Stage names:
Ichikawa Danshirô IV
Ichikawa Danko IV
Ichikawa Kamejirô I
Real name: Kinoshi Hiroyuki
Guild: Omodakaya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Birthday: 20 July 1946
Connections:
Great-grandfather: Ichikawa Danshirô II
Grandfather: Ichikawa En'ô
Father: Ichikawa Danshirô III
Brother: Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Son: Ichikawa Kamejirô II
Career:
April 1957: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, playing under the name of Ichikawa Kamejirô I in the dance "Yuya".
May 1963: big name-taking ceremony for the Omodakaya guild. Ichikawa Ennosuke II becomes Ichikawa En'ô; Ichikawa Danko III and Ichikawa Kamejirô I receive the names of Ichikawa Ennosuke III and Ichikawa Danko IV.
May 1969: Ichikawa Danko IV takes the name of Ichikawa Danshirô IV at the Kabukiza, playing in the dance "Kusazuribiki".
April 1977: revival at the Meijiza of Katsu Genzô II's drama "Kimi-wa-Fune Nami no Uwajima"; Danshirô plays the role of Ôhashi Uzen [casting].
September 1978: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Danshirô plays the role of Kanaya Kingorô [casting].
April 1979: historic revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV long-forgotten play "Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise" (commonly called "Date no Jûyaku"); Danshirô plays the role of Ôe Onitsura [casting].
August 1979: revival at the National Theatre Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Danshirô plays the role of Kaisaka no Chûzô [casting].
July 1980: revival at the Kabukiza of the never-performed 5th act of "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura"; Danshirô plays the role of Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan, in reality Taira no Noritsune, [more details].
April 1987: Danshirô takes part in the revival at the Meijiza of the play "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura", which includes the famous Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" [more details].
March 2007: tour in Paris (France); Danshirô plays at the Palais Garnier the role of Hitachibô Kaison in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", which celebrates the Ichikawa clan [more details].
March 2009: Kabuki adaptation by the famous stage director Ninagawa Yukio of Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night", which is titled "Ninagawa Jûniya", from the 24th to the 28th of March 2009 in London (UK) at the Barbican Theater; Danshirô plays the role of Isoemon (the Captain) [more details]. The same play is staged with the same casting in June 2009 at the Shimbashi Embujô and in July 2009 at the Shôchikuza.
Comments:
Ichikawa Danshirô IV is a talented katakiyaku of the Omodakaya guild.
Ichikawa Danshirô IV playing the role of Benkei in the drama "Gohiiki Kanjinchô"
Print courtesy of Paul Binnie (all rights reserved)
The Ichikawa Danko line of actors
The Ichikawa Danshirô line of actors
