KATAOKA GADÔ V

Stage names:

Kataoka Gadô V
Kataoka Roen V
Kataoka Hitoshi
Kataoka Hajime

Others names:

Kataoka Nizaemon XIV
Kataoka Gadô XIII

Real name: Kataoka Hajime

Guild: Matsushimaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Existence: 6 July 1910 ~ 31 December 1993

Connections:

Great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I

Great-grandfather: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII

Grand-father: Kataoka Nizaemon X

Father: Kataoka Nizaemon XII

Brothers: Ichimura Yoshigorô II, Kataoka Roen VI

Career:

November 1917: he made his first stage appearance, in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, performing under his real name Kataoka Hajime.

1924: Kataoka Hajime took the name of Kataoka Hitoshi.

June 1934: Kataoka Hitoshi took the name of Kataoka Roen V at the Kabukiza. Roen was one of the haimyô used by the Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors and Kataoka Roen V was the first actor to use it as a stage name.

16 March 1946: his father Kataoka Nizaemon XII was assassinated by a robber in his Tôkyô home.

November 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kema Nanboku's revision of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi"; Roen played the role of Otama [casting].

July 1955: Kataoka Roen V took the name of Kataoka Gadô V at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Okumi, Ofune and Tomojirô's spouse Onami in the dramas "Onbôbori", "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" and "Jûgoya Monogatari"; his stage partners in "Yaguchi no Watashi" were Ichikawa Ennosuke II (Tonbê), Kataoka Nizaemon XIII (Nitta Yoshimine), Ichikawa Danshirô III (Rokuzô) and Sawamura Gennosuke V (Utena).

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); Gadô played the role of Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata" [more details]. Gadô had the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

March 1956: Kataoka Gadô V and Kataoka Hidetarô II celebrated their shûmei in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza; the new Gadô played the roles of Ofune and the Kabuki actor Kirinami Senju in the dramas "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" and "Tôjûrô no Koi"; his stage partners in "Yaguchi no Watashi" were Kataoka Nizaemon XIII (Nitta Yoshimine, Tonbê), Jitsukawa Enjirô II (Rokuzô) and Arashi Hinasuke X (Utena).

January 1960: premiere (or revival?) at the Kabukiza of the dance "Kuruwa Sanbasô"; Gadô played the role of the shinzô Umezato [casting].

February 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Shiranui Kengyô"; Gadô played the role of Iwai's okugata Namie [casting].

April 1976: the National Theatre produced the revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Gadô played the role of Kuretake [casting].

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Gadô played the role of Jisuke's wife Okaji [casting].

January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Gadô played the role of the old woman Takekawa [casting].

November 1991: Gadô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Minamiza, where he played the role of Kawachiya Oshô in the drama "Kawashô"; his stage partners were Nakamura Ganjirô III (Kamiya Jihê), Kataoka Hidetarô II (Kinokuniya Koharu) and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII (Magoemon).

31 December 1993: Gadô died.

Comments:

Kataoka Gadô V was an excellent onnagata, trained in the Kamigata traditions, considering himself as the "real" Kataoka Nizaemon XIII. He posthumously received the name of Kataoka Nizaemon XIV in 1995.

There were two ways to "count" the Kataoka Gadô line of actor and, as a consequence, you may find Kataoka Gadô V referenced in some documents as the 13th of the line.

The Kataoka Roen line of actors

The Kataoka Gadô line of actors