is a stage name taken on by a series of

Kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought to ...

actors of the Ichikawa family. Most of these were

blood relatives ''Blood Relatives'' (original French title: ''Les Liens de sang'') is a 1978 Canadian-French mystery film directed by Claude Chabrol from a screenplay that he and Sydney Banks adapted from the 1975 novel of the same name by Ed McBain. Set in ...

, though some were adopted into the family. It is a famous and important name, and receiving it is an honor. There are a number of roles that the line of Danjūrō specialize in, as well as a series of plays, the ''

Kabuki Jūhachiban The , or Eighteen Best Kabuki Plays, is a set of kabuki plays, strongly associated with the Ichikawa Danjūrō line of actors ever since their premieres. These works were chosen and assembled as "the eighteen" by actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (180 ...

'' (The Kabuki Eighteen), which showcase the specialties of the Ichikawa family. Danjūrō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called ''

shūmei ''Shūmei'' (, "name succession") are grand naming ceremonies held in kabuki theatre. Most often, a number of actors will participate in a single ceremony, taking on new stage-names. These stagenames, most often those of the actor's father, gran ...

'' in which a number of actors formally change their names. The name Danjūrō is generally taken at the peak of an actor's career; another name may be taken after retirement. Prior to taking the name Danjūrō, an actor frequently had the names

Matsumoto Kōshirō is the stage name of a line of kabuki actors in Japan. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Kōshirō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called ''shūmei'' in ...

Ichikawa Shinnosuke is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Shinnosuke, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonie ...

, or

Ichikawa Ebizō is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. It is a famous and important name, and receiving it is an honor. Ebizō, like other acto ...

. The design of the Ichikawa family ''

mon Mon, MON or Mon. may refer to: Places * Mon State, a subdivision of Myanmar * Mon, India, a town in Nagaland * Mon district, Nagaland * Mon, Raebareli, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India * Mon, Switzerland, a village in the Canton of Grisons * An ...

'', three squares nested inside one another, is called . Some of the actors in this line used "Sanshō" as their ''haimyō'', a nickname or alias used in poetry circles.

Lineage

Ichikawa Danjūrō I was an early kabuki actor in Japan. He remains today one of the most famous of all kabuki actors and is considered one of the most influential. His many influences include the pioneering of the ''aragoto'' style of acting which came to be larg ...

(May 1675 – February 1704)Note: the dates given here do not represent the birth/death dates of the actor; rather, they indicate the period during which the actor held the name Danjūrō. – also known as as a playwright; known as Ichikawa Ebizō I prior to taking the name Danjūrō. Originated the ''

aragoto , or 'rough style', is a style of kabuki acting that uses exaggerated, dynamic (forms or movements) and speech. roles are characterised by the bold red or blue makeup () worn by actors, as well as their enlarged and padded costumes. The term i ...

'' form. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō II was a Japanese kabuki performer in the lineage of a celebrated family of actors from the Edo region.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al.'' (2005). "Ichikawa Danjūrō" in Ichikawa Danjūrō is a stage name. Career The earnestly prayed-for son ...

(July 1704 – November 1735) – Eldest son of Danjūrō I; previously known as Ichikawa Ebizō II and Ichikawa Kuzō. * Ichikawa Danjūrō III (November 1735 – February 1742) – Adopted son of Danjūrō II, previously known as Ichikawa Masugorō; died young. * Ichikawa Danjūrō IV (November 1754 – October 1770) – Adopted son of Danjūrō II, possibly biological son. Previously known as Matsumoto Kōshirō II and Ichikawa Ebizō III. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō V also known as , was one of the most famous and popular Japanese Kabuki actors of all time. Throughout his career, Danjūrō would hold some of the highest ranks in the '' hyōbanki'', an annual Edo publications which evaluated actors and perfor ...

(November 1770 – October 1791) – Son of Danjūrō IV. Previously known as Matsumoto Kōshirō III and Ichikawa Ebizō. One of the most famous of all kabuki actors. * Ichikawa Danjūrō VI (November 1791 – May 1799) – Son of Danjūrō V, previously known as Ichikawa Ebizō VI. Died young. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII was a Japanese kabuki actor who specialized in male hero (''tachiyaku'') roles, said to be the greatest of the 19th century. He was responsible for the establishment of the ''Kabuki Jūhachiban'', a collection of the eighteen greatest plays in ...

(November 1800 – February 1832) – Grandson of Danjūrō V, previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke I, Ichikawa Yebizō,Note: though this would be "Ebizō" in modern revised Japanese, it was written with different characters, as , and thus is considered a separate name. See

Historical kana usage The , or , refers to the in general use until orthographic reforms after World War II; the current orthography was adopted by Cabinet order in 1946. By that point the historical orthography was no longer in accord with Japanese pronunciation ...

. and later as Ichikawa Ebizō V. Established the ''

''. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII was a Japanese kabuki actor of the prestigious Ichikawa Danjūrō line. He was a ''tachiyaku'' (male roles) actor in the ''aragoto'' style, like all members of the lineage, but particularly specialized in the roles of young lovers, for which he ...

(March 1832 – August 1854) – Eldest son of Danjūrō VII, previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke II and Ichikawa Ebizō VI. Committed suicide in Osaka. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō IX was one of the most successful and famous Kabuki actors of the Meiji period (1868–1912). Ninth in the line of actors to hold the name Ichikawa Danjūrō, he is depicted in countless ''ukiyo-e'' actor prints (''yakusha-e''), and is widely cr ...

(1874 – September 1903) – Fifth son of Danjūrō VII. Previously known as Kawarazaki Chōjūrō III, Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I, Kawarazaki Gonnosuke VII and Kawarazaki Sanshō. Star of the

Meiji period The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...

's golden age of Kabuki. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō X may refer to: Places *Ichikawa, Chiba, a city in Chiba, Japan **Ichikawa Gakuen (Ichikawa Junior and Senior High School), a large private boys and girls school in Moto-kita-kata, Ichikawa, Chiba * Ichikawa, Hyogo, a town in Hyōgo, Japan *Ichikawa ...

(posthumous 1962) – Son-in-law of Danjūrō IX; previously known as Horikoshi Fukusaburō and Ichikawa Sanshō V. Played only minor roles, but revived many plays of the ''

''. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō XI may refer to: Places *Ichikawa, Chiba, a city in Chiba, Japan **Ichikawa Gakuen (Ichikawa Junior and Senior High School), a large private boys and girls school in Moto-kita-kata, Ichikawa, Chiba * Ichikawa, Hyogo, a town in Hyōgo, Japan *Ichikawa ...

(April 1962 – November 1965) – Adopted son of Danjūrō X, his biological father was

Matsumoto Kōshirō VII was a Japanese actor. He was one of the leading '' tachiyaku'' Kabuki actors of Japan's Meiji period (1868–1912) through the late 1940s. Names Like most Kabuki actors, Kōshirō took various stage names ('' gō'') over the course of his care ...

. Previously known as Ichikawa Komazō V and Ichikawa Ebizō IX. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō XII was a Japanese actor. He was the twelfth kabuki actor to hold the illustrious name Ichikawa Danjūrō. Career He was the eldest son of Ichikawa Danjūrō XI. He first appeared on stage in 1953 under his birth name Natsuo Horikoshi, and in 195 ...

(April 1985 – February 2013) – Eldest son of Danjūrō XI. Previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI and Ichikawa Ebizō X. *

Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII (born December 6, 1977) is a Japanese Kabuki, film, television actor and stage producer. He is the eldest son and successor of the celebrated Ichikawa Danjūrō XII. He is known for being a renowned '' tachiyaku'' (actor specializing in male ...

(October 2022 – current) – Takatoshi Horikoshi, son of Danjūrō XII. Previously known as Ebizō XI. He planned to take the name of Danjūrō XIII in May 2020, but the name change was postponed when Kabuki shows were cancelled as a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

Notes

References

The Line of Ichikawa Danjūrō at Kabuki21.com

External links

New York Public Library Digital Gallery, image of actor Ichikawa Hakuen (Ichikawa Danjûrô V)

NARITAYA Ichikawa Danjuro/Ebizo Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ichikawa, Danjuro Kabuki actors

Lineage

See also

Notes

References

External links