Nara. This ritual was performed on behalf of the state to prevent natural disasters, epidemics and rebellions and to ensure bountiful harvests and peace across the Nation.
NININ WANKYU – THE TWO WANKYUS
Featuring NAKAMURA Shoroku II, NAKAMURA Tomijuro V, NAKAMURA Jakuemon IV
2000, 37 minutes
One of the oldest dances in the Kabuki repertoire, Ninin Wankyû recounts the story of
Wanya Kyûbei, the son of a rich merchant who fell in love with the courtesan Matsuyama. He squanders such huge amounts of money on his visits to the courtesan that his parents finally place him under house arrest. He escapes and wanders the streets penniless, eventually drowning in the Aji River.
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Volume Twelve
SUMIDAGAWA: SUMIDA RIVER
Featuring NAKAMURA Utaemon VI, NAKAMURA Kanzaburo XVII
1986, 46 minutes
A widow discovers that her only son has gone missing from the temple where he was being educated. While searching for her lost child, she encounters a boatman on the Sumida River who leads her to his grave. Learning of her son’s death, the woman madly chases after his ghost then collapses on his grave, vowing to spend the rest of her life in prayer.
HANABUSA SHUJAKU JISHI: SHUJAKU LION DANCE
Featuring NAKAMURA Jakuemon IV
2001, 31 minutes
A dance piece derived from the Noh play SHAKKYO, Shûjaku Jishi shows a courtesan performing a classic lion dance. The lion invades her spirit and she dances in a frenzy to escape. Like all lion dances in Kabuki, this piece is a great test of the dancing skills of the onnagata (female role player) performer.
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Volume Thirteen
JUSSHUKO: TEN TYPES OF INCENSE
Featuring NAKAMURA Utaemon VI, ONOE Baiko VII, NAKAMURA Shikan VII, KATAOKA Nizaemon XIII
1983, 57 minutes
This piece is one of the great examples of Kabuki plays adapted from the Bunraku Puppet Theatre. The role of Princess Yaêgiki, here played by NAKAMURA Utaemon VI is one of the most difficult princess roles in the Kabuki repertoire. Set in the 16th century, this play depicts and power struggle between two warlords feuding over a sacred helmet.
KENREIMONIN
Featuring NAKAMURA Utaemon VI, SHIMADA Shogo
1995, 57 minutes
Drawn from The Tale of the Heike, this plays recounts the dramatic and tragic life of Taira no Tokuko who took the name of Kenreimonin. In this act, Kenreimon renounces the world in order to become a Buddhist nun. She spends the remainder of her life praying for the souls of her dead Heike clansmen.
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Volume Fourteen
YAMATO TAKERU; SUPER KABUKI
Featuring ICHIKAWA Ennosuke III, ICHIKAWA Danshiro IV, ICHIKAWA Emiya II
1995, 180 minutes
Yamato Takeru is the legend of the second century warrior hero who conquered the southern islands, expanding the territory of Japan for the Imperial Government.
During the 1990’s ICHIKAWA Ennosuke III, one of the Kabuki world’s biggest stars, mounted a series of modernized Kabuki works calling them Super Kabuki. YAMATO TAKERU was the first and most famous.
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Volume Fifteen
IPPON GATANA DOHYO IRI: THE WRESTLING RING AND THE SWORD
Featuring NAKAMURA Utaemon VI, NAKAMURA Kanzaburo XVII
1983, 94 minutes
A play from the 1930’s Featuring characters from the underworld; gangsters, petty thieves and prostitutes. The wrestler Mobei, finding himself penniless, is helped by the waitress Otsuta. Years later he re-visits her tea house and is able to return her kindness. |
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Volume Sixteen
KANJINCHO: THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST
Featuring ONOE Kikugoro VI, MATSUMOTO Koshiro VII, ICHIMURA Uzaemon XV
1943, Black & White, 77 minutes
This early film version of Kanjincho features many of the legendary Kabuki performers of the mid-twentieth century, especially Kikugoro VI, considered one of the greatest actors in Kabuki history.
Kanjincho, a signature piece in the Kabuki Repertoire, is one of the “Great 18 Plays” and dates back to 1840. Based on the Noh play, Ataka, Kanjincho recounts General Yoshitsune’s narrow escape from assassination with the help of his loyal retainer Benkei.
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This four volume set (5 DVDs) covers the most
important scenes of one of the greatest works in all Japanese
theater. Based on a true story of revenge more widely known
as the "Tale
of the 47 Ronin", this story has been adapted in countless
films, including one major work by Kenji
Mizoguchi, Genroku Chushingura,
1941.
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Volume
Seventeen
KANADEHON CHUSHINGURA Part 1
of 4
Featuring ONOE Shoroku II, ONOE Baiko
VII, ICHIMURA Uzaemon XVII and NAKAMURA Shikan
190 minutes on two DVDs, Japanese with English subtitles & Optional
English Commentary, 1977
Prologue
Act 3 At the Gate of the Ashikaga Mansion and Bloodshed in the Pine Room
Act 4 Hangan's Harakiri, and Surrendering the Mansion
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Volume
Eighteen
KANADEHON CHUSHINGURA Part 2
of 4
Featuring NAKAMURA Kanzaburo XVII, ONOE
Baiko VII, NAKAMURA Utaemon VI and ICHIMURA Uzaemon XVII
154 minutes, DVD, Japanese with English subtitles & Optional English
Commentary, 1977
Michiyuki Scene of Okaru and Kampei
Act 5 The Yamazaki Highway and the Two Bullets
Act 6 The Suicide of Kanpei |
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Volume
Nineteen
KANADEHON CHUSHINGURA Part 3
of 4
Featuring ONOE Shoroku II, NAKAMURA
Utaemon VI and MATSUMOTO Koshiro VIII
106 minutes, DVD, Japanese with English subtitles & optional English
Commentary, 1977
Act 7 The Ichiriki Teahouse in Gion,
Kyoto
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Volume
Twenty
KANADEHON CHUSHINGURA Part 4
of 4
Featuring NAKAMURA Utaemon VI, MATSUMOTO
Koshiro VIII, KATAOKA Nizaemon XIII, NAKAMURA Shikan, NAKAMURA
Jakuemon and ONOE Shoroku II
123 minutes, DVD, Japanese with English subtitles & optional English
Commentary, 1977
Act 9 Seclusion in Yamashina
Act 11 The Attack on Morono's Mansion |
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Volume
Twenty One
SUKEROKU: FLOWER OF EDO
Featuring ICHIKAWA Danjuro XII, ONOE
Kikugoro V, ICHIKAWA Sadanji, NAKAMURA Jakuemon
119 minutes, Japanese with English subtitles, Optional English Commentary
One of the great entertainments of Kabuki, Sukeroku tells
the story of the handsome and dashing Sukeroku and his lover,
Agemaki.
One of The Eighteen Favorite Plays (Juhachiban) of the Ichikawa
family of actors. First performed in 1713. |
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Volume
Twenty Two
KUROZUKA: THE BLACK MOUND
Featuring ICHIKAWA Ennosuke III, SAWAMURA
Sojuro IX, ICHIKAWA Danshiro, and ICHIKAWA Monnosuke.
78 minutes, Japanese with optional English Commentary
A dance work based on the Noh play Adachigahara shows
Ichikawa Ennosuke III at his best as he plays the part of
the old woman Iwate, a demon in disguise. First performed
in 1939 by Ennosuke’s grandfather Eno. |
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Volume
Twenty Three
AKOYA - THE COURTESAN AKOYA
Featuring BANDO Tamasaburo V, NAKAMURA Kankuro V (renamed Kanzaburo XVIII), NAKAMURA
Baigyoku IV
The famous love story of Akoya and Kagekiyo, a warrior of the Heike Clan. Akoya
is captured and threatened with torture if she does not reveal the whereabouts
of her lover. In a highly emotional musical scene, Akoya manages to persuade
her captors that she does not know his whereabouts.
English subtitles and Optional English Commentary
76 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Four
THE RENOWNED BANZUI CHOBEI
Featuring MATSUMOTO Koshiro IX, ONOE Kikugoro VII, NAKAMURA Shikan VII, NAKAMURA
Kankuro V (renamed Kanzaburo XVIII), ICHIKAWA Sadanji IV.
Banzui Chobei is a "sewamomo" or contemporary play, first performed
in 1881. The chief character, Chobei, is a former samurai trying to adapt to
changes in society at the end of the Edo Period.
English subtitles and Optional English Commentary
92 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Five
GOSHO NO GOROZO: THE GALLANT
GOROZO
Featuring ONOE Kikugoro, NAKAMURA Shikan VII, ICHIKAWA Sadanji IV
BANDO Mitsugoro X
The story of an "otokodate", a Robin Hood type of character
said to have been common after the end of the samurai era, focuses on the conflict
between two former samurai, Gorozo and his enemy Hoshikage Doemon.
English subtitles and Optional English Commentary
73 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Six
KENUKI: THE WHISKER TWEEZERS and NARUKAMI THE PRIEST
Featuring: ICHIKAWA Danjuro XII, NAKAMURA Tokizo V, ICHIKAWA Ebizo IX
ONOE Baiko VII
This DVD presents two of the greatest plays from Kabuki's "18 Favourite
Plays" - the Kabuki juhachiban. Kenuki and Narukami are representative
works of the Ichikawa Danjuro line of actors and display their famed aragoto bravura-acting
style
English subtitles and Optional English Commentary
157 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Seven
IBARAKI and SAKANAYA SOGORO
Featuring ONOE Shoroku II, ONOE Baiko VII
Ibaraki is a dance piece based on the legend of Ibaraki Doji a demon who resided
at Rashomon Gate at Toji Temple in Kyoto.
Sakanaya Sogoro - Sogoro the Fishmonger - is originally adapted from a Bunraku
puppet play Featuring an hilarious sequence in which Sogoro drinks himself into
a stupor.
Optional English Commentary
104 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Eight
IGAGOE DOCHU SUGUROKU - IN
NUMAZU
Featuring NAKAMURA Ginjiro II and KATAOKA Nizaemon XIV
The story of divided loyalties and a longstanding vendetta over a murder. In
the Numazu acts, seen here, a son and father find themselves on the opposite
sides of the conflict. Each loyal to his own cause, they are prevented from revealing
their true identities.
Optional English Commentary
109 minutes
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Volume
Twenty Nine
DATE NO JUYAKU: TEN ROLES OF
THE DATE CLAN
Featuring ICHIKAWA Ennosuke III, ICHIKAWA Danshiro
In this spectacular play, revived in 1979, Ichikawa Ennosuke plays 10 roles,
both female and male, through 47 quick costume changes onstage and off. In the
role of the fierce hero, Nikki Danjo, Ennosuke flys over the heads of the audience
at the Kabuki-za Theatre in Tokyo.
Optional English Commentary
177 minutes
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Volume
Thirty
YOSHITSUNE SENBON ZAKURA: TOKAI-YA,
DAIMOTSU NO URA
Featuring KATAOKA Nizaemon, NAKAMURA Fukusuke, NAKAMURA Shikan VII
This DVD presents Tokai-ya and Daimotsu no Ura; from the second act of Yoshitsune
Senbon Zakura, originally one of the great masterpieces of the Bunraku Puppet
Theatre. The scene ends with a powerful sequence in which warrior Tomomori, tied
to huge anchor, throws himself into the sea.
Optional English Commentary
108 minutes
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Volume
Thirty One
ISHIKIRI KAJIWARA - STONE CUTTING
KAJIWARA
Featuring NAKAMURA Kichiemon II, NAKAMURA Tomijuro V
The story of legendary swordsman Kajiwara Heizo and a treasured sword belonging
to the Genji clan. Kajiwara demonstrates the power of the sword by splitting
a stone water trough.
Optional English Commentary
85 minutes
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Volume
Thirty Two
THREE KABUKI DANCES
BO SHIBARI, Featuring NAKAMURA Kankuro V
, BANDO Yajuro, BANDO Mitsugoro X TOSHIMA, Featuring
NAKAMURA Shikan VII
TOMO YAKKO, Featuring NAKAMURA Tomijuro V
Bo Shibari is an hilarious dance piece in which
the key characters manage to become progressively drunk
even as they are tied to a pole.
In Toshima a former geisha dances amongst the falling cherry blossoms
as she recalls the days of her youth in the pleasure quarters.
In Tomo Yakko, a servant comically imitates the mannerisms of his absent
master.
Optional English Commentary
76 minutes
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Volume
Thirty Three
KINKAKUJI: THE TEMPLE OF THE
GOLDEN PAVILION
Featuring NAKAMURA Jakuemon IV, MATSUMOTO Koshiro, NAKAMURA Shikan VII
Set in gorgeous Kinkakuji, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, this play
is about an encounter between the warrior Matsunaga Daizen and the Princess Yuki.
This scene features particularly elaborate staging unique to Kabuki.
Optional English Commentary
96 minutes
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For More Information
Contact Marty Gross Film Productions, Inc. 416.536.3355 or
email videos@martygrossfilms.com for
more information about purchasing or licensing these films for broadcast.
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