Stage names:
| Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV |  |
| Bandô Shônosuke | |
Real name: Bandô Masakuni
Guilds:
Yamazakiya (Kawarazaki Gonjûrô years)
Otowaya (Bandô Shônosuke years)
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Birthday: 6 February 1954
Connections:
Great-great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI
Great-great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V
Great-grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V
Grandfather: Bandô Hikosaburô VI
Father: Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
Brothers: Bandô Hikosaburô VIII, Ichimura Manjirô II
Career:
July 1960: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name of Bandô Shônosuke and playing the role of Ishigami in the dance-drama "Tsuchi Gumo".
February 1989: he becomes nadai and plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Hanaregoma Chôkichi and Bunji in the dramas "Sumôba" and "Megumi no Kenka", which are performed in a special show commemorating the fortieth birthday of the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan troupe.
January 2002: the National Theatre produces the revival of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been played in its full length since 11th lunar month of 1864; Shônosuke plays the role of the yakko Yumihei [casting].
May 2003: Bandô Shônosuke takes the name of Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Mizuno Jûrôzaemon, Kashima Nyûdô Shinsai and a bonze in the dramas "Kiwametsuki Banzuiin Chôbei", "Shibaraku" and "Kappore".
March 2007: tour in Paris (France); Gonjûrô plays at the Palais Garnier the roles of Kataoka Hachirô and a retainer of Koremochi in the dance-dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Momijigari", which celebrate the Ichikawa clan [more details].
January 2008: revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-Mura Shibai no Shôgatsu"; Gonjûrô plays the role of Fujiwara no Yoshifusa [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; Gonjûrô plays the role of Amato Nyobei (Antonio) [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:
Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV is a talented supporting actor who appeared a lot in TV dramas at the beginning of his career. He definitively went back to the Kabuki world in the middle of the eighties.
The mon of Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV
The Kawarazaki Gonjûrô line of actors