SAKATA TÔJÛRÔ IV

Stage names:

Sakata Tôjûrô IV
Nakamura Ganjirô III
Nakamura Senjaku II

Dance name:

Karigane Kasen I

Real name: Hayashi Kôtarô

Guilds:

Yamashiroya (Tôjûrô years)
Narikomaya (Senjaku/Ganjirô years)

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Existence: 31 December 1931 ~ 12 November 2020

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Nakamura Kanjaku III

Grandfather: Nakamura Ganjirô I

Father: Nakamura Ganjirô II

Sons: Nakamura Ganjirô IV, Nakamura Senjaku III

Grandsons: Nakamura Kazutarô, Nakamura Toranosuke

Career:

31 December 1931: born in Kyôto.

1 February 1935: his grandfather Nakamura Ganjirô I died.

October 1941: he made his first appearance on stage in Ôsaka at the Kadoza, where he received the name of Nakamura Senjaku II and performed in the drama "Yamanba".

July 1951: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Senjaku played the role of Kyûya's wife Kiku [casting].

January 1953: Senjaku played for the first time the role of Ohan in the drama "Obiya", which was performed at the Ôsaka Kabukiza.

April 1953: release of Fuyushima Taizô's movie "Oyaskusha Kozô"; Senjaku was casted in this Shôchiku movie.

August 1953: revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû" at the Shinbashi Enbujô; Senjaku played the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu [more details].

November 1953: release of Nobuo Adachi's movie "Maken" ('Magic Sword'); Senjaku was casted in this Daiei movie.

June 1954: Senjaku played for the first time in Ôsaka the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû", which was performed at the Ôsaka Kabukiza; the role of Hiranoya Tokubê was played by Nakamura Ganjirô II.

January 1955: premiere at the Ôsaka Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Naniwa no Ashi"; Senjaku played the role of Mayumi [casting].

February 1955: Senjaku left the Shôchiku Company to join Takarazuka Eiga. Second edition at the Kabukiza from the 24th to the 27th of February of the Tsubomikai, a study group led by Nakamura Utaemon VI [more details]. It included the premiere of Mishima Yukio's dance-drama "Yuya" [casting] and Izumi Kyôka's drama "Tenshu Monogatari" was staged for the first time with Kabuki actors [casting]; Senjaku played the roles of Princess Kame and Asagao in "Tenshu Monogatari" and "Yuya".

June 1955: release of Shimura Toshio's movie "Umi no Kosenta"; Senjaku was casted in this Takarazuka Eiga movie.

July 1955: premiere at the Tôkyô Takarazuka Theater of Uno Nobuo's drama "Mômoku Monogatari"; Senjaku played the role of Ochacha/Yodogimi [more details]. This drama was part of the first Tôhô Kabuki postwar performance. The Tôkyô Takarazuka Theater was taken over by the American occupation forces in 1945, becoming the Ernie Pyle Theater. It was forbiden to Japanese for 10 years and was finally given back to the Tôhô Company in 1955, which renamed it with its original name.

December 1956: release of Fuyushima Taizô's movie "Otoko no Hanamichi"; Senjaku was casted in this Takarazuka Eiga movie.

April 1957: release of Inagaki Hiroshi's movie "Yagyû Bugeichô"; Senjaku was casted in this Tôhô movie.

August 1957: release of Aoyagi Nobuo's movie "Ikite-iru Koheiji"; Senjaku was casted in this Tôhô movie.

November 1957: release of Horikawa Hiromichi's movie "Onna Goroshi Abura Jigoku" (based on Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku"); Senjaku was casted in this Tôhô movie and played the role of Kawachiya Yohê; the role of Teshimaya Okichi was played by the actress Aratama Michiyo.

January 1958: release of Inagaki Hiroshi's movie "Yagyû Bugeichô: Sôryû Hiken"; Senjaku was casted in this Tôhô movie.

October 1958: wedding with the actress Ôgi Chikage.

March 1963: Senjaku joined back the Shôchiku Company.

June 1963: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's Nagauta-based dance-drama "Ôeyama Shuten Dôji"; Senjaku played the role of Nadeshiko [casting]. Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" was produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Senjaku played the role of the courtesan Otomi [casting].

September 1966: release of Ôba Hideo's movie "Yokoborigawa"; Senjaku was casted in this Shôchiku movie.

January 1967: revival at the National Theatre of "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura"; Senjaku played the roles of Bun'ya Toyohide and the koshimoto Makiginu [casting].

April 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Yari no Gonza Kasane Katabira"; Senjaku played the role of Sasano Gonza [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 playwright; Senjaku played the role of Hikokurô's wife Otane [casting].

April 1976: revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Senjaku played the roles of the courtesan Hanatachibana, Ogiku and Mashiba Hisayoshi [casting].

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Senjaku played the role of Danshichi Mohê [casting].

May 1982: foundation of the Chikamatsuza, a touring troupe led by Senjaku and dedicated to the production of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's dramas. The drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" was staged for this first tour; Senjaku played the role of Kamiya Jihê; his stage partners were Sawamura Tôjûrô II (Koharu), Nakamura Tomijûrô V (Magoemon) and Sawamura Tanosuke VI (Osan).

13 April 1983: his father Nakamura Ganjirô II died.

October 1983: second Chikamatsuza tour in Tôkyô, Ôsaka and Kôbe. Senjaku produced Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamanba" in which he played the roles of Oginoya Yaegiri and Yamanba.

May 1984: third Chikamatsuza tour in Tôkyô and Ôsaka; Senjaku produced Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku", in which he played the role of Kawachiya Yohê.

September 1985: fourth Chikamatsuza tour in 6 cities; Senjaku produced Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Meido no Bikyaku", in which he played the role of Kameya Chûbê.

November 1990: Nakamura Senjaku II took the name of Nakamura Ganjirô III at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon and the spirit of the lion in the play "Kuruwa Bunshô" and the dance "Kagami Jishi"; his stage partner in the role of Ôgiya Yûgiri in "Yoshidaya" was Onoe Baikô VII.

December 1990: Ganjirô celebrated his second month of shûmei at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kamiya Jihê^[1] and Tsuchiya Chikara in the dramas "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" ("Kawashô" ) and "Tsuchiya Chikara".

January 1991: Ganjirô celebrated his first month of shûmei in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Tsuchiya Chikara, the spirit of the Lion and Kamiya Jihê^[2] in the drama "Tsuchiya Chikara", the dance "Kagami Jishi" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" ("Kawashô" ).

February 1991: Ganjirô celebrated his second month of shûmei at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Kameya Chûbê^[3], the snake disguised as the shirabyôshi Hanako and the hair-dresser Sanni no goroshichi (in fact Asaka Yoichirô Haruyoshi) in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" ("Fûin Giri"), the dance "Musume Dôjôji" and the drama "Kari no Tayori".

March 1991: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; Ganjirô played the roles of Ikuta Hyôgonosuke, the ghost of Hime-ga-Jô Castle (in reality Kinuta-no-Mae), Heijibê's daughter Otatsu and the female fox Kojorô [more details].

October 1991: Ganjirô celebrated his shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza, playing the role of a little girl, Jûbê^[4] and the spirit of the Lion in the dance "Tenaraiko", the drama "Numazu" and the dance "Kagami Jishi".

November 1991: Ganjirô celebrated his first month of shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Kamiya Jihê^[5] and Fujiya Izaemon^[6] in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" ("Kawashô" ) and "Kuruwa Bunshô".

December 1991: Ganjirô celebrated his second month of shûmei at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Kameya Chûbê^[7] and the snake disguised as the shirabyôshi Hanako in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" ("Fûin Giri") and the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

December 1992: foudation of the Karigane-ryû, a school of Buyô; he became the first iemoto and his name as a Buyô master was Karigane Kasen I.

1994: Ganjirô received the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese).

15 December 1994: Ganjirô joined the prestigious Japan Art Academy (Nihon Geijutsuin).

January 1995: Ganjirô plays for the 1000th times, the 16th of January in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Hiranoya Tokubê was played by Tôjûrô's son Nakamura Senjaku (who celebrated along with Nakamura Kanjaku his shûmei).

June 1998: great revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Mibu Dainenbutsu" for the 14th Chikamatsuza tour. This plays had not been performed for 296 years !

March 2000: 15th Chikamatsuza tour; Ganjirô produced the "Fûin Giri" scene of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai".

June 2000: revival at the Kabukiza of the spectacular hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji"; Ganjirô played the roles of the wisteria maiden, a falcon-handler, a zatô, a boatman and the ôtsue demon [more details].

May ~ June 2001: Chikamatsuza tour and several Kabuki seminars in England. Ganjirô and his 2 sons (Kanjaku and Senjaku) play in "Tsuri Onna" and "Sonezaki Shinjû" [more details].

June 2003: two-week Chikamatsuza tour in Moscow and St. Petersburg (Russia). Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû" was performed with Ganjirô and his son Nakamura Kanjaku in the roles of Tenmaya Ohatsu and Hiranoya Tokubê. "It was very rewarding to perform in Russia, a country full of theater lovers," Ganjirô said to some journalists.

May 2004: 3-day Chikamatsuza tour in Beijing (China) with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program was made up of the dances "Tachi Nusubito" and "Fuji Musume". Ganjirô played the role of the Wisteria Maiden in the latter dance.

April 2005: Chikamatsuza tour in Korea with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program was made up of the dance "Bô Shibari" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; Ganjirô played the role of Tenmaya Ohatsu in the latter drama [more details].

June 2005: Chikamatsuza tour in the USA with Nakamura Kanjaku and Nakamura Kikaku. The program was made up of the dance "Bô Shibari" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; Ganjirô played the role of Tenmaya Ohatsu in the latter drama [more details].

December 2005: Nakamura Ganjirô III took the name of Sakata Tôjûrô IV in Kyôto at the Minamiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon, Tenmaya Ohatsu and Princess Yaegaki in the dramas "Yûgiri Nagori no Shôgatsu", "Sonezaki Shinjû" and "Honchô Nijûshikô". This prestigious name had not been held since the 24th of the 8th lunar month of 1774 (231 years and a few months!).

January 2006: Tôjûrô celebrated his shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Fujiya Izaemon, Tenmaya Ohatsu and Masaoka in the dramas "Yûgiri Nagori no Shôgatsu", "Sonezaki Shinjû" and "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

February 2006: Tôjûrô celebrated his shûmei in Fukuoka at the Hakataza, playing the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" and the 5 roles of the hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji".

July 2006: Tôjûrô celebrated his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, playing the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and the shirabyôshi Hanako in the drama "Natsu Matsuri" and the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

October 2006: Tôjûrô celebrated his shûmei at the Misonoza in Nagoya, playing the roles of Sasaki Moritsuna and the keisei Yayoi (in reality the spirit of a shishi) in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata" and the dance "Makura Jishi".

May 2007: 18th edition of the Chikamatsuza tour; Tôjûrô celebrated his shûmei on the road, playing the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Izaemon's lover, the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri, was played by Nakamura Kaishun II.

September 2007: 19th edition of the Chikamatsuza tour, in 4 cities in China; Tôjûrô played the roles of Otoku and the Spirit of the Lion in "Domo Mata" and "Hanabusa Shûjaku no Shishi" [more details].

December 2007: Tôjûrô celebrated at the Minamiza his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji". He also played the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Benkei and Togashi Saemon were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IX and Nakamura Kinnosuke II.

March 2008: Tôjûrô celebrated at the Kabukiza his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji". This production featured the rare performance of the oshimodoshi final part of the dance, where Tôjûrô appeared as a serpent and was pushed back by a powerful hero played in the bombastic aragoto style by Ichikawa Danjûrô XII. Tôjûrô also played the double role of Kojirô/Atsumori in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Princess Tamaori were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô XII and Nakamura Kaishun II.

June 2008: Tôjûrô celebrated at the Hakataza (Fukuoka) his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the shirabyôshi Hanako in the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji".

October 2008: Tôjûrô celebrated at the Misonoza (Nagoya) his kiju kinen performance, playing the leading role of the shirabyôshi Hanako in the great dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji"; this performance included the bombastic oshimodoshi finale, with Tôjûrô's elder son Nakamura Kanjaku V in the role of the demon-queller.

April 2009: Tôjûrô plays for the 1300th times, the 24th of April in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Hiranoya Tokubê was played by Tôjûrô's son Nakamura Kanjaku V.

October 2014: the October Grand Kabuki at the Kabukiza commemorated the 26th anniversary (27th memorial service) and the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVII and late Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII [more details].

June 2018: he gave the title of iemoto of the Karigane-ryû to his younger son who became Karigane Kasen II.

December 2019: Tôjûrô appeared on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at the Minamiza, where he played the role of Keijuin^[8] in the drama "Kinkakuji".

January 2020: due to health-related reasons, Tôjûrô did not perform in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza the role of Minoya Sankatsu in "Sakaya"; he was replaced by his son Nakamura Senjaku III.

12 November 2020: Tôjûrô died of old age in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Sakata Tôjûrô IV was an outstanding wagotoshi / onnagata and one of the very few actors of the Shôwa and Heisei eras to preserve the great tradition of the Kamigata Kabuki.

Sakata Tôjûrô IV's best roles: Tenmaya Ohatsu ("Sonezaki Shinjû"), Kamiya Jihê/Koharu ("Shinjû Ten no Amijima" ), Kameya Chûbê/Umegawa ("Fûin Giri"), Oginoya Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamanba"), Fujiya Izaemon ("Kuruwa Bunshô"), Kuzu-no-Ha ("Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"), Yuranosuke/Kanpei/Tonase/Okaru ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Yae/Sakuramaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Jûjibê ("Hikimado"), Jûbê ("Numazu"), Danshichi Mohê ("Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa") and Rôben ("Rôben Sugi no Yurai").

[1] His stage partner in the role of Kinokuniya Koharu in "Kawashô" was Nakamura Utaemon VI.

[2] His stage partner in the role of Kinokuniya Koharu in "Kawashô" was Nakamura Utaemon VI.

[3] The role of the courtesan Umegawa in "Fûin Giri" was played by Kataoka Hidetarô II.

[4] The roles of Heisaku and Oyone in "Numazu" were played by Nakamura Tomijûrô V and Sawamura Tôjûrô II.

[5] The role of the courtesan Kinokuniya Koharu in "Kawashô") was Kataoka Hidetarô.

[6] The role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in "Yoshidaya" was Onoe Baikô VII.

[7] The role of the courtesan Umegawa in "Fûin Giri" was played by Nakamura Hirotarô.

[8] His two sons and his grandson performed in "Kinkakuji"; Nakamura Ganjirô IV and Nakamura Senjaku III played the roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Konoshita Tôkichi; Nakamura Kazutarô played the role of Yuki-hime.

"Sakata Tôjûrô IV's passing away was a terrible blow to Kamigata Kabuki as it will be hard to find another actor with such an aura and such an influence on the world of Kabuki. I've seen him for the first time in April 1999 on the stage of the 4th Kabukiza, performing the role of Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Sonezaki Shinjû". I was 'facemelted' by both his performance and this amazing drama, which he successfully contributed in bringing back to the Kabuki repertoire. I've seen him for the last time in January 2018 on the stage of the 5th Kabukiza, playing the role of Sonoo-no-Mae in "Terakoya" and leading the kôjô for the the 3-generation shûmei of Matsumoto Hakuô II, Matsumoto Kôshirô X and Ichikawa Somegorô VIII." (a few words from Shôriya Aragorô)

The Nakamura Senjaku line of actors

The Nakamura Ganjirô line of actors

The Sakata Tôjûrô line of actors