Stage names:

Ichikawa Komazô XI
Ichikawa Shinsha II
Ichikawa Momomaru

Real name: Kanbe Akira

Guild: Kôraiya

Line number: JÛICHIDAIME (XI)

Birthday: 14 October 1957

Connections:

Father: Hanayagi Taisuke (dance master)

Masters: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII

Career:

June 1962: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Tôkyô Takarazuka Theater, playing in the "Tokaiya" act of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

June 1971: he becomes disciple of the actor Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII and receives in December the name of Ichikawa Momomaru, playing the role of Rikiya in the seventh act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

October 1981: great shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 generations of actors belonging to the Kôraiya guild (Kôraiya Sandai Shûmei); Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, Ichikawa Somegorô VI, Matsumoto Kintarô III, Ichikawa Momomaru, Ichikawa Nakanosuke III, Ichikawa Nakazô and Ichikawa Nakajirô respectively take the names of Matsumoto Hakuô I, Matsumoto Kôshirô IX, Ichikawa Somegorô VII, Ichikawa Shinsha II, Matsumoto Kôemon I, Matsumoto Kôzô I and Matsumoto Kôjirô.

April 1994: Ichikawa Shinsha II takes the name of Ichikawa Komazô XI at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Yamazaki Yogorô in the drama "Sumôba" in a program which commemorates the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Matsumoto Hakuô.

October 2003: revival at the National Theatre with the Omodakaya guild of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari"; Komazô plays the role of the Imperial Prince Korehito [casting].

October 2015: production at the National Theatre of "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" in a tôshi kyôgen production (3 acts; 8 scenes) with the revival of the rarely-staged "Daidaikô" act; Komazô plays the role of Imada Manjirô [more details|casting].

Comments:

Ichikawa Komazô XI is a talented supporting onnagata and nimaime actor of the Kôraiya guild.

Ichikawa Komazô XI
Courtesy of DANGO JIRÛ HYPER
This image was part of an amazing 2010 web project, which was entitled Kabuki Bijin Tokei (The Kabuki Beautiful People Clock), a special countdown with original pictures of Kabuki actors, one picture per day up to the closing of the Kabukiza (video on youtube)
Ichikawa Komazô XI was Number 101 in this countdown (online the 20th of January 2010, 101 days to go before the closing of Tôkyô's most famous theater)

The Ichikawa Shinsha line of actors

The Ichikawa Komazô line of actors