The program and cast are set for Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance 2027 and Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027, the nationwide touring productions from the Nakamuraya troupe centered on Nakamura Kankuro and Nakamura Shichinosuke.
Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance 2027 opens on Friday, March 5, 2027 at Kamakura Arts Center in Kanagawa, then tours Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Aichi, Yamanashi, Tokyo, Osaka, Shiga, Akita, Iwate, and other locations across the country.
Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027 opens on Wednesday, March 24, 2027 at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in Tokyo, followed by performances in Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and other areas.
Kankuro and Shichinosuke Portray a Married Couple's Affection in Yado no Tsuki
Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance 2027 opens with a "Talk Corner," in which the cast speaks about the appeal of kabuki and the highlights of the performance.
In the piece that follows, Niwaka-jishi, Nakamura Tsurumatsu takes the role of a fire brigade chief and, together with the full company of disciples, performs a stylish, colorful dance steeped in the atmosphere of old Edo.
Then in Yado no Tsuki, Nakamura Kankuro plays Kametaro and Nakamura Shichinosuke plays Otsuru. It is a dance drama that portrays a married couple's affection and the passage of time with warm humor — look forward to the finely tuned performance created by Kankuro and Shichinosuke together.
Shichinosuke and Tsurumatsu's Radiant Ninin Fujimusume, and Kankuro With Kantaro and Chozaburo in Renjishi, Father and Son by Day and by Night
Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027 follows the cast's "Greetings and Program Introduction" with Ninin Fujimusume, performed by Nakamura Shichinosuke and Nakamura Tsurumatsu.
Against a backdrop of wisteria blossoms filling the stage, two wisteria spirits perform a radiant dance, and audiences can enjoy a beautiful stage enhanced by gorgeous costumes.
The program also features Renjishi, a masterpiece dance written by Kawatake Mokuami. Nakamura Kankuro plays the actor Ukon, later the spirit of the parent lion; in the matinee performance, Nakamura Chozaburo plays the actor Sakon, later the spirit of the cub lion, and in the evening performance, Nakamura Kantaro takes that role.
Based on the legend in which a parent lion pushes its cub into a deep ravine to test its strength to climb back up, Renjishi portrays the affection between parent and child. The finely tuned dance and dynamic mane-tossing that Kankuro performs with Chozaburo and with Kantaro, father and son by day and by night, are not to be missed. Nakamura Tsurumatsu plays the Jodo-sect monk Hennen and Nakamura Sanzaemon plays the Hokke-sect monk Rennen, and the lighthearted exchange between the two monks of different sects adds color to the stage.
About Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance and Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance
The Nakamuraya troupe, centered on Nakamura Kankuro and Nakamura Shichinosuke, has held Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance and Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance every year, at times under the names Shinryoku and Kinshu depending on the season. The tour has continued across the country since 2005, reaching all 47 prefectures of Japan by 2022.
The nationwide tour began after a letter reached Kankuro and Shichinosuke from a young fan living in a rural area, saying that travel and lodging costs made it difficult to go and see kabuki. Drawing also on the experience of touring the country as a father-and-sons company with their father, the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo, the brothers decided that they themselves would travel across the country so that more people could see kabuki, giving rise to the nationwide touring special performances built around the two brothers.
Offering a different program and approach each year so that both first-time kabuki audiences and longtime fans of kabuki and traditional performing arts can enjoy the show, the tour continues in 2027 with a distinctive lineup, bringing the appeal of Nakamuraya kabuki to venues across the country.
Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance — Program
Talk Corner
Niwaka-jishi — Nagauta Hayashi Ensemble
- Fire brigade chief: Nakamura Tsurumatsu
- And the full company of disciples
Yado no Tsuki — Nagauta Hayashi Ensemble
- Written by Tanaka Seiji
- Choreography by the 2nd Nishikawa Koizaburo
- Kametaro: Nakamura Kankuro
- Otsuru: Nakamura Shichinosuke
About the Program
Talk Corner
Kankuro and Shichinosuke share candid, lighthearted stories that can only be heard on this occasion, and in a question corner they answer questions directly from the audience. This ever-popular segment is not to be missed.
Niwaka-jishi
It is the day of Niwaka, a lively, colorful annual event in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter. Edokko who have shown off various arts at the festival return to the teahouse and perform a dance steeped in the atmosphere of the quarter. Enjoy this stylish, colorful scene, rich with the mood of Yoshiwara and playful touches drawn from a lion dance.
Yado no Tsuki
Otsuru and Tsurutaro have just celebrated their wedding. Once fresh and innocent, the couple changes after they are blessed with a child: Otsuru gradually grows more capable, while Tsurutaro becomes listless and unreliable. As the years pass, their relationship keeps shifting...
Enjoy this scene, which portrays a married couple's love with warmth and humor.
Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance — Program
Greetings and Program Introduction
Ninin Fujimusume — Nagauta Hayashi Ensemble
- Wisteria spirit: Nakamura Shichinosuke
- Wisteria spirit: Nakamura Tsurumatsu
Renjishi — Nagauta Hayashi Ensemble, written by Kawatake Mokuami
- Matinee
- Actor Ukon, later the spirit of the parent lion: Nakamura Kankuro
- Actor Sakon, later the spirit of the cub lion: Nakamura Chozaburo
- Jodo-sect monk Hennen: Nakamura Tsurumatsu
- Hokke-sect monk Rennen: Nakamura Sanzaemon
- Evening
- Actor Ukon, later the spirit of the parent lion: Nakamura Kankuro
- Actor Sakon, later the spirit of the cub lion: Nakamura Kantaro
- Jodo-sect monk Hennen: Nakamura Tsurumatsu
- Hokke-sect monk Rennen: Nakamura Sanzaemon
- Matinee
About the Program
Greetings and Program Introduction
Ninin Fujimusume
As the lights come up on a darkened stage to the sound of the clappers, a wisteria maiden appears. A representative kabuki dance piece choreographed by the 6th Onoe Kikugoro that continues to captivate audiences with its colorful, radiant movement, it is performed here by Shichinosuke and Tsurumatsu together.
Renjishi
Two lion tamers, Ukon and Sakon, dance the story of a parent and cub lion, kings of beasts. The parent lion pushes the cub into a deep ravine to test its strength, and when the cub endures and climbs back up, the two rejoice together and complete the dance. The pair then take on the forms of lions...
Do not miss this powerful, celebrated stage portraying the affection between parent and child lion, performed by Kankuro and his own children.
Profiles
Nakamura Kankuro
Born in 1981 in Tokyo, the eldest son of the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo.
He made his first stage appearance at Kabukiza in January 1986. In January 1987, he took the name of the 2nd Nakamura Kantaro and made his official debut playing the elder of two brothers named Momotaro in Kabukiza's Kadode Futari Momotaro. In February 2012, he took the name of the 6th Nakamura Kankuro at Shinbashi Enbujo, performing roles including the monk Chicho, who is really the spirit of the earth spider, in Tsuchigumo, and the page Yayoi, later the spirit of the lion, in Shunkyo Kagamijishi.
Beyond kabuki, he continues wide-ranging, energetic activity, including the stage productions Okuribito and Sanada Juyushi, the reading drama Biome, the NHK period drama Shinsengumi!, and the film Zen. In 2019, he played one of the lead roles, Kanakuri Shiso, in the NHK taiga drama Idaten — Tokyo Orimpikku Banashi. In December 2021, he starred as Nakamura Nakazo in the BS Premium/BS4K drama Chushingura Kyoshikyoku No. 5: Nakamura Nakazo Shusse Kaidan, which was also broadcast on NHK General TV in December 2022. In 2024, marking the 13th memorial anniversary of the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo, he appeared in numerous productions throughout the year, including the February Grand Kabuki Saruwaka Festival and Mishima-mura Kabuki, and last year he performed Noda-ban Togitatsu no Utareta for the first time in about 20 years since 2005, among other stage appearances.
Nakamura Shichinosuke
Born in 1983 in Tokyo, the second son of the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo.
He made his first stage appearance at Kabukiza in September 1986, playing the festival child Kankichi in Ori. In January 1987, he took the name of the 2nd Nakamura Shichinosuke and made his official debut playing the younger of two brothers named Momotaro in Kabukiza's Kadode Futari Momotaro.
Since then, he has been active not only on stage but in many other settings. In 2003, he appeared as Emperor Meiji in the Hollywood film The Last Samurai. In 2016, he also appeared in the contemporary play Eternal Chikamatsu, directed by David Leveaux.
He has taken on major onnagata roles, including Agemaki in Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hatsuzakura in 2018 and Yugiri in Kuruwa Bunsho in 2019. In 2019, he played Shinzaburo in Reiwa Gannenban Kaidan Botan Doro, broadcast on BS Premium and other channels. In 2021, he starred as Ito Jakuchu in Rising Jakuchu, broadcast on the same network. In 2022, he received the Encouragement Prize at the 38th Asakusa Performing Arts Awards. In 2023, he played Ishida Mitsunari in the NHK taiga drama Dou Suru Ieyasu. In 2024, marking the 13th memorial anniversary of the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo, he performed in numerous productions throughout the year together with his brother Kankuro, and last year he performed Noda-ban Togitatsu no Utareta for the first time in about 20 years since 2005, among other stage appearances.
Nakamura Kantaro
Appearing only in Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027.
Born February 22, 2011, the eldest son of Nakamura Kankuro; his grandfather is the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo.
In February 2017, he took the name of the 3rd Nakamura Kantaro and made his stage debut playing the elder of two brothers named Momotaro in Kabukiza's Kadode Futari Momotaro. He has since performed roles including Takatsuna's son Koshiro in Omi Genji Senjin Yakata: Moritsuna Jinya at Kabukiza in March 2019, and the young Senmatsu in Meiboku Sendai Hagi at Kabukiza in August 2019.
He took part in his first touring performance, Shungyo Special Performance 2021, in March 2021, and also joined Yoshun Special Performance 2022 in March 2022.
Nakamura Chozaburo
Appearing only in Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027.
Born May 22, 2013, the second son of Nakamura Kankuro; his grandfather is the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo.
In February 2017, he took the name of the 2nd Nakamura Chozaburo and made his stage debut playing the younger of two brothers named Momotaro in Kabukiza's Kadode Futari Momotaro. He has since performed roles including Ashikaga Tsuruchiyo in Meiboku Sendai Hagi in August 2019, and a young kamuro attendant in Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami at Kabukiza in January 2020.
He took part in his first touring performance, Shungyo Special Performance 2021, in March 2021, and also joined Yoshun Special Performance 2022 in March 2022.
Nakamura Tsurumatsu
Born in 1995 in Tokyo.
In May 2000, he appeared under his real name as a child actor, playing Akane no Ue's younger brother Takemaro in Kabukiza's Genji Monogatari. He went on to appear as a child actor in numerous productions.
In May 2005, he took the name of the 2nd Nakamura Tsurumatsu and made his debut as a heyago, playing Suginoo-maru in the Kuruma Biki scene of Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami. Since then, he has continued to hone his craft while appearing in numerous productions as a heyago of the Nakamuraya house.
Beyond kabuki, his stage work includes an appearance in Kurumi Wari Ningyo Gaiden in 2023. In 2023, he also appeared in the Fuji TV drama Shinrei Naikai Ino Chisei. In 2024, marking the 13th memorial anniversary of the 18th Nakamura Kanzaburo, he appeared in various productions alongside Kankuro and Shichinosuke, and at the February Grand Kabuki Saruwaka Festival he took the lead role of Omitsu in Nozakimura. In August 2025, he again appeared in a restaging of Kurumi Wari Ningyo Gaiden, among other stage appearances.
Schedule and Venues
Shungyo Kabuki Special Performance 2027
- March 5 (Fri) — Kanagawa: Kamakura Arts Center
- March 6 (Sat) — Gunma: Takasaki Arts Theater
- March 7 (Sun) — Saitama: Sun City Koshigaya Civic Hall
- March 9 (Tue) — Chiba: Chiba Civic Hall
- March 10 (Wed) — Aichi: Kariya General Cultural Arts Center Iris
- March 13 (Sat) — Yamanashi: YCC Prefectural Culture Hall (Yamanashi Prefectural Culture Hall)
- March 14 (Sun) — Tokyo: J:COM Hall Hachioji
- March 15 (Mon) — Tokyo: Bunkyo Civic Hall
- March 17 (Wed) — Osaka: Hirakata General Cultural Arts Center
- March 18 (Thu) — Shiga: Hikone Cultural Plaza
- March 20 (Sat) — Akita: Akita Arts Theater Milhas
- March 21 (Sun) — Iwate: Tosai Classic Hall Iwate (Iwate Prefectural Hall)
- March 22 (Mon) — Miyagi: Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi
Yoshun Kabuki Special Performance 2027
- March 24 (Wed) — Tokyo: LINE CUBE SHIBUYA
- March 26 (Fri) — Nagasaki: Benex Nagasaki Brick Hall
- March 27 (Sat) — Saga: Mizu Wellbe Hall (Saga City Cultural Hall)
- March 28 (Sun) — Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle Hall, Main Hall
- March 31 (Wed) — Okinawa: Okinawa Convention Center, Theater Building
- April 3 (Sat) — Kagoshima: Hozan Hall
- April 4 (Sun) — Miyazaki: Miyazaki Civic Cultural Hall
Ticket prices and on-sale dates vary by venue. For details, check the official performance website: https://nakamuraya-tour.srptokyo.com/shungyoyoshun2027/
