Stage names:

Sawamura Tanosuke VI
Sawamura Yoshijirô IV

Real name: Yamanaka Muneo

Guild: Kinokuniya

Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)

Existence: 4 August 1932 ~ 23 June 2022

Connections:

Father: Sawamura Shozan III

Brothers: Sawamura Yoshijirô V, Sawamura Rokurô

Career:

March 1941: he made his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Sawamura Yoshijirô IV and played the role of Tsuruchiyo in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" ^[1].

January 1954: revival at the Shinbashi Enbujô of the Nagauta-based dance "Taimen Hana no Harukoma", which was entitled "Ataru Toshi Iwau Harukoma"; Yoshijirô played the role of the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô [casting].

March 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 1st part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Yoshijirô played the role of Okuyama Kinai's daughter Tomone [more details].

October 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 2nd part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Yoshijirô played the role of the heyago Tomone [more details].

November 1962: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Fudô" ^[2]; Yoshijirô played the role of the shôya's daughter Otsumi [more details].

January 1964: revival at the Nissay Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's spectacular drama "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi"; Yoshijirô played the role of Taira no Masakado's sister Princess Nanaaya [casting].

April 1964: Sawamura Yoshijirô IV and his father Sawamura Tanosuke V respectively took the names of Sawamura Tanosuke VI and Sawamura Shozan III at the Kabukiza; the new Tanosuke performed in the dramas "Yaguchi no Watashi", "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (ninth act) and "Yoritomo no Shi".

July 1968: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kama-ga-Fuchi Futatsu Domoe"; Tanosuke played the role of Iwaki Tômanojô [casting].

May 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the passing away of the playwright; Tanosuke played the role of Gen'emon's wife Kikuno [casting].

September 1978: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Tanosuke played the role of Koume [casting].

August 1979: revival at the National Theatre Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Tanosuke played the roles of Fujikake Dôjûrô and the courtesan Chôjiya Sayoginu [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U" ^[2]; Tanosuke played the role of Shigetada's wife (and Kagekiyo's sister) Okushiba, later Chôsen [casting].

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

1988: tour in South Korea.

March 1991: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; Tanosuke played the role of the keisei Onoe [more details].

1995: tour in South-East Asia.

January 1999: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana"; Tanosuke played the role of Seikichi [casting].

March 2001: Tanosuke played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Okaya in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged by the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) and the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of late Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

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 the 11th lunar month of 1864; Tanosuke played the roles of the courtesan Miyuki and the samurai Tsukimoto Enshû [casting].

June 2002: Tanosuke received the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese).

January 2008: revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu"; Tanosuke played the role of Sekidera no Ôtoji Baba [more details].

21 June 2009: his brother Sawamura Rokurô died.

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; Tanosuke played the role of the Oda kôshitsu Misao-no-Mae [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"; Tanosuke played the role of the Daitokuji jûshoku Tokuzen'in [more details].

May 2014: Tanosuke appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari ^[3] in the drama "Ya-no-Ne" ^[2].

23 June 2022: Tanosuke died in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Sawamura Tanosuke VI was an outstanding supporting onnagata and nimaime belonging to the Kinokuniya guild, who was particularly excellent in the roles of shrews and nuns. One of his best roles was Keijuin in the drama "Kinkakuji".

[1] The roles of Masaoka, Yashio and Senmatsu were played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VII, Kataoka Nizaemon XII and Ichikawa Omemaru.

[2] A drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

[3] The role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was played by Onoe Shôroku IV.

Sawamura Tanosuke VI playing the role of Onaka in the drama "Megumi no Kenka" in an illustration made by Sugimura Yoshikazu (1962~1998)

The Sawamura Yoshijirô line of actors

The Sawamura Tanosuke line of actors