Stage names:

Ichimura Tsuruzô
Bandô Kamenosuke

Real name: Akita Yukio

Guild: Tachibanaya

Existence: 21 January 1924 ~ 26 December 2015

Connections:

Grandfather: Onoe Kikusaburô

Career:

April 1930: he was adopted by the mother of the star Onoe Kikugorô VI and made his first appearance on stage, playing under the name of Bandô Kamenosuke.

December 1949: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Ikutama Shinjû" was revived at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô, using a new script written by Uno Nobuo; Kamenosuke played the role of Unokichi [more details].

1951: Kamenosuke quitted temporarily the Kabuki world.

1955: he was back on stage, for a special show at the Kabukiza commemorating the memory of the great actor Onoe Kikugorô VI.

May 1971: Bandô Kamenosuke took the name of Ichimura Tsuruzô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Bannai and Okyaku in the plays "Ochiudo" and "Suitengû Megumi no Fukagawa".

June 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Tsuruzô played the role of the doctor Tôrin [casting].

February 1975: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Debauchi Otama"; Tsuruzô plays the role of the young man Yatarô [more details].

February 1976: revival at the Kabukiza of a 5-act revised version of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Tsuruzô plays the role of Seishichi, a young employee at the Yamamuraza [casting].

February 1977: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Ichimatsu Kozô no Onna"; Tsuruzô plays the role of the bushi Ôsawa Rokunosuke [more details].

February 1978: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Aibiki no Onna"; Tsuruzô plays the role of the old clerk Yahê [more details].

January 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki" [more details]; Tsuruzô plays the role of Taira Masamori.

March 1981: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jitsugetsusei Kyôwa Seidan"; Tsuruzô plays the role of Sairoku [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Tsuruzô played the role of Kongômaru [casting].

August 1990: revival at the Kabukiza of the kaidanmono "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki"; Tsuruzô plays the role of the fan-maker Takeroku [casting]

January 2003: Tsuruzô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he performed in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". He retired after more than 72 years on stage!

26 December 2015: Tsuruzô died.

Comments:

Ichimura Tsuruzô was an outstanding supporting handôgataki actor, famous for his roles of greedy old men or women in sewamono dramas.

The mon of Ichimura Tsuruzô