During the month of April, the Kabukiza in Ginza is offering its annual Nakamura-kai program, featuring such major actors as Kichiemon, Jakuemon, Ganjiro, Tomijuro and Baigyoku, who belong to the Nakamura line of kabuki actors.
It's an inviting program, with the distinguished onnagata and Living National Treasure Jakuemon appearing in "Kasane" and "Terakoya" with his nephew Kichiemon, and Ganjiro, the champion of the "soft" wagoto style of acting associated with Kyoto and Osaka, leading his sons Kanjaku and Senjaku in two classic Chikamatsu works. The plays are dedicated to Ganjiro's father Ganjiro II, who died in 1983.
The afternoon program begins with a scene from the historical work, "Yoshitsune's Letter from Koshigoe," adapted from a 1754 bunraku play. Gotobei (Tomijuro) is waiting to be introduced to the famous general Minamoto no Yoshitsune, hoping to join his forces, but two other samurai conspire to ruin Gotobei's chances by encouraging him to drink too much sake. Helplessly drunk, Gotobei dances the auspicious dance "Sanbaso" with a group of comical house servants.