Stage names:

Kataoka Kamezô IV
Kataoka Jirô

Real name: Kataoka Jirô

Guild: Matsushimaya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Existence: 15 September 1961 ~ 24 November 2025

Connections:

Grandfather: Kataoka Ichizô IV

Father: Kataoka Ichizô V

Brother: Kataoka Ichizô VI

Career:

December 1965: he made his first appearance on stage, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, playing under his real name the role of the son of Amanoya Gihei in the tenth act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

November 1969: Kataoka Jirô took the name of Kataoka Kamezô IV at the Kabukiza, where he played the roles of Sankichi and Shinji in the dramas "Shiranami Gonin Otoko" and "Sukeroku".

March 1977: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Shiranui Monogatari"; Kamezô played the role of a koshô [more details].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Sankai Nagoya"; Kamezô played the role of Hitachimaru [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U", which belonged to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Kamezô played the roles of Agano Hachirô [casting].

30 June 1991: his father Kataoka Ichizô V died.

May 1995: Kamezô became nadai and played at the Kabukiza the role of Hayami no Tôta in the drama "Torii Mae".

August 1996: revival at the Kabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Korikori Banashi"; Kamezô played the role of Fukuzô [more details].

September 1998: third edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu"; Kamezô played the roles of Gorotsuki Kankurô and Takubei [more details].

June 2001: 4th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Sannin Kichisa"; Kamezô played the role of Togishi Yokubei [more details].

July 2004: Fifth edition of the Heisei Nakamuraza, staged abroad for the first time; Nakamura Kankurô and his troupe, which included Nakamura Hashinosuke, Nakamura Senjaku, Bandô Yajûrô, Kamezô and Nakamura Shichinosuke, perform in Boston (8~10 July, Cutler Majestic Theatre), New York City (17~25 July, Lincoln Center) and Washington DC (28 July, Warner Theater). In Boston and Washington, the troupe presents the dances "Bô Shibari" and "Renjishi". In New York, an Edo 545-seat traditional theater was built within the Lincoln Center and the troupe presented the great Kamigata drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" [more details].

March~April 2006: 7th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production (in two different programs) of "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; Kamezô played the roles of Takuetsu or Akiyama Chôbê [more details].

June 2007: 8th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Sannin Kichisa"; Kamezô played the role of Togishi Yokubei [more details].

July 2007: second Heisei Nakamuraza tour in the USA, in New York (Lincoln Center, 16~22 July) and Washington (Warner Theatre, 26 July); Kamezô played in New York the role of Shôhachi in "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage". He also played in Washington the role of Hitachibô Kaison in "Kanjinchô" [more details].

January 2008: revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu"; Kamezô played the roles of Koretaka Shinnô and the landlord Tarobê [more details].

May~June 2008: first Heisei Nakamuraza tour in Europe, in Berlin at the The House of World Cultures (Germany) from the 14th to the 21st of May 2008 and in Sibiu (Rumania) from the 29th of May to the 1st of June 2008 for the International Theatre Festival; Kamezô played the role of Ôshima Sagaemon in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" [casting].

June 2008: 9th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki with the production of "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; Kamezô played the role of Ôshima Sagaemon [more details].

September 2009: Heisei Nakamuraza in Nagoya [more details].

January 2010: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei's long-forgotten drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko", which was revised and entitled "Asahi-ni Kagayaku Kin no Shachihoko"; it was staged to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the establishment of the city of Nagoya; Kamezô played the roles of the Oda karô Yamagata Dôkan and the Oda kerai Iwase Kyûma [more details | casting].

June 2010: 11th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

July 2010: Heisei Nakamuraza in Matsumoto [more details].

October 2014: the October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza commemorated the 26th anniversary (27th memorial service) and the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII [more details].

June 2016: 15th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

May 2018: 16th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

January 2019: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's 1779 drama "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; this Otowaya-powered revision was entitled "Himeji-jô Oto-ni Kiku Sono Ishizue"; Kamezô played the role of Shikama Daigaku [casting | more details].

October 2025: Kamezô appeared on stage for the last time, in Nagoya at the Misonoza, where he played the roles of the shoke Myônenbô and the tsujiban Yosobê in "Musume Dôjôji" and "Nezumi Kozô" in a special program celebrating the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VIII and his son Onoe Kikunosuke VI.

24 November 2025: Kamezô died, victim of a fire which broke out in a residential building in Adachi Ward.

Comments:

Kataoka Kamezô IV was an outstanding supporting actor of the Matsushimaya guild. His loud voice was particularly appreciated in aragoto roles.

The mon of Kataoka Kamezô IV

The Kataoka Kamezô line of actors