As kabuki fans will already know, for more than 30 years, the Kokaido (public hall) in Asakusa has celebrated the Tokyo district's history as a thriving entertainment area by reviving the Edo Period (1603-1867) tradition of New Year's special kabuki performances. These shows have also become a great opportunity for younger actors to take on lead roles and prove themselves as rising kabuki stars.
This year, the program is led by Ichikawa Kamejiro (Takahiko Kinoshi), 36, who is followed by nine other promising young actors. Split into Parts I and II, there are two short plays — "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden (The Eight Dog Warriors)" and "Kuruwa Bunsho (A Letter From the Pleasure Quarters)" — for the morning performance, and one longer play — "Katakiuchi Tengajayamura (The Vendetta at Tengajaya)" — in the afternoon.
Part II's "Katakiuchi Tengajayamura," a classic tale of two brothers seeking revenge for their father's death, offers the opportunity to see Kamejiro as the villain Adachi Motoemon, a character often considered the highlight of the play. But if a full day of theater is a bit much for you, it is Part I, with its two plays that are entirely different in nature, that offers the audience more variety of performance.