Stage names:

Ichikawa En'ô I
Ichikawa Ennosuke II
Ichikawa Danko I

Real name: Kinoshi Masayasu

Guild: Omodakaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 21 May 1888 ~ 12 June 1963

Connection:

Father: Ichikawa Danshirô II

Brothers: Ichikawa Juen I, Ichikawa Chûsha VIII, Ichikawa Kodayû II

Son: Ichikawa Danshirô III

Grandsons: Ichikawa En'ô II (Ichikawa Ennosuke III), Ichikawa Danshirô IV

Great-grandsons: Ichikawa Ennosuke IV, Ichikawa Chûsha IX

Disciples: Ichikawa Dan'en II, Ichikawa Juen II, Ichikawa Enzaburô, Ichikawa Emisaburô II, Ichikawa Kotonosuke, Ichikawa En'ya I

Career:

May 1888: born in Tôkyô in the district of Senzoku in Asakusa.

October 1892: first stage appearance, at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Ichikawa Danko I and performed as a koyaku in the drama "Seki-ga-Hara Homare no Gaika".

1909: Danko joined the Jiyû Gekijô troupe ("Free Theatre" in English) led by Ichikawa Sadanji II.

October 1910: Ichikawa Danko I and his father Ichikawa Ennosuke I respectively took the names of Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Ichikawa Danshirô II at the Kabukiza. The two actors performed together in the drama "Kiri Hitoha" and the long-forgotten bombastic drama "Kamahige" ^[1].

October 1913: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Zôhiki" ^[1]; Ennosuke played the role of Ikitsu Gazenbô [more details].

October 1914: premiere at the Meijiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Soga Monogatari"; Ennosuke played the role of Soga Gorô [casting].

1919: Ennosuke traveled to Europe and to the USA to study theatre and dance abroad. This eye-opening trip led him to become involved in the creation of new productions.

September 1919: premiere at the Kabukiza of the Kiyomoto-based dance "Sumidagawa" (a Nô adapted for Kabuki by Yamazaki Shikô with a musical accompaniment made by Kiyomoto Umekichi II), inspired by Russian ballets; Ennosuke played the role of the wandering woman Hanjo-no-Mae, desesparately looking for her abducted son Umewakamaru along the Sumida River [casting].

1920: creation of the first Shunjûza, a study group, whose main advisors were the playwright Osanai Kaoru and the actor Ichikawa Sadanji II. The first program of the Shunjûza was staged in October at the Shintomiza and was made up of Tanizaki Jun'ichirô's "Hôseiji Monogatari", Kikuchi Kan's "Chichi Kaeri" and Okamoto Kidô's "Nadate Kuzure". The star of this program was Ennosuke, supported by Bandô Jusaburô III, Ichikawa Sumizô VI, Ichikawa Shôchô II, Ichikawa Yaozô VIII, Ichikawa Kôjaku IV and Ichikawa Sashô II.

November 1920: premiere at the Meijiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Ogurusu no Chôbê"; Ennosuke played the role of Chôbê [casting].

6 February 1922: his father Ichikawa Danshirô II died.

June 1924: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the Nagauta-based kyôgen "Akutarô", which was adapted for Kabuki by Okamura Shikô, with a choreography and a musical accompaniment made by Hanayagi Jusuke II and Kineya Sakichi IV. The leading role of Akutarô was played by Ennosuke [more details].

July 1926: premiere at the Kabukiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Gonza to Sukejû"; Ennosuke played the role of Sukehachi [casting].

May 1927: premiere at the Hongôza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Shinjuku Yawa"; Ennosuke plays the role of Saitô Daihachi [more details].

November 1927: premiere at the Hongôza of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kôya Monogurui" (a Nô drama adapted for Kabuki), which mixed Nagauta and Gidayû musical accompaniments; Ennosuke played the role of Takashi Shirô [casting].

August 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige", a Kabuki drama based on Jippensha Ikku's picaresque comic novel "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige"; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

September 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Tomiko's Tokiwazu-based dance "Koma", with a choreography and a musical accompaniment made by Hanayagi Jusuke II and Tokiwazu Mojibê III. The leading role was played by Ennosuke.

February 1929: premiere at the Meijiza of Kimura Tomiko's Nagauta-based dance "Nomitori Otoko", with a choreography and a musical accompaniment made by Hanayagi Jusuke II and Kineya Sakichi IV. The leading role was played by Ennosuke.

August/September 1929: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Kiso Kaidô Hizakurige", a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set on the Nakasendô ^[3], not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

August 1930: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Kyûshû Dôchû Hizakurige", a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set in Kyûshû, not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô"; Ennosuke played the roles of Tsurigane no Gonsuke and Shinobu no Sôta [casting].

January 1931 ~ April 1932: second period of existence for the Shunjûza troupe, led by Ennosuke.

August 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Ôshû Hizakurige", a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set in Ôshû, not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

September 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Zoku Ôshû Hizakurige", a sequel to "Ôshû Hizakurige", which was also a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set in Ôshû, not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

August 1933: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Konpira Dôchû Hizakurige", a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set on the road to the Konpira Shrine, not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

April 1934: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's Tokiwazu-based dance "Hanami Yakko", with a choreography and a musical accompaniment made by Hanayagi Jusuke II and Tokiwazu Mojibê III; the leading role of the yakko was played by Ennosuke.

August 1934: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kimura Kinka's drama "Izumo Dôchû Hizakurige", a sequel to "Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige" set on the road to Izumo Taisha, not on the Tôkaidô; the roles of Yajirobê and Kitahachi were played by Ennosuke and Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

January 1935: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Uno Nobuo's drama "Fubuki Tôge"; Ennosuke played the role of Sukezô [casting]. Premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of "Edo-jô no Ninjô" and "Daini no Shisha", the first and second plays of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Ennosuke played the role of Okado Denpachirô in the former drama and the role of Onodera Jûnai in the latter drama [more details].

April 1935: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of "Saigo no Daihyôjô", the third play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Ennosuke played the roles of Izeki Tokubê and Toda Gonzaemon [casting].

17 November 1935: his brother Ichikawa Juen I died.

April 1936: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of "Ninin Sanbasô", a 2-dancer version of the Sanbasô dance, starring Ennosuke and his son Ichikawa Danshirô III.

April 1938: premiere at the Meijiza of "Kira Yashiki Uramon" and the first act of "Sengoku Yashiki" [casting], the seventh and ninth plays of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Ennosuke played the role of Tominomori Sukeemon in "Sengoku Yashiki".

September 1939: premiere at the Meijiza of Kimura Tomiko's dance "Kokaji" (a Nô drama adapted for Kabuki), which mixed Nagauta and Gidayû musical accompaniments; the leading role of the God Inari was played by Ennosuke.

November 1939: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Ennosuke played the role of the old woman Iwate, in reality an ogress [casting].

January 1940: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of "Ohama Goten Tsunatoyo-kyô", the fifth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Ennosuke played the role of Tominomori Sukeemon [casting].

April 1941: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's Gidayû-based dance "Yoi Yakko"; the leading role of the yakko Bekunai was played by Ennosuke.

November 1941: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of "Sengakuji", the eighth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; the leading role of Ôishi Kuranosuke was played by Ennosuke.

January 1944: the Ennosuke - Nakamura Tokizô III performed for the first time, at the Meijiza, the roles of Matahei and Otoku in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô".

May 1949: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of the dance-drama "Higaki"; Ennosuke played the role of the old woman Higaki (in reality the ghost of Higaki) [casting].

July 1951: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Ennosuke played the role of Minobe Iori [casting].

July 1954: Ennosuke played the role of Mitsukuni at the Meijiza in the dance-drama "Masakado"; the role of Princess Takiyasha was played by Nakamura Tokizô III.

October 1955: first Kabuki tour in the Popular Republic of China, in Beijing (2~13 October), Shanghai (17~18 October) and Guangzhou (24~25 October); Ennosuke played the roles of Benkei and Matahei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô" [casting]. Ennosuke had the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

February 1956: the Ennosuke - Tokizô duo played for the fourth and last time the roles of Matahei and Otoku in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô", which was staged at the Kabukiza.

April 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Onizoroi Momijigari"; Ennosuke played the role of Taira no Koremochi [casting].

May 1963: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for the Omodakaya guild; Ichikawa Ennosuke II, Ichikawa Danko III and Ichikawa Kamejirô I respectively took the names of Ichikawa En'ô I, Ichikawa Ennosuke III and Ichikawa Danko IV ^[2].

12 June 1963: En'ô died.

Comments:

Ichikawa En'ô I was a revolutionary and dynamic actor, who created many new dances. Ichikawa En'ô I's best dance-dramas were gathered in 1964 by his grandson Ichikawa Ennosuke III in a special collection named En'ô Jûshu: "Akutarô", "Kurozuka", "Kôya Monogurui", "Kokaji", "Koma", "Ninin Sanbasô", "Nomitori Otoko", "Hanami Yakko", "Yoi Yakko" and "Yoshinoyama".

[1] A drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

[2]The supporting actors Ichikawa Shun'en I and Ichikawa Masutarô also took the names of Ichikawa Matsuo III and Ichikawa Dan'en II.

[3] The Nakasendô was commonly called Kiso Kaidô.

Ichikawa En'ô I playing the role of the ogress in the dance-drama "Kurozuka" (oil painting made by Hasegawa Noboru in 1958)

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Danko line of actors

The Ichikawa Ennosuke line of actors

The Ichikawa En'ô line of actors