News On Japan

The Grand Finale of the Kikugorō Name-Taking Ceremony in Tokyo!

Jun 09 (Kabuki In-Depth) - In this video, we take a look at the June performances at the Kabuki-za.

Here are the details for the **June 2025 program at Kabuki‑za** in Tokyo:

---

### ???? Dates & Schedule

* Performances run **daily from Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 27, 2025**, excluding **Tuesday the 10th** and **Thursday the 19th**, when there are no performances ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* Each day features **two shows**:

* **Matinee** at **11:00 AM**

* **Evening show** at **4:15 PM** ([nbs.or.jp][2], [kabukiweb.net][1]).

---

### ???? Program Highlights

* The season celebrates the **name succession** (襲名) of **Onoe Kikugorō VIII** and **Onoe Kikunosuke VI** ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* **Evening performances** typically include:

* *Shibaraku* (one of the Kabuki Jūhappan, a prestigious historical drama)

* *Kojo* (a short stage announcement)

* *Ren Jishi* (a stylized dance, "The Lotus Lion")

* *Shibahama no Kawazaifu* (a modern domestic drama) ([tokyokabukiguide.com][3]).

* **Matinee performances** feature:

* *Genroku Hanami Odori* (dance)

* *Kurumabiki* and *Terakoya* (both from *Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami*)

* *Omatsuri* (another dance piece) ([tokyokabukiguide.com][3]).

---

### ???? Tickets & Availability

* Advance sales began **May 14, 2025, at 10 AM JST** ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* **Reserved seats for matinee on June 6**, and **evening shows on June 4, 8, and 20** are **sold out**, though **Single Act Seats (4th level)** may still be available ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* **Upgraded Single Act Tickets (2nd level)** are **not offered** this month ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* Prices in **yen (tax included)**:

* First Class: ¥23,000

* Second Class: ¥18,000

* Upper Tier A: ¥8,000

* Upper Tier B: ¥6,000

* Box Seat: ¥25,000 (not available online)

* Add ¥1,500 for English captioning device ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

---

### ???? Additional Notes

* **English captioning devices** are available for matinee and evening shows, selectable during booking ([kabukiweb.net][1]).

* The **celebratory curtain** (*kiku‐fuji‐akebono*, featuring a chrysanthemum and Mt. Fuji motif) was unveiled on June 2, designed in Tiffany‑blue gradient to symbolize the family succession ([kabuki-bito.jp][4]).

---

### ✔️ Summary Table

| Date Range | Shows |

| --------------------------- | ----------------------------- |

| June 2–27, 2025 | Daily matinee & evening shows |

| No shows: June 10, 19 | Days off |

| Sold out: June 6 (Mat) | Matinee reserved seats sold |

| Sold out: June 4,8,20 (Eve) | Evening reserved seats sold |

---

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 5 made landfall near Cape Erimo in Hokkaido in the early hours of July 15th, marking the first time in nine years that a typhoon has struck the northernmost of Japan’s main islands.

The ruling coalition is facing an increasingly difficult battle to retain its majority in Japan’s House of Councillors, according to a mid-campaign opinion poll by FNN ahead of the July 20th election. Meanwhile, the minor party Sanseitō is showing strong momentum and could see a significant boost in its number of seats.

A 52-year-old newspaper deliveryman was killed in the early hours of July 12th after being attacked by a bear in a residential area of Fukushima Town, Hokkaido.

A hot spring inn in the popular resort area of Niseko, Hokkaido, has been forced to suspend operations at one of its baths after an unauthorized open-air bath was found to have been built near its hot spring source.

A first-generation Hermes Birkin bag has been sold at a Paris auction for approximately 1.47 billion yen, marking the highest price ever paid for a handbag. The winning bidder was a Japanese collector, and the sale was held by Sotheby’s.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Let's have a look at the Kabuki-za performances going on this July! (Kabuki In-Depth)

Ever wondered how a blood clot forms over a scrape? It all starts with the hardworking platelets. (Netflix Anime)

The video game industry is undergoing a major transformation, moving beyond its traditional image as a pastime for children and enthusiasts to become a vast, multifaceted entertainment business. The global gaming market was estimated at 33 trillion yen in 2023, highlighting its explosive growth.

Police crackdowns are intensifying in Tokyo’s entertainment districts as more people fall victim to so-called "petty overcharging" scams, where customers lured into bars and izakayas by street solicitors end up paying unexplained charges far beyond what was promised.

In this video, we continue exploring Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami ("Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy"), focusing on the only performed scene from act II. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Returning hits like Devil May Cry, Blue Eye Samurai, Beastars as well as new series like Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, Sakamoto Days and more! (Netflix Anime)

Japanese author Akira Otani’s novel Baba Yaga’s Night has won the Dagger Award in the translated fiction category—marking the first time a Japanese writer has received the honor from what is widely regarded as the world’s top prize in crime and mystery literature.

Popular kabuki actors took to the waters of central Osaka on July 1st for the annual "Funanorikomi" boat procession, a seasonal tradition that signals the arrival of midsummer.