ATAMIZA presents Bando Tamasaburo
Special Buyo Stage 2025
November 15 to 19
Overview
The ATAMIZA is a project for promoting Atami City as a cultural hub, presenting traditional music and performing arts coupled with the refined staging environments, such as the Museum’s Noh Theater. The next program brings you a buyo dance show based on Kiyomoto school Sumidagawa, performed by Japan’s most prominent kabuki onnagata* actor, Bandō Tamasaburō.
This Noh-play-inspired dance repertoire follows a legendary tale of a woman traveling north in search of her estranged son, Umewakamaru. As she reaches the shore of the river Sumidagawa, she meets a ferry skipper, who tells her, unknowingly, the story of her son’s horrific death. As she visits the son’s grave, a mournful sorrow overwhelms her. The deep and eternal motherly love is a timeless subject which directly touches the audiences’ hearts. The Museum’s Noh Theater is an ideal staging environment for this heart-wrenching story, and the exquisite choreography is specially arranged for the venue.
Bandō Tamasaburō is a kabuki onnagata actor with the national recognition as the Living National Treasure, representing this traditional performing art. The counterpart, ferry skipper, is played by Hanayagi Jusuke, the fifth-generation master of the Hanayagi school of Japanese classical dance. A concurrent exhibition of Bandō Tamasaburō’s stage costumes showcases Japan’s craft art par excellence. Each ensemble has season-inspired beautiful designs, brought to life through seasoned artisans and kōgei craftspersons. The exhibition is a perfect enhancer of your visit to the museum and the buyo show.
(*onnagata: male actor specializing in performing female roles)
Dates
From Saturday, November 15 to Wednesday, November 19, 2025Show time
14:00 (venue open at 13:20)PROGRAM
1. Prelude
Bandō Tamasaburō greets the audience2. Kiyomoto school Sumidagawa
- Woman (Hanjo no mae): Bandō Tamasaburō
- Ferry skipper: Hanayagi Jusuke
- Jōruri (storytelling):
- Kiyomoto Kiyomidayu
- Kiyomoto Ichitayu
- Kiyomoto Narumidayu
- Shamisen (strings):
- Kiyomoto Shizuzo
- Kiyomoto Yoshijuro
- Uwajoshi (countermelody):
- Kiyomoto Yoshiichiro
PERFORMERS

Bandō Tamasaburō, holder of important intangible cultural property of Japan, recognized in the category of kabuki female-role acting, or onnagata

Hanayagi Jusuke, the fifth-generation master of the Hanayagi school of Japanese classical dance.