Stage names:

Ichimura Kitsutarô
Bandô Kitsutarô
Bandô Usagi

Real name: Banba Seiji (?)

Guild: Tachibanaya

Birthday: 27 October 1961

Connections:

Master: Ichimura Uzaemon XVII

Career:

October 1967: debut on stage (hatsubutai) at the Kabukiza, where he plays the roles of Kosaburô and a city girl in the drama "Moritsuna Jin'ya" and the dance-drama "Tama Matsuri". These October performances commemorate the 22th anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the passing-away of late Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

April 1968: he receives the name of Bandô Usagi (usagi means rabbit in Japanese) at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Mataroku (tômi) in the drama "Sakaro".

May 1981: he takes the name of Bandô Kitsutarô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of an uroko yoten, a takeda yakko, a kumosuke and a leaf on a tree in "Musume Dôjôji", "Goto Sanba", "Suzu-ga-Mori" and the 4-season dance "Shiki". These dankikusai performances commemorate the 32th anniversary (33th memorial service) of the passing-away of late Onoe Kikugorô VI.

January 1995: he passes the nadai exam.

May 2014: he joins the first league of Kabuki actors (kanbu shôshin); he takes the name of Ichimura Kitsutarô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Sankichi and the seller of white radishes in the dramas "Sakanaya Sôgorô" and "Ya-no-Ne".

January 2019: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's 1779 drama "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; this Otowaya-powered revision was entitled "Himeji-jô Oto-ni Kiku Sono Ishizue"; Kitsutarô plays the role of Kanekoya Saibê [casting | more details].

Comments:

Ichimura Kitsutarô is a supporting tachiyaku actor of the Tachibanaya guild.