The FOD original documentary Kabuki SANCTUARY will stream all 4 episodes exclusively from 00:00 on 25 December 2026. Combining 38 years of footage following Nakamuraya with newly conducted interviews, it depicts the legacy passed down through three generations.
Fuji Television has followed Nakamuraya with close-up filming since around 1989, documenting backstage areas and dressing rooms normally inaccessible to the public, demanding rehearsals and glimpses of the performers' private lives. Kabuki SANCTUARY combines more than 20,000 hours of footage with new interviews and reconstructs the material from a contemporary perspective.
The series consists of 4 episodes, which will be released all at once. Episode 1 explores the ultimate beauty of onnagata through Agemaki, Episode 2 the transmission of the skills of Renjishi, Episode 3 Kanadehon Chushingura, one of kabuki's three great masterpieces, and Episode 4 the innovation and spirit of Kanzaburo XVIII Nakamura.
The Close-Up! Nakamuraya Family series will also be released sequentially alongside the documentary. Announcements cover the release of 5 episodes broadcast from 2007 to 2016 and the terrestrial television broadcast of the latest installment, The Close-Up! Nakamuraya Family 2026.