Born in 1868. Disciple of Kataoka Gadô III from 1872, his first stage name was Kataoka Gakumatsu. He made his debut on stage as a koyaku in Nagoya. Later he settled in Tôkyô, where he met the actor Sawamura Tanosuke III and became his disciple. He received the name of Sawamura Kotano in 1875. He took the name of Sawamura Shozan II in October 1890 at the Kabukiza. He became a disciple of Ichikawa Sadanji I and received the name of Ichikawa Enjo in November 1893 at the Meijiza. He was active up to his death the 17th of September 1944. In his latter years, he was outstanding as a supporting fukeoyama. He performed a lot in Kamigata in the troupe of Nakamura Ganjirô I. He was the father of Ichikawa Shôhaku.

Dates of birth and death unknown. Disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô II, he received the name of Ichikawa Gennosuke and appeared on stage for the first time in the 11th lunar month of 1717, in Edo at the Moritaza, where he played the role of Kurandao Yoshitaka (wakashugata) in Murase Genzaburô's kaomise drama "Hônô Taiheiki". He played in the 11th lunar month of 1731 at the Nakamuraza the role of Nitta Yoshioki in the kaomise drama "Wagô Ichiji Taiheiki". His rank in the 1732 Edo hyôbanki, wakashugata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. No record afterwards.

There will be in the future to come a full page dedicated to Ichikawa Gennosuke in kabuki21.com.

Dates of birth and death unknown. Disciple of Ichikawa Danzô IV, his first stage name was Ichikawa Sanpei. He received the name of Ichikawa Tomozô II during the Kansei era. He held the name of Ichikawa Muraemon for a few years, from the 9th lunar month of 1809 to the 10th lunar month of 1812. He took back the name of Ichikawa Tomozô II in the 11th lunar month of 1812. His last stage name was Ichikawa Gentazaemon but we don't know precisely when he took it.

Date of birth unknown. He was the son of Hamaseya Kin'emon, the owner of an important chaya in Edo in the theater quarter of Sakai-chô. He started his career at an early age, as a disciple of the star Segawa Kikunojô II, who gave him the name of Segawa Kichimatsu. He made his debut on stage in the 11th lunar month of 1764, performing at the Nakamuraza as a koyaku in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi". He became wakaonnagata in 1769 and took the name of Segawa Kichiji III in the 11th lunar month of 1770 at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata star Arashi Sangorô II and also celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Hikosaburô III and Bandô Sanpachi II. He became a disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô V in 1785, became tachiyaku and took the name of Ichikawa Hamazô in the 11th lunar month of 1785, playing at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Yuki Motsu Take Furisode Genji". Later on, he changed the writing for Hamazô at an unknown time (old writing --> new writing). He went on tour in Miyajima in 1822. He suddenly fell ill on his way back to Ôsaka, where he died in the 6th lunar month of 1822.

Born in 1870 in Mikage (currently a district in the city of Kôbe). He started his career as a disciple of Nakamura Sôjûrô in 1884. His first stage name was Nakamura Chiyomatsu. He switched to Nakamura Yonetarô in 1888. He settled in Tôkyô in 1892 and performed under the name of Nakamura Gennosuke. He became a disciple of Ichikawa Danzô VII and received the name of Ichikawa Kôjaku IV in May 1893. He became nadai in 1895. After the passing away of Ichikawa Danzô VII in 1911, he performed as a supporting actor in the troupe led by Nakamura Kichiemon I. He died the 28th of February 1938. He was the father of the actor Bandô San'emon.

Born the 24th of June 1904 in Tôkyô. Disciple of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII, his first stage name was Sawamura Sôya and he started his career in July 1913 at the Imperial Theater, where he performed in the drama "Takatoki". He became a disciple of Sawamura Tanosuke V and took the name of Sawamura Chidori in April 1923 at the Imperial Theater, where he performed in the drama "Saki Kisô Yuki no Umegaka". He took back the name of Sawamura Sôya in January 1945 and became an important supporting actor at the Shinjuku Shôchikuza or the Tôyoko Hall. He became a disciple of Ichikawa Shôchô III and took the name of Ichikawa Kôsha in February 1962 while his new master celebrated his shûmei as Ichikawa Monnosuke VII. He appeared on stage for the last time in June 1963, in Kyôto at the Minamiza, where he played the role of the kanjo Sakura-no-Tsubone in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". He suddenly collapsed in the restaurant of the backstage of the Minamiza and died the 23rd of June 1963.

Born the 11th of April 1912 in Tôkyô in the district of Akasaka. He started his career as a disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô VII, who gave him the name of Matsumoto Kinjirô. He made his debut on stage in June 1918 at the Imperial Theater, where he played the role of a koshô in the drama "Ishikiri Kajiwara". He passed the nadai exam and took the name of Matsumoto Komajaku in April 1930 at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of Kashiwa-no-Mae in the drama "Yudono no Chôbê". He became disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô IX and took the name of Ichikawa Masujaku in March 1961 at the Kabukiza, where he played the roles of the musume Otoku and a jijo in "Hikimado" and "Kôshoku Saiyûki". He appeared on stage for the last time a few years later, in December 1964, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the nakai Ofuku in the drama "Daibosatsu Tôge". He retired from the Kabuki world and died in November 1976. This supporting onnagata actor of the Naritaya guild had a thick beard, strong glasses and a black woolen cap perched atop his head. He presented an intriguing contrast, especially when dressed in a yukata within the gakuya. His concern for his thinning hair seemed evident, yet his appearance was only the beginning of the surprise. When he spoke, it was with a completely feminine manner, leaving those who met him for the first time pleasantly astonished.

Born in Tôkyô the 23rd of December 1934 in Tôkyô in Nakano Ward. Disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô IX, he started his career in May 1949 at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he received the name of Ichikawa Masukichi I and performed in the drama "Kirare Yosa". He passed the nadai exam and took the name of Ichikawa Masuju in November 1969 at the Kabukiza alongside his second master Ichikawa Ebizô X and the Kataoka brothers, Kataoka Jûzô VI and Kataoka Kamezô IV, who celebrated their shûmei. Masuju played the role of the shinzô Umegiku and the koshimoto Nadeshiko in "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara" and "Kikubatake". He appeared on stage for the last time in November 2008, in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he played the role of Ôba Dôeki's spouse Komaki in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". He died the 23rd of April 2009, victim of a lung cancer. This important supporting actor was at the service of both Ichikawa Danjûrô XI and Ichikawa Danjûrô XII for almost 60 years. As he was very knowledgable regarding Ichikawa Danjûrô XI's art and kata, he played an important role to transmit it to his master's son Ichikawa Danjûrô XII. He was onnagata, a rare feature at the Naritaya guild. He had the opportunity to perfom important roles like Koyoshi in "Sanemori Monogatari" or Yazaemon's nyôbô Koyone in "Sushiya".

Born in Yokohama the 20th of February 1927. He started his career in 1931 in his native city at the Kirakuza. His first stage name was Ichikawa Shinjirô. He spent 10 years in Kamigata after WWII, performing in troupes led by Ichikawa Jukai III or Nakamura Ganjirô II. He became disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô IX in 1956. He passed the nadai exam and took the name of Ichikawa Rikô in November 1969 at the Kabukiza alongside his second master Ichikawa Ebizô X and the Kataoka brothers, Kataoka Jûzô VI and Kataoka Kamezô IV, who celebrated their shûmei. Rikô played the role of the shinzô Matsuno, the koshimoto Tatsuta and the shinzô Hinanosode in "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara", "Kikubatake" and "Sukeroku". He appeared on stage for the last time in November 2003, in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he performed in the drama "Miyamoto Musashi". He died the 27th of December 2011. He was onnagata, a rare feature at the Naritaya guild.

Born the 18th of January 1901 in Tôkyô. Son of Ichikawa Enjo and disciple of Ichikawa Sadanji II, he started his career in January 1908. His first stage name was Ichikawa Endomame. He settled in Kamigata with his father in 1917, where he stayed up to 1973. He took the name of Ichikawa Shôhaku in January 1925. After the passing away of his father the 17th of September 1944 and after WWII, he became a disciple of Ichikawa Jukai III. He appeared on stage for the last time in March 1984, in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, where he performed in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû", which was produced within a program commemorating the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) and the 1st anniversary (2nd memorial service) of the respective passing away of Nakamura Ganjirô I and Nakamura Ganjirô II, and celebrating the shûmei of Arashi Kichisaburô VIII. He died the 8th of March 1986.

Born the 29th of November 1970. He graduated in March 1988 from the Actors Training Center of the National Theatre (ninth graduation). He made his first appearance on stage in May 1988 at the Kabukiza, where he played a supporting role in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He became in July 1988 disciple of the actor Ichikawa Ennosuke III and received the name of Ichikawa Shun'en II. He became heyago of Ichikawa Ennosuke III in March 1994. He took part in January 1995 in the 14th Kabuki performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Shôchiku Company [more details]. Shun'en appeared on a Kabuki stage for the last time in October 2016, performing in "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi" on tour all over Japan with the Omodakaya guild. He stopped acting in Kabuki and switched to Shinpa. He joined the Shinpa troupe led by Mizutani Yaeko II and Namino Kuriko in January 2017 at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô, where he took the name of Kawai Yukinojô and his yagô became Shiratoya. Why this name and this guild? Shiratoya was the guild name of Kawai Takeo, a great Shinpa onnagata actor. The choice of Yukinojô was related to the drama "Yukinojô Henge", the story of the fictious Kabuki actor Nakamura Yukinojô. Kawai Yukinojô is now a Shinpa actor.

Dates of birth and death unknown. He was the son of an Ôsaka carpenter named Kichibê. His first name was Shintarô. He started his career as a disciple of Ichikawa Danzô V during the Bunsei era and received the name of Ichikawa Morinosuke II ^[3]. He was adopted by Ichikawa Danzô V and received the name of Ichikawa Danzaburô VI ^[2] in the 1st lunar month of 1844 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. He took the name of Ichikawa Shikô III ^[1] in the 1st lunar month of 1846 in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai. He finally took the name of Ichikawa Tôshô in the 8th lunar month of 1850 in Ôsaka at the Chikugo no Shibai. His name was recorded for the last time in 1851.

There will be in the future to come a full page dedicated to Ichikawa Tôshô in kabuki21.com.

Born the 6th of January 1969. He graduated in March 1988 from the Actors Training Center of the National Theatre (ninth graduation). He made his first appearance on stage in May 1988 at the Kabukiza, where he played a supporting role in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He became in July 1988 disciple of the actor Ichikawa Danshirô IV. He received the name of Ichikawa Danjirô in October 1988, playing in the classic "Moritsuna Jin'ya" which was staged at the Kabukiza. He became in July 1994 heyago of the star Ichikawa Ennosuke III. Danjirô became nadai and celebrated it in July 2000 at the Kabukiza, where he performled in the dramas "Kamahige" and "Uwajima Sôdô". Ichikawa Danjirô took the name of Ichikawa Tsukinosuke II ^[4] the 19th of December 2011. He stopped acting in Kabuki and definitively switched to Shinpa during the 2010s. He took the name of Kitamura Rokurô II ^[5] in September 2016. He used to be a talented tachiyaku actor, who used to perform for the Omodakaya guild. He had his moments of glory when he starred along with Bandô Tamasaburô in "Sakura Hime" in July 2004 at the Kabukiza.