SAKATA TÔJÛRÔ IV

Stage names:

Sakata Tôjûrô IV
Nakamura Ganjirô III
Nakamura Senjaku II

Real name: Hayashi Hirotarô

Guild:

Yamashiroya (Tôjûrô's years)
Narikomaya (Senjaku/Ganjirô's years)

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Birthday: 31 December 1931

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Nakamura Kanjaku III

Grandfather: Nakamura Ganjirô I

Father: Nakamura Ganjirô II

Sons: Nakamura Kanjaku V, Nakamura Senjaku III

Grandsons: Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Toranosuke

Career:

October 1941: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kadoza, receiving the name of Nakamura Senjaku II and playing in the drama "Yamamba".

July 1951: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Senjaku plays the role of Kyûya's wife Kiku [casting].

January 1953: Senjaku plays for the first time the role of Ohan in the play "Obiya", which is performed at the Ôsaka Kabukiza.

August 1953: revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû" at the Shimbashi Embujô; Senjaku plays the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu [more details].

June 1954: Senjaku plays for the first time in Ôsaka the role of the courtesan Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû", which is performed at the Ôsaka Kabukiza; the role of Hiranoya Tokubei is played by Nakamura Ganjirô II.

January 1955: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Naniwa no Ashi"; Senjaku plays the role of Mayumi [casting].

February 1955: Izumi Kyôka's drama "Tenshu Monogatari" is staged for the first time with Kabuki actors, at the Kabukiza; Senjaku plays the role of Princess Kame [casting].

July 1955: premiere at the Tôhô Takarazuka Gekijô of Uno Nobuo's drama "Mômoku Monogatari"; Senjaku plays the role of Ochacha/Yodogimi.

June 1963: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's Nagauta-based dance-drama "Ôeyama Shuten Dôji"; Senjaku plays the role of Lady Nadeshiko [casting]. Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" is produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Senjaku plays the role of the courtesan Otomi [casting].

January 1967: revival at the National Theatre of "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura"; Senjaku plays the roles of Bun'ya Toyohide and the koshimoto Makiginu [casting].

April 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Yari no Gonza Kasane Katabira"; Senjaku plays the role of Sasano Gonza [casting].

May 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the playwright; Senjaku plays the role of Hikokurô's wife Otane [casting].

April 1976: revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Senjaku plays the roles of the courtesan Hanatachibana, Ogiku and Mashiba Hisayoshi [casting].

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Senjaku plays the role of Danshichi Mohei [casting].

May 1982: foundation of the Chikamatsuza, a touring troupe led by Senjaku and dedicated to the production of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's plays. The first tour presents the play "Shinjû Ten no Amijima", in which Senjaku plays the role of Kamiya Jihei. His stage partners are Sawamura Tôjûrô (Koharu), Nakamura Tomijûrô (Magoemon) and Sawamura Tanosuke (Osan).

October 1983: second Chikamatsuza tour in Tôkyô, Ôsaka and Kôbe. Senjaku produces Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Komochi Yamamba" in which he plays the roles of Oginoya Yaegiri and Yamamba.

May 1984: third Chikamatsuza tour in Tôkyô and Ôsaka; Senjaku produces Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku", in which he plays the role of Yohei.

September 1985: fourth Chikamatsuza tour in 6 cities; Senjaku produces Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Meido no Bikyaku", in which he plays the role of Kameya Chûbei.

November 1990: Nakamura Senjaku II takes the name of Nakamura Ganjirô III at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon and the spirit of the lion in the play "Kuruwa Bunshô" (the "Yoshidaya" scene) and the dance "Kagami Jishi". His stage partner in the role of Yûgiri in the "Yoshidaya" scene is Onoe Baikô VII.

December 1990: Ganjirô celebrates his second month of shûmei at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kamiya Jihei and Tsuchiya Chikara in the dramas "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" (the "Kawashô" scene) and "Tsuchiya Chikara". His stage partner in the role of Kinokuniya Koharu in the "Kawashô" scene is Nakamura Utaemon VI.

January 1991: Ganjirô celebrates his first month of shûmei in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Tsuchiya Chikara, the spirit of the Lion and Kamiya Jihei in the drama "Tsuchiya Chikara", the dance "Kagami Jishi" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" (the "Kawashô" scene). His stage partner in the role of Kinokuniya Koharu in the "Kawashô" scene is Nakamura Utaemon VI.

February 1991: Ganjirô celebrates his second month of shûmei at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Kameya Chûbei, the snake disguised as the dancing girl Hanako and the hair-dresser Sanigoroshichi (in fact Asaka Yoichirô Haruyoshi) in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" (the "Fûin Giri" scene), the dance "Musume Dôjôji" and the drama "Kari no Tayori". The role of the courtesan Umegawa in the "Fûin Giri" scene is played by Kataoka Hidetarô.

October 1991: Ganjirô celebrates his shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza, playing the role of a little girl, Jûbei and the spirit of the Lion in the dance "Tenaraiko", the "Numazu" scene of the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" and the dance "Kagami Jishi". The roles of Heisaku and Oyone in the "Numazu" scene are played by Nakamura Tomijûrô and Sawamura Tôjûrô.

November 1991: Ganjirô celebrates his first month of shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Kamiya Jihei and Fujiya Izaemon in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" (the "Kawashô" scene) and in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô" (the "Yoshidaya" scene). His stage partners in the roles of the courtesans Kinokuniya Koharu ("Kawashô") and Yûgiri ("Yoshidaya") are Kataoka Hidetarô and Onoe Baikô VII.

December 1991: Ganjirô celebrates his second month of shûmei at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Kameya Chûbei and the snake disguised as the dancing girl Hanako in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" (the "Fûin Giri" scene) and the dance "Musume Dôjôji". The role of the courtesan Umegawa in the "Fûin Giri" scene is played by Nakamura Hirotarô.

1994: Ganjirô receives the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese).

15 December 1994: Ganjirô joins the prestigious Japan Art Academy (Nihon Geijutsuin).

January 1995: Ganjirô plays for the 1000th times, the 16th of January in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Hiranoya Tokubei is played by Tôjûrô's son Nakamura Senjaku (who celebrates along with Nakamura Kanjaku his shûmei).

June 1998: great revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Keisei Mibu Dainenbutsu" for the 14th Chikamatsuza tour. This plays has not been performed for 296 years !

March 2000: 15th Chikamatsuza tour; Ganjirô produces the "Fûin Giri" scene of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai".

June 2000: revival at the Kabukiza of the spectacular hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji"; Ganjirô plays the roles of the wisteria maiden, a falcon-handler, a zatô, a boatman and the ôtsue demon [more details].

May ~ June 2001: Chikamatsuza tour and several Kabuki seminars in England. Ganjirô and his 2 sons (Kanjaku and Senjaku) play in "Tsuri Onna" and "Sonezaki Shinjû" [more details].

June 2003: two-week Chikamatsuza tour in Moscow and St. Petersburg (Russia). Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû" is performed with Ganjirô and his son Nakamura Kanjaku in the roles of Tenmaya Ohatsu and Hiranoya Tokubei. "It is very rewarding to perform in Russia, a country full of theater lovers," Ganjirô said to some journalists.

May 2004: 3-day Chikamatsuza tour in Beijing (China) with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program is made up of the dances "Tachi Nusubito" and "Fuji Musume". Ganjirô plays the role of the Wisteria Maiden in the latter dance.

April 2005: Chikamatsuza tour in Korea with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program is made up of the dance "Bô Shibari" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; Ganjirô plays the role of Tenmaya Ohatsu in the latter drama [more details].

June 2005: Chikamatsuza tour in the USA with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program is made up of the dance "Bô Shibari" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; Ganjirô plays the role of Tenmaya Ohatsu in the latter drama [more details].

December 2005: Nakamura Ganjirô III takes the name of Sakata Tôjûrô IV in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon, Tenmaya Ohatsu and Princess Yaegaki in the dramas "Yûgiri Nagori no Shôgatsu", "Sonezaki Shinjû" and "Honchô Nijûshikô". This prestigious name has not been held since the 24th of the 8th lunar month of 1774 (231 years and a few months!).

January 2006: Tôjûrô celebrates his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon, Tenmaya Ohatsu and Masaoka in the dramas "Yûgiri Nagori no Shôgatsu", "Sonezaki Shinjû" and "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

February 2006: Tôjûrô celebrates his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza, playing the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" and the 5 roles of the hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji".

July 2006: Tôjûrô celebrates his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, playing the roles of Danshichi Kurobei and the shirabyôshi Hanako in the drama "Natsu Matsuri" and the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

October 2006: Tôjûrô celebrates his shûmei at the Misonoza in Nagoya, playing the roles of Sasaki Moritsuna and the keisei Yayoi (in reality the spirit of a shishi) in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata" and the dance "Makura Jishi".

May 2007: 18th edition of the Chikamatsuza tour; Tôjûrô celebrates his shûmei on the road, playing the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Izaemon's lover, the courtesan Yûgiri, is played by Nakamura Kaishun.

September 2007: 19th edition of the Chikamatsuza tour, in 4 cities in China; Tôjûrô plays the roles of Otoku and the Spirit of the Lion in "Domo Mata" and "Hanabusa Shûjaku no Shishi" [more details].

December 2007: Tôjûrô celebrates at the Minamiza his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji". He also plays the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Benkei and Togashi Saemon are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô and Nakamura Kinnosuke.

March 2008: Tôjûrô celebrates at the Kabukiza his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji". This production features the rare performance of the oshimodoshi final part of the dance, where Tôjûrô appears as a serpent and is pushed back by a powerful hero played in the bombastic aragoto style by Ichikawa Danjûrô. Tôjûrô also plays the double role of Kojirô/Atsumori in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Princess Tamaori are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô and Nakamura Kaishun.

June 2008: Tôjûrô celebrates at the Hakataza (Fukuoka) his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji".

October 2008: Tôjûrô celebrates at the Misonoza (Nagoya) his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji". This performance includes the bombastic oshimodoshi finale, with Tôjûrô's elder son Nakamura Kanjaku in the role of the demon-queller.

April 2009: Tôjûrô plays for the 1300th times, the 24th of April in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Hiranoya Tokubei is played by Tôjûrô's son Nakamura Kanjaku.

Comments:

Sakata Tôjûrô IV is an outstanding wagotoshi / onnagata and one of the very few actors to preserve the great tradition of the Kamigata Kabuki.

Sakata Tôjûrô IV's best roles: Ohatsu ("Sonezaki Shinjû"), Kamiya Jihei/Koharu ("Shinjû Ten no Amijima" ), Kameya Chûbei/Umegawa ("Fûin Giri"), Oginoya Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamamba"), Kamiya Jihei ("Kuruwa Bunshô"), Kuzu-no-Ha ("Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"), Yuranosuke/Kampei/Tonase/Okaru ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Yae/Sakuramaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Jûjibei ("Hikimado"), Jûbei ("Numazu"), Danshichi Mohei ("Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa") and Rôben ("Rôben Sugi no Yurai").

The Nakamura Senjaku line of actors

The Nakamura Ganjirô line of actors

The Sakata Tôjûrô line of actors