Stage names:

Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII
Ichikawa Ebizô XI
Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII

Real name: Horikoshi Takatoshi

Guild: Naritaya

Line number: JÛSANDAIME (XIII)

Birthday: 6 December 1977

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII

Grandfather: Ichikawa Danjûrô XI

Father: Ichikawa Danjûrô XII

Son: Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII

Career:

May 1983: he made his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, in the play "Genji Monogatari".

May 1985: he received the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the drama "Uirô Uri".

January 2000: Shinnosuke played for the first time the prestigious role of Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura", which was staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

March 2001: Shinnosuke played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the roles of Hayano Kanpei (only in the "Ochiudo" dance) and Sadakurô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged by the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) and the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of late Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

September 2002: last Kabuki performance for Shinnosuke before a long TV break. He played the role of Sasahara Yogorô in the drama "Tsuruga no Matsu Chitose no Taihei" and a fireman boss in the dance "Omatsuri", which were staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

Fall 2002 ~ Fall 2003: Shinnosuke was the leading star of the NHK TV series "Musashi", based on the life of the popular hero Miyamoto Musashi (1584~1645), who searched for enlightenment by the Way of the (wooden) sword.

November 2003: Shinnosuke was back in the Kabuki world, playing the role of ... Miyamoto Musashi in the eponymous Kabuki drama, which was staged at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

December 2003: Shinnosuke played for the first time the prestigious role of the warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the "Sanemori Monogatari" scene of the epic drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki", which was staged at the Kabukiza.

May 2004: Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII took the name of Ichikawa Ebizô XI at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa, Kisuke, Togashi and Isobe Kazuenosuke in the dramas "Shibaraku", "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba", "Kanjinchô" and "Sakanaya Sôgorô". His father Ichikawa Danjûrô XII, who shared the stage with him in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" and the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", suddenly fell ill and had to be replaced.

June 2004: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his second month of shûmei at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of the spirit of the Lion in the dance "Kagami Jishi" and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partner in the role of Sukeroku's lover Agemaki was Bandô Tamasaburô. His father Ichikawa Danjûrô was unfortunately on sick leave.

July 2004: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, playing the roles of Yosaburô and the warrior monk Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi" and the dance "Kanjinchô". His stage partner in the former play in the role of Yosaburô's lover Otomi was Onoe Kikunosuke. His stage partners in the latter play in the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were Kataoka Nizaemon and Nakamura Ganjirô. His father Ichikawa Danjûrô was unfortunately on sick leave.

September 2004: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza, playing the roles of Hikaru-no-Kimi and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the dramas "Genji Monogatari" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His father Ichikawa Danjûrô was unfortunately on sick leave.

October 2004: tour in Paris (France); Ebizô celebrated his shûmei in Paris at the Théâtre de Chaillot, playing the roles of Kikuchi Hankurô and the lady-in-waiting Yayoi (possessed by the spirit of a Lion) in the drama "Toribeyama Shinjû" and the dance "Kagami Jishi". This unusual event celebrated also the recovery of his father Ichikawa Danjûrô, who was back on stage in the role of Sakata Ichinosuke in the drama "Toribeyama Shinjû" [more details].

December 2004: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the dramas "Shibaraku" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

June 2005: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza, playing the roles of Hikaru-no-Kimi and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the dramas "Genji Monogatari" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

July 2005: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in the Eastern Provinces, playing the role of the warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Sanemori Monogatari".

September 2005: Ichikawa Ebizô XI celebrated his shûmei in the Western Provinces, playing the role of the warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Sanemori Monogatari" and the leading role of the dance "Omatsuri"; he had to replace in the latter role his father, who unfortunately fell ill again.

May ~ June 2006: Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in London at the Sadler's Wells (31 May~11 June) and in Amsterdam at the Stadsschouwburg (15~18 June); Ebizô played the roles of the spirit of the wisteria and Yoemon in "Fuji Musume" and "Kasane" [more details].

March 2007: tour in Paris (France); Ebizô played at the Palais Garnier the roles of Musashibô Benkei/Togashi (in alternance with his father) and Princess Sarashina (in reality the ogress of Mount Togakushi) in the dance-dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Momijigari", which celebrated the Ichikawa clan [more details].

January 2008: revival at the Shinbashi Enbujô of "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which celebrated the 1070th anniversary of the Narita-san Temple, where the Deity Fudô Myôô was worshipped; Ebizô played the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, Kumedera Danjô, the deity Fudô Myôô, Abe no Kiyoyuki and Hayakumo no Ôji [casting].

September 2009: short Kabuki tour in Monaco for the Naritaya guild; Ebizô played the role of the lady-in-waiting Yayoi (possessed by the spirit of a Lion) in the dance-drama "Kagami Jishi" [more details].

June 2010: Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in London at the Sadler's Wells (4~15 June) and in Roma at the Teatro di Roma-Argentina (21~22 June); Ebizô played the roles of Satô Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô [more details].

August 2013: 1st edition of the ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of Ebizô [more details].

January 2014: premiere at the Shinbashi Enbujô with Ebizô as zagashira of the drama "Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo", a newly-created drama mixing 4 dramas belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban and focusing on the warrior Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo [more details].

August 2014: 2nd edition of the ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of Ebizô [more details].

February 2015: 1st edition of Roppongi Kabuki, in Roppongi at the EX THEATER [more details].

May 2015: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Jayanagi"; Ebizô played the roles of Tanba no Suketarô (in reality the spirit of the Snake Willow) and the warrior Kongômaru [more details].

June 2015: 3rd edition of the ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of Ebizô [more details].

August 2015: Roppongi Kabuki in Ôsaka at the Orix Theater [more details].

February 2017: 2nd edition of Roppongi Kabuki, in Roppongi at the EX THEATER [more details].

June 2017: 4th edition of the ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of Ebizô [more details].

August 2017: Roppongi Kabuki in Nagoya at the Chûnichi Theatre [more details] and in Ôsaka at the Festival Hall [more details].

February 2019/March 2019: 3rd edition of Roppongi Kabuki, in Roppongi at the EX THEATER [more details], in Ôsaka at the Orix Theater [more details] and in Sapporo (Hokkaidô) at the Wakuwaku Holiday Hall (Sapporo Civic Hall) [more details].

November 2019: 5th edition of the ABKAI - Ebikai, the gala of Ebizô [more details].

February 2022/March 2022: 4th edition of Roppongi Kabuki, in Roppongi at the EX THEATER and in Fukuoka at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall [more details].

31 October ~ 1 November 2022: he performed for the first time under the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of Musashibô Benkei ^[1] in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". This 2-day special program included a Nô dance-drama ("Kamiuta"), which was performed by the Nô masters Kanze Kiyokazu (the 26th sôke of the Kanze School) and Kanze Tetsunojô IX, and a hand-clapping ceremony to celebrate the shûmei of the new Danjûrô [more details].

November 2022: Ichikawa Ebizô XI took the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in "Kanjinchô" and "Sukeroku" [more details]. His son made his hatsubutai and received the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.

December 2022: Danjûrô celebrated his second month of shûmei at the Kabukiza; playing the the roles of Ôdate Samagorô Teruhide and Hanakawado Sukeroku (in reality Soga Gorô Tokimune) in the oshimodoshi grand finale of the dance "Musume Dôjôji" and "Sukeroku" [more details]. Second month of hatsubutai for his son Ichikawa Shinnosuke VIII.

Comments:

Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII, the heir of the Naritaya guild and the holder of the most prestigious name in Kabuki, was an extremely popular tachiyaku actor. He should have taken the prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII in May 2020 but the COVID-19 crisis delayed the name-taking ceremony, which happened in November 2022.

[1] The roles of Togashi Saemon and Minamoto no Yoshitsune were played by the Living National Treasures Kataoka Nizaemon and Bandô Tamasaburô.

The mon (mimasu) of Ichikawa Danjûrô XIII

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Shinnosuke line of actors

The Ichikawa Ebizô line of actors

The Ichikawa Danjûrô line of actors