Stage names:

Ichimura Manjirô II
Ichimura Takematsu V

Real name: Ichimura Noriaki

Guild: Tachibanaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Birthday: 23 December 1949

Connections:

Great-great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V

Great-grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V

Grandfather: Bandô Hikosaburô VI

Father: Ichimura Uzaemon XVII

Brothers: Bandô Rakuzen, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô IV

Sons: Ichimura Takematsu VI, Ichimura Hikaru

Career:

October 1955: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name of Ichimura Takematsu V and playing the role of Ishigami in the dance "Tsuchi-gumo".

January 1958: premiere at the Shinbashi Enbujô of the of the matsubamemono dance-drama "Tôzumô"; Takematsu plays the role of a karako [more details].

May 1972: Ichimura Takematsu V takes the name of Ichimura Manjirô II at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Fukuyama and princess Teruha in the plays "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura" and "Shibaraku".

March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Manjirô plays the role of Kumadeya's daughter Takane [casting].

February 1976: revival at the Kabukiza of a 5-act revised version of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Manjirô plays the role of Osai [casting].

March 1977: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Shiranui Monogatari"; Manjirô plays the role of the spirit of a spider [more details].

January 1979: tour in the Popular Republic of China.

January 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki" [more details]; Manjirô plays the role of Tsuru-no-Mae.

1980: he is adopted by the widow of Ichimura Uzaemon XVI.

March 1981: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jitsugetsusei Kyôwa Seidan"; Manjirô plays the role of Itozume no Omachi [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Manjirô plays the role of the page Benjûrô [casting].

January 1986: revival at the National Theatre of the rarely-staged drama "Uwanari", which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Manjirô plays the role of the mekake Shinobu [more details].

April 1986: Kabuki tour in South America [more details].

June 1987: tour in the USSR.

September 1988: tour in South Korea.

October 1988: Manjirô takes part in a Kabuki tour in Egypt; he plays the role of Chidori in the play "Shunkan".

January 2002: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Koharu Nagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been played in its full length since 11th lunar month of 1864; Manjirô plays the role of Hanakawa [casting].

May 2007: the Kabukiza celebrates the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the death of Manjirô's father Ichimura Uzaemon XVII with the drama "Onna Shibaraku"; Manjirô plays the leading role of Tomoe Gozen in this drama.

January 2008: revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu"; Manjirô plays the role of Tarobê's wife Otora [more details].

September 2008: "Kabuki for Everyone" tour in Russia; the troupe is led by Manjirô, who gives lectures about the art of Kabuki or performs the dance "Fuji Musume" [more details].

January 2010: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei's long-forgotten drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko", which was revised and entitled "Asahi-ni Kagayaku Kin no Shachihoko"; it was staged to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the establishment of the city of Nagoya; Manjirô plays the role of the Ashikaga koshimoto Sekiya and the Ashikaga wakatô Waheita [more details | casting].

January 2014: premiere at the National Theatre of "Sanzen Ryô Haru no Komahiki", a revival of Tatsuoka Mansaku's 1794 drama "Keisei Haru no Tori"; Manjirô plays the role of the Awaza elders' leader Oshige [more details].

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"; Manjirô plays the role of the chûrô Awaji [casting | more details].

Comments:

Ichimura Manjirô II is a talented onnagata actor who is famous for his will to promote Kabuki outside the Japanese archipelago. He tours abroad regularly and is at the origin of an interesting Internet website, Kabuki for Everyone, where you should be able to find some good video files.

The mon of Ichimura Manjirô II

The Ichimura Takematsu line of actors

The Ichimura Manjirô line of actors