Stage names:

Onoe Kikujirô III
Onoe Fujaku VIII
Onoe Umejirô

Real name: Okada Kôjirô

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Baika

Existence: 10 October 1882 ~ 27 August 1919

Connections:

Master: Onoe Kikugorô V

Disciple: Onoe Hanamaru

Career:

1882: born in Tôkyô, in the district of Kôjimachi, in the family of a publisher.

May 1893: he became disciple of Onoe Kikugorô V and appeared on stage for the first time at the Harukiza (Tôkyô), where he received the name of Onoe Umejirô.

May 1898: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Edo Sodachi Omatsuri Sashichi"; Umejirô played the role of Oyuki [casting].

March 1905: Onoe Umejirô became nadai and took the name of Onoe Fujaku VIII at the Kabukiza, performing in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

September 1914: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Furukawa Shinsui's drama "Ansei Kibun Tsukuda no Yoarashi"; Fujaku played the role of the keisei Hagoromo [more details].

March 1915: Onoe Fujaku VIII took the name of Onoe Kikujirô III at the Ichimuraza, playing the prestigious role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku no Momoyogusa".

September 1918: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Okamura Shikô's dance-drama "Imohori Chôja"; Kikujirô played the role of the Matsugae kôshitsu [casting].

March 1919: Kikujirô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Okane in the drama "Ninjô Banashi Bunshichi Mottoi"; the role of Chôbê was played by Onoe Kikugorô VI.

August 1919: Kikujirô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Imperial Theater, playing the roles of Otsuyu's ghost and Omine in the summer ghost play "Kaidan Botan Dôrô". He suddenly died the 27th of August 1919. People in the Kabuki world believed that he was, along with Kawarasaki Kunitarô IV, his stage partner in the play in the role of Oyone's ghost who died the 13th of August 1919, victim of a curse casted by real ghosts: "there is a superstition concerning The Peony Lantern to the effect that actors who play the ghosts' rôles soon pass away. This was brought home when the play was presented at the Imperial Theatre in August 1919. During the performances two of the most promising young actors of Tôkyô, taking the rôles of mistress and maid, took ill and died within a week of each other. Nightly they had been seen, pale-faced, the hair worn long and dishevelled, the maid with the ghostly lantern in hand, moving behind the willow tree. Soon they were to become like the shades they impersonated, no longer of the earth, earthy" (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan").

Comments:

Onoe Kikujirô III was a talented onnagata. Unfortunately he died young at the age of 38. His best role was the courtesan Michitose in the drama "Naozamurai".

Onoe Kikujirô III playing the role of Okuma in the drama "Tsuyu Kosode Mukashi Hachijô" (print made by Yamamura Toyonari)

The Onoe Fujaku line of actors

The Onoe Kikujirô line of actors