Shiranami Gonin-otoko (The Five Shiranami Men) was written in 1862 by Kawatake Mokuami. Shiranami means literally 'white waves', and deriving from the Chinese reading of the kanji 'bai-bo', came to mean bandits or men who lead a thoroughly dishonest lifestyle. Mokuami specialized in such shiranami themes, that reflected political and social uncertainty towards the end of Tokugawa period. His characters extol the good and condemn the bad, the heroes of his plays are rascals rather than villains. Sets range from the sparkling scene in a Kamakura temple to the finale set in Gokurakuji temple with a folding roof. One of the highlights is the scene with a twist whereby the character Benten visits a kimono store posing as an alluring woman dressed in a black kimono. His true identity is exposed by a samurai, himself, a disguised Nippon Daemon (leader), Benten strips to reveal a bright red underwear and tattoes of cherry blossoms on his shoulders and arms. Another highlight when the five Shiranami men are presented, standing under cherry trees holding umbrellas on which 'shiranami' is written. Each briefly introduces himself before engaging in a fight with policeman. As if this wasn't involved enough, there is also a sub-plot. All very intriguing and a delight to watch.


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Set in Osaka, a well off client holds a banquet in a tea house for Umegawa, a courtesan working in the tea house. She is however missing her lover, Chubei, who is from a farming family but married into a family that owns a delivery company. A rich man from the countryside decides to claim Umegawa for himself, forcing Chubei to pay more money than he can afford, while another of Chubei's friends also sets his sights on redeeming Umegawa. The mistress of another tea house allows Chubei and Umegawa to meet there. Chubei promises to come up with the required amount, and so commences a series of bids and from different suitors. He is later forced to prove he can afford the redemption fee, and allows one of his rivals to touch the bundle of money inside his kimono. However, he was keeping this money for a samurai, and when coerced into breaking the seal, according to law this means he will be sentenced to death for using the money for his own purposes. Chubei counts out the gold coins, but realizes his only escape is to commit suicide. Umegawa pleas to be his wife only for three days, before the couple agree to commit suicide together.


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Mitsugi, an apprentice at the Ise shrine, endeavors to find a stolen sword belonging to his clan. A courtesan called Okon, is in love with Mitsugi and must pretend to reject him in order to obtain the sword. Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba is best known for it's emotional depiction of the character of Okon, and the finale involving a beautiful and violent dancing killing scene to the music of the Ise pleasure quarters.


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Outstanding DVD of three classic kabuki dance stories. Fuji Musume (The Wisteria Maiden) features a kabuki dance, most famously performed and choreographed by a kabuki actor, Onoe Baiko VII in 1938. The story is set in the town of Otsu, known for its streets lined with paintings. A passerby notices a painting of the wisteria maiden who comes to life, carrying a wisteria (a type of flowering plant). She writes love letters to her admirer, which remained unanswered, so the dancer expresses her feelings of sadness and heartbreak eventually returning to the painting. The accompanying music is particularly evocative. Yasuna is also famous for its kabuki dancing. The dancer performs through various pieces, changing roles and costumes. Yasuna is deeply hurt after his lover commits suicide, remembering happier times with her. Features beautiful shamisen playing in the kiyomoto style. The final classic dance story is Sagi Musume (The Heron Maiden) a women with the spirit of a heron suffering from unrequited love. There are five costume changes as the heron transforms from a young to an old woman, before reverting to a heron in the final death scene. A magical DVD with much musical interest.


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Terakoya ("The Village School") an act of the play 'Sugawara denju tenarai kagami' is a powerful melodrama about a father who ultimately sacrifices his own son as a debt of loyalty to another lord. Kan Shusai the only son of Kan Shojo lives under the shelter of one of his retainers, Genzo, when he is banished to Kyushu. The chief magistrate orders Genzo to kill and bring the head of Kan Shusai to the authorities. At the suggestion of his wife, Tonami, Genzo decides to kill another child, Kotaro, the son of a noble, in place of Kan Shusai. The magistrate, Gemba, comes to the school with the noble Matsuômaru, whose ex-master was Kan Shojo, to make sure Genzo will do his duty and make certain it is the head of Kan Shusai. They inspect the boys of the school, and Gemba questions Tonami suspiciously. Matsuômaru knows that his son, Kotaro is in the school. Gemba gives GenzEan empty head box, and tells him to get the job over with. Genzo takes the box, a sound is heard and Matsuomaru's son is killed, If Matsuomaru is to deny that the head is Kan Shusai's, Genzo is ready to cut him down Matsuomaru lifts the cover of the box, revealing his son's head , but confirms it to be the head of Kan Shusai. Kan Shusai comes out of hiding. Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo calls out for her son and Genzo, tries to kill her. Matsuomaru reveals Kotaro was his son who Genzo says died with honour. Kan Shojo's wife and Kan Shusai comfort each other and honor the soul of Kotaro.


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Dattan is an evocative dance story, that takes its name from a Buddhist rite held every March at Todaiji Temple in Nara. The story is about a monk yearning for a woman he left behind. Ninin Wankyu is based on the true story of a playboy (Wankyu) from an Osaka merchant family who spent an inordinate large amount of his time and money in the local red light area, in pursuit of a geisha called Matsuyama. To control him, his family tried to keep him locked up in their house. Wankyu, became crazy, escaped and became a beggar for money on the streets to be reunited with Matsuyama and his former lifestyle.


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In the classic Sumidagawa (Sumida River) a deeply disturbed mother is wandering in search of her son, who has been stolen and sold into the slave trade. At the Sumida River, she hears from a boatman the tragic story of child who had got killed on the road. She discovers this child was her son. Hanabusa Shujaku Jishi (The Bridge Between this World and Buddhist Land) is a dance that dates back to 1754, based on the Noh play "Shakkyo". The dance features a shishi or an ancient Chinese lion, a guard of Buddha. Butterflies cause a sleeping princess to wake. She plays with the butterflies and begins to dances. She hold two small lions heads, and becomes embroiled in the spirit of lion. She reappears as the spirit of the lion with a dynamic dance, in contrast to the gracefulness of the earlier dance. Breathtaking.


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The most popular act of Honcho Nijushiko, Jusshuko starts with Princess Yaegaki burning incense and crying over the picture of the the man she had promised to marry, Katsuyori who has supposedly died. Nureginu is doing much the same, over the death of her husband, who was killed instead of Katsuyori. Between them on stage appears a disguised Katsuyori, feeling sorry for causing their grieving. When she sees Katsuyori, Nureginu cries because of resemblance to her lover. Yaegaki hears them and is amazed at his exact likeness to the portrait of Katsuyori and calls out his name. Katsuyori insists he is the gardener, Minosaku, and not the son of a lord. Furthermore he says he is an official emissary of the Princess's father Kenshin and is soon to depart. Yaegaki falls in love with him, and asks Nureginu to be their matchmaker. Katsuyori is astonished at the strength of her love and asks for a sacred helmet in Lake Suwa as a token of love. Nureginu suspects that he is in fact Katsuyori but he still insists he is Minosaku. Yaegaki attempts suicide for trying to win his love although they are not betrothed prompting Katsuyori to decide to reveal his identity. Kenshin gives a letter to Minsaku, and asks him to take it to a town near Lake Suwa. He gives the order to kill Katsuyori, while the two women plead his case.

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Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe have developed a modern and spectacular style of theatre, which is called "Super Kabuki". The costumes are elaborate, the music has a contemporary edge, and it is generally easier to comprehend the stories, which are nevertheless extremely involved. The first of these so-called super kabuki plays was Yamato Takeru.


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Premiered in July 1931, Ippon-gatana Dohyo-iri centres around a failed sumo wrestler called Mohei. He is aided by a prostitute (although Mohei doesn't know) called Otsuta, who gives him money to visit his mother's grave. Mohei resolves to become a reach the top of the sumo ranks and to invite Otsuta to watch him perform the ring-entering ceremony. Fast forward ten years and Mohei is an abject failure in the sumo world, but is a fairly successful gangster. He has never forgotten the kindness of Otsuta and seeks her out to repay the money. He finds her living poor lifestyle with a daughter and husband being pursued by gamblers after he cheated them. Otsuta doesn't recognize Mohei at first, until he uses some sumo moves to fight the gangsters. Mohei is able to repay her kindness and let her family start a new life.


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A quite incredible DVD of Kanjincho, the most popular play in the Kabuki repertoire. The leading role of Benkei is equally the most famed and demanding role, requiring all the skills of kabuki acting. The most legendary performer of the role of Benkei is Koshiro Matsumoto, who performed it over 1600 times, and it is he that is featured on this performance from 1943. A noble named Togachi Saemon urges his men to intercept a fleeing Minamoto Yoshitsune and his party, who are disguised as wandering priests. As musicians are performing, enter Yoshitsune and four retainers, wearing a straw hat and a load on his back. At the barrier, Benkei, an ex-priest, travelling with the party announces they are priests and wishing to pass freely, as they are collecting funds to restore Todaiji temple in Nara. Togashi at first suspects, then realizes they are not who they say are, but is impressed with Benkei's courage and knowledge of buddhism. He lets them pass, but another soldier recognizes Yoshitsune. Realizing the game is probably up, Benkei pretends to beat Yoshitsune and asks Togashi to detain him. Togashi is further impressed by Benkei's loyalty to his master, and pleads with Benkei to restrain himself from beating Yoshitsune. The party get through and Yoshitsune is eternally grateful to Benkei, yet Benkei apologies for beating him. Benkei displays his sense of loyalty by saying he would die for his master, and weeps with emotion.


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