Stage names:

Onoe Kikujûrô IV
Onoe Umegorô
Onoe Kôichi

Real name: Kumano Keiichi

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Existence: 21 August 1932 ~ 24 September 2020

Connections:

Masters: Onoe Kikugorô VII, Onoe Baikô VII, Onoe Kikugorô VI

Career:

21 August 1932: born in Niigata.

April 1947: he started his career as a disciple of Onoe Kikugorô VI, who gave him the name of Onoe Kôichi. He made his debut on stage at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he performed in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Momoyogusa".

10 July 1949: his first master Onoe Kikugorô VI died.

January 1958: he received the name of Onoe Umegorô at the Shinbashi Enbujô.

October 1965: Umegorô took part in the first Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in West Berlin at the Der Freien Volksbühne (2~8 october), in Paris at the Théâtre de l'Odéon (15~24 october) and in Lisbonne at the Teatro São Luis (29~31 october) [more details].

March 1967: Umegorô took part in the second Kabuki tour in Hawaii.

February 1968: he became nadai and took the name of Onoe Kikujûrô IV at the Kabukiza, performing in "Musume Dôjôji", "Tôdaiki" and "Noriaibune".

September ~ October 1969: Kikujûrô took part in the Kabuki tour in the USA.

February 1977: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Ichimatsu Kozô no Onna"; Kikujûrô played the role of the tedai Seikichi [more details].

January 1979: Kikujûrô took part in the Kabuki tour in China.

September 1988: Kikujûrô took part in the Kabuki tour in South Korea.

June ~ July 1990: Kikujûrô took part in the Kabuki tour in Southeast Asia.

24 March 1995: his second master Onoe Baikô VII died.

October 2018: Kikujûrô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of Otetsu in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hatsuzakura".

24 September 2020: Kikujûrô died of heart failure.

Comments:

Onoe Kikujûrô IV was a talented and faithful disciple of the Otowaya guild at the service of 3 generations of leaders of the Onoe clan. He was the last disciple of the star Onoe Kikugorô VI. He was also an important tateshi. As an actor, he was outstanding in edokko supporting roles, like the bonito-seller in "Kamiyui Shinza". It is also interesting to note that he appeared on stage for the first time and for the last time performing in the same drama, "Sukeroku".

The Onoe Kikujûrô line of actors