Playwright names:

Tobe Ginsaku

Existence: 25 April 1920 ~ 7 January 2006

Career:

25 April 1920: born in Tôkyô.

1945: he graduated from Waseda University.

January 1967: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura" under the supervision of Ginsaku [casting].

April 1967: revival in 2 acts at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima" under the supervision of Ginsaku ^[1].

October 1967: revival in 6 acts at the National Theatre of "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" under the supervision of Ginsaku.

September 1968: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

January 1969: Ginsaku wrote the script and directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima".

May 1969: Ginsaku wrote the script and directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami".

June 1969: Ginsaku wrote the script and directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

April 1970: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Hakata Kojorô Nami Makura" with Onoe Shôroku II, Onoe Baikô VII and Onoe Kikunosuke IV in the roles of Kezori Kuemon, Komatsuya Sôshichi and the keisei Kojorô.

September 1970: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

October 1971: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Honchô Nijûshikô".

December 1971: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of "Nihon Furisode Hajime".

December 1972: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the production of the chûshinguramono dramas "Chûshin Renri no Hachiue" and "Shijûshichi-koku Chûya Dokei".

March 1973: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

April 1974: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

December 1974: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

April 1975: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura".

December 1976: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu".

April 1977: revival at the Meijiza of Katsu Genzô II's drama "Kimi-wa-Fune Nami no Uwajima", produced by Ichikawa Ennosuke III and using a new script written by Ginsaku [casting]. Ginsaku also directed at the National Theatre the revival of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome".

September 1978: revival at the National Theatre under the supervison of Ginsaku of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" [casting].

March 1979: Ginsaku wrote a new script and supervised at the National Theatre the revival of "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie".

August 1979: revival at the National Theatre Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri" with a new script written by Ginsaku [casting].

August 1980: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" with Nakamura Senjaku II in the role of Danshichi Mohê.

December 1980: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto".

April 1981: Ginsaku wrote a new script and directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Keisei Hama no Masago" with Nakamura Utaemon VI, Kataoka Nizaemon XIII, Jitsukawa Enjaku III, Nakamura Shikan VII and Ichikawa Ebizô X.

April 1982: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Shihei no Nana Warai" with Onoe Shôroku II and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII in the roles of the sadaijin Fujiwara no Shihei and the udaijin Sugawara Michizane.

December 1982: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Ninin Yûgiri" with Nakamura Utaemon VI, Jitsukawa Enjaku III and Nakamura Shikan VII in the roles of the first Yûgiri, Fujiya Izaemon and the second Yûgiri.

January 1983: revival at the National Theatre of "Nanatsu Men" with a new script written by Ginsaku [casting].

November 1983: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

January 1984: revival at the National Theatre under the direction of Ginsaku of the drama "Sankai Nagoya", which has not been performed since 1697 [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U" belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban, under the direction and with a new script written by Ginsaku [casting].

June 1985: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the staging of "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

January 1986: revival at the National Theatre of the rarely-staged drama "Uwanari" belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban, under the direction and with a new script written by Ginsaku [more details].

January 1987: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura" under the supervision of Ginsaku [casting].

April 1987: full-length revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura", produced by Ichikawa Ennosuke III and using a new script written by Ginsaku [more details].

March 1988: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome".

October 1988: Ginsaku wrote a new script and directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura" [more details].

November 1989: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kameyama no Adauchi".

July 1990: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the staging of "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

March 1991: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri".

August 1991: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Nazo no Obi Chotto Tokubê" under the supervision of Tobe Ginsaku ^[2].

August 1992: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa".

November 1992: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Nazo no Obi Chotto Tokubê" under the supervision of Tobe Ginsaku ^[3].

April 1993: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma".

March 1994: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Keisei Hama no Masago".

October 1994: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Otokodate Bayari".

November 1994: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Hakata Kojorô Nami Makura" with Nakamura Kichiemon II, Sawamura Sôjûrô IX and Nakamura Fukusuke IX in the roles of Kezori Kuemon, Komatsuya Sôshichi and the keisei Kojorô.

January 1995: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of "Nihon Furisode Hajime".

October 1995: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima" with Nakamura Kichiemon II in the roles of Taira no Kiyomori and Shunkan.

November 1995: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of "Hana no Ue no Homare no Ishibumi" with Nakamura Shikan VII in the role of the uba Otsuji.

January 1996: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura".

October 1996: Ginsaku wrote a new script and directed at the National Theatre the revival of "Shitennô Momiji no Edoguma".

November 1996: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" (first half).

December 1996: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" (second half).

January 1997: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki" with Ichikawa Danjûrô XII, Bandô Tamasaburô V, Nakamura Baigyoku IV and Kataoka Gatô V in the roles of Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo, Akoya, Chichibu Shôji Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon.

December 1997: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the staging of the dance-drama "Kumo no Hyôshimai".

June 1998: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the staging of "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

October 1998: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of "Sakura Giminden".

December 1998: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu".

October 1999: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of the drama "Oto ni Kiku Tenjiku Tokubê".

January 2001: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".

March 2001: Ginsaku directed at the National Theatre the revival of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Imayô Kasane Keshô no Sugatami".

October 2001: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura".

December 2002: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the tôshi kyôgen production of "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi".

October 2003: Ginsaku supervised at the National Theatre the revival of the drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari".

January 2004: Ginsaku worked at the National Theatre on the production of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Ukiyozuka Hiyoku no Inazuma".

7 January 2006: Ginsaku died of respiratory failure at the age of 85.

Comments:

Tobe Ginsaku was a prominent Japanese Kabuki scholar, theater critic, playwright, and stage director. He is especially remembered for his work with the National Theatre, where he played a major role in preserving and reviving classical Kabuki repertoire.

[1] The roles of Shunkan and Taira Kiyomori were played by Kataoka Nizaemon XIII and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII.

[2] In August 1991, it was staged at the National Theatre with Ichikawa Danshirô IV, Nakamura Karoku V and Nakamura Tokizô V in the roles of Ôshima Danshichi, Issun Tokubê and Okaji/Otatsu.

[3] In November 1992, it was staged at the National Theatre with Kataoka Takao, Ichikawa Sadanji IV and Nakamura Jakuemon IV in the roles of Ôshima Danshichi, Issun Tokubê and Okaji/Otatsu.