ICHIKAWA CH�SHA VIII (original) (raw)

Stage names:

Real name: Kinoshi Shizusada

Guild: Tachibanaya, Omodakaya [1]

Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII)

Poetry names: Ch�sha (8), Teika

Existence: 10 November 1896 ~ 20 June 1971

Connections:

Father: Ichikawa Danshir� II

Adoptive father: Ichikawa Ch�sha VII

Brothers: Ichikawa En'� I, Ichikawa Koday� II, Ichikawa Juen I

Disciples: Ichikawa Nakaz�, Ichikawa Nakajir�, Ichikawa Nakanosuke III

Career:

10 November 1896: born in Asakusa.

July 1913: he appeared on stage for the first time, in Yamagata at the Asahiza, playing the role of Goromaru in Fukuchi �chi's drama "J�nitoki Kaikei Soga".

October 1913: he made his first official appearance on stage, at the Kabukiza where he received the name of Ichikawa Matsuo I and played the role of the yakko Mitsuhei in the drama "Z�hiki".

March 1916: Matsuo was adopted by Ichikawa Yaoz� VII.

October 1918: great sh�mei at the Kabukiza for the Tachibanaya guild; Ichikawa Yaoz� VII and Ichikawa Matsuo I respectively took the names of Ichikawa Ch�sha VII and Ichikawa Yaoz� VIII; the new Yaoz�, who celebrated his success at the nadai exam, played the role of Ichimanmaru in the drama "Zui Ichikawa Narukami Soga".

6 February 1922: his father Ichikawa Danshir� II died.

May 1927: premiere at the Hong�za of Okamoto Kid�'s drama "Shinjuku Yawa"; Yaoz� played the role of the countryside customer Yojir� [more details].

September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunsh�", produced under the title "T�ry� Azuma Bunsh�"; Yaoz� played the roles of Awazu Shichir� and Sentar� [casting].

January 1935: premiere at the T�ky� Gekij� of "Edo-j� no Ninj�", the first play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Ch�shingura"; Yaoz� played the role of Lord Inagaki [more details].

April 1935: premiere at the T�ky� Gekij� of "Saigo no Daihy�j�", the third play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Ch�shingura"; Yaoz� played the role of Isogai J�r�zaemon [casting].

12 July 1936: his adoptive father Ichikawa Ch�sha VII died.

November 1938: revival at the Kokusai Gekij� [2] of the drama "Fud�" [3]; Yaoz� played the role of Hayakumo Daijin [more details].

February 1939: premiere at the T�ky� Gekij� of the second act of "Sengoku Yashiki", the ninth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Ch�shingura"; Yaoz� played the role of Takebayashi Tadashichi [casting].

November 1939: premiere at the T�ky� Gekij� of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Yaoz� played the role of the yamabushi Priest Yamatob� [casting].

July 1951: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Yaoz� played the role of Run's brother Ky�emon [casting].

July 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of H�j� Hideji's drama "Kitsune to Fuefuki"; Yaoz� played the role of Akinobu [casting].

November 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kema Nanboku's revision of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daiky�ji Mukashi Goyomi"; Yaoz� played the role of the daiky�ji Ishun [casting].

June 1953: great sh�mei at the Kabukiza for the Tachibanaya guild; Ichikawa Yaoz� VIII and Matsumoto Komagor� I took the names of Ichikawa Ch�sha VIII and Ichikawa Yaoz� IX [4]; the new Ch�sha played the roles of Yashio [5], Masumitsu Ky�nosuke, the Kaga tobi Takegor�, Takechi Mitsuhide [6] and Senpei in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", "Yoshinobu Inochigoi", "Kagatobi", "Ehon Taik�ki" and "Dontsuku".

November 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mishima Yukio's comical play "Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami"; Ch�sha played the role of Ebina Naamidabutsu [casting].

March 1955: Ichikawa Ch�sha VIII, Iwai Hanshir� X and Ichikawa Yaoz� IX celebrated their sh�mei in �saka at the �saka Kabukiza with the troupes led by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Tokiz� III; Ch�sha played the roles of Chichibu no Sh�ji Shigetada, Kud� Saemon Suketsune [7], the kagokaki Gonza [8], H�j� Takatoki, the priest Y�kei and Shimojima Jin'emon in "Kagekiyo", "Kotobuki Soga Kabuki no Nigiwai", "Gonza to Sukej�", "Takatoki", "Kurozuka" and "Jiisan Baasan".

June 1955: Ichikawa Ch�sha VIII celebrated his sh�mei in Ky�to at the Minamiza; he played the role of Tar� Sadamori, Musashib� Benkei [9], Izari Tarosuke and the tatami-maker Hanb� in "Taira no Masakado", "Kanjinch�", "Sannin Katawa" and "K�setsu Ky�tengiri".

October 1955: Ch�sha took part in the first Kabuki tour in the Popular Republic of China; he played the roles of Yoshitsune and Sh�gen in the dramas "Kanjinch�" and "Keisei Hangonk�" [casting]. Ch�sha had the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

March 1956: premiere in Kabuki at the Meijiza of H�j� Hideji's drama "Ii Tair�"; Ch�sha played the role of Nagano Shuzen [more details].

July 1956: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", commonly called "Onna Seigen"; Ch�sha played the role of Gunsuke [more details].

November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunsh�", which was supervised by Mishima Yukio; Ch�sha played the role of the priest Zangetsu [casting].

February 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Shiranui Kengy�"; Ch�sha played the role of Tobaya Tanji [casting].

1961: Matsumoto K�shir� VIII and Ch�sha left together, with their disciples, the Sh�chiku Company to sign an exclusive contract with the T�h� Company.

12 June 1963: his brother Ichikawa En'� I died.

July 1963: revival at the Yomiuri Hall in T�ky� of Namiki Sh�z� I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuz� Irifune Monogatari"; Ch�sha played the role of Ishid� Tatewaki [casting].

December 1966: second month of the opening ceremony of the National Theater with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" in which Ch�sha played the role of Kan Sh�j� in the "Tenpaizan" scene [casting].

November 1969: premiere at the National Theatre of Mishima Yukio's drama "Chinsetsu Yumihari-zuki"; Ch�sha played the role of Hacch�tsubute no Kiheiji [more details].

September 1970: Ch�sha played at the Imperial Theater the role of Midaroku [10], in reality Taira no Munekiyo, in the drama "Kumagai Jin'ya".

December 1970: Ch�sha played at the National Theatre the role of Horiuchi Den'emon in Mayama Seika's drama "�ishi Saigo no Ichinichi".

March 1971: Ch�sha played at the Imperial Theater the role of Iky� in the drama "Sukeroku"; the roles of Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki were played by Ichikawa Somegor� VI and Nakamura Jakuemon IV.

May 1971: Ch�sha played at the National Theatre the role of Matsunaga Hisahide in Okamoto Kid�'s drama "Muromachi Gojo".

June 1971: Ch�sha appeared on the stage for the last time, at the National Theatre, where he played the role of Shinza's land-lord Ch�b� [11] in the drama "Kamiyui Shinza"; he suddenly died the 20th of June 1971 [12].

Comments:

Ichikawa Ch�sha VIII was a talented tachiyaku, trained by Ichikawa Ch�sha VII and who was very active in both Kabuki and modern productions. Two of his best roles, at the end of his career, were Jinb� and Midaroku in the dramas "Sakura Giminden" and "Kumagai Jin'ya".

[1] Only during his Matsuo years.

[2] The International Theatre.

[3] This drama belongs to the Kabuki J�hachiban.

[4] It was also the sh�mei of Ichikawa Shun'en&nbp;I, who celebrated his success at the nadai exam.

[5] The role of Masaoka was played by Nakamura Tokiz� III.

[6] The roles of Mashiba Hisayoshi, Mitsuhide's wife Misao, Mitsuhide's son J�jir�, J�jir�'s fiancee Hatsugiku, Mitsuhide's mother Satsuki and Sat� Masakiyo were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II, Nakamura Tokiz� III, Nakamura Kanzabur� XVII, Nakamura Utaemon VI, Ichikawa Dannosuke VI and Ichikawa Yaoz� IX.

[7] The roles of Soga Gor� Tokimune and Soga J�r� Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Yaoz� IX and Iwai Hanshir� X.

[8] The kagokaki was played by Ichikawa Danshir� III.

[9] The roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Togashi Saemon were played by Hayashi Mataichir� II and Jitsukawa Enjir� II.

[10] The role of Kumagai Jir� Naozane was played by Nakamura Kichiemon II.

[11] The role of Shinza was played by Onoe Sh�roku II.

[12] He was replaced by Kawarasaki Gonj�r� III.