Stage names:
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Kataoka Gatô IV
Kataoka Chiyonosuke
Real name: Kataoka Chiyonosuke
Guild: Matsushimaya
Line number: JÛSANDAIME (XIII)
Poetry name: Sakoku
Crest: the ideogram for two (2 horizontal bars) in a circle
Existence: 15 December 1903 ~ 26 March 1994
Connections:
Great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I
Grandfather: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII
Father: Kataoka Nizaemon XI
Sons: Kataoka Gatô V, Kataoka Hidetarô II, Kataoka Nizaemon XV
Grandsons: Kataoka Shinnosuke, Kataoka Takatarô
Great-grandson: Kataoka Sennosuke
Career:
December 1903: born in Tôkyô. He is the third son of
December 1906: he makes his first stage appearance, in Kyôto at the Minamiza, receiving the name of Kataoka Chiyonosuke.
1913: Chiyonosuke becomes a member of the troupe Kataoka Shônen Geki, led by his father Kataoka Nizaemon XI and performing in Tôkyô at the Tôkyôza.
April 1929: Kataoka Chiyonosuke takes the name of Kataoka Gatô IV.
1932: Gatô becomes the leader of a troupe of young actors, including Nakamura Kôtarô III, Nakamura Moshio IV, Bandô Shûka III, Ichikawa Shôen and Bandô Minosuke VI.
1939: Gatô settles in Ôsaka.
January 1945: Gatô plays at the Nakaza the role of Jihizô in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the role of Yokozô is played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.
March 1951: Kataoka Gatô IV takes the name of Kataoka Nizaemon XIII.
July 1951: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Nizaemon plays the role of Minobe Iori [casting].
April 1954: revival (the 1st since the end of WW2) at the Nakaza of Katsu Genzô III's drama "Ogasawara Sôdô"; Nizaemon plays the roles of Okada Ryôsuke and Ogasawara Tôtômi-no-Kami [casting].
January 1955: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Naniwa no Ashi"; Nizaemon plays the role of Saemon [casting].
July 1956: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of the dance-drama "Uma Nusubito"; Nizaemon plays the role of Rokubei [casting].
March 1958: Nizaemon takes part in the final Kabuki performance at the Ôsaka Kabukiza [more details].
January 1964: revival at the Nissay Theatre of Tsuruya Namboku IV's spectacular drama "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi"; Nizaemon plays the role of Tawara no Tôta Hidesato [casting].
November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theatre in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Nizaemon plays the roles of Takebe Genzô and Terukuni [casting].
April 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Yari no Gonza Kasane Katabira"; Nizaemon plays the role of Iwaki Chûtabei [casting].
April 1976: the National Theatre produces the revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Nizaemon plays the roles of Hayakawa Takakage and Daibutsu Mochiya Sôemon [casting].
April 1981: revival at the National Theatre of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Keisei Hama no Masago"; Nizaemon plays the roles of Taikô Hisayoshi and Kishida Minbu (in reality Shihôten Tajima-no-Kami) [casting].
1991: a great 8-hours long documentary dedicated to Nizaemon and called "Kabuki Yakusha: Kataoka Nizaemon" is directed by Haneda Sumiko.
Comments:
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII was a tachiyaku and a wagotoshi of the Shôwa era. His career is one of the longest in Kabuki history and in his later years, though he almost lost his eyesight, he was still on top of the bill in difficult roles.
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII's best roles: Kameya Chûbei ("Fûin Giri"), Magoemon ("Ninokuchi-Mura"), Kan Shôjô ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami") Sôroku (Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi), Shigetada (Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki), Fujiya Izaemon ("Kuruwa Bunshô") and Takechi Mitsuhide ("Ehon Taikôki").
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII playing the role of Momoi Wakasanosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1953)
The Kataoka Gatô line of actors
The Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors