Stage names:

Ichimura Uzaemon XVI
Ichimura Kakitsu VII
Ichimura Takematsu IV

Other name:

Ichimura Kakitsu XV

Real name: Ichimura Isamu

Guild: Tachibanaya

Line number: JÛROKUDAIME (XVI)

Poetry name: Kakô

Existence: 15 January 1904 ~ 2 October 1952

Connections:

Father: Ichimura Uzaemon XV

Career:

15 January 1904: born in Tôkyô in the district of Tsukiji.

April 1910: he made his first stage appearance, at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Ichimura Takematsu IV and played the role of Ushiwakamaru in the drama "Kuramayama".

January 1922: Takematsu became nadai.

January 1925: Ichimura Takematsu IV took the name of Ichimura Kakitsu VII.

May 1927: premiere at the Hongôza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Shinjuku Yawa"; Kakitsu played the role of the hatagoya musume Okiyo [more details].

November 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Oka Onitarô's dance-drama "Kakuju Senzai"; Kakitsu played the role of a farmer [more details].

April 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mayama Seika's ninjômono drama "Edoe Ryôgoku Hakkei" (commonly called "Arakawa no Sakichi"); Kakitsu played the role of Emaya Jûsaku's daughter Osode [casting].

February 1934: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Ôishi Saigo no Ichinichi", the tenth and last play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Kakitsu played the role of Yada Gorôemon [casting].

May 1936: revival of the Kabuki Jûhachiban drama "Nanatsu Men" at the Kabukiza; Kakitsu played the role of Yoshida no Shôshô, in reality the priest Seigen [casting].

6 May 1945: his father Ichimura Uzaemon XV died.

February 1946: Ichimura Kakitsu VII and Ichimura Matasaburô II respectively took the names of Ichimura Uzaemon XVI and Ichimura Kakitsu VIII at the Tôkyô Gekijô.

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

July 1951: revival at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jitsugetsusei Kyôwa Seidan"; Uzaemon played the role of the okujochû Takekawa, in reality Kôjûrô's sister Otsuta [casting].

July 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Kitsune to Fuefuki"; Uzaemon played the role of Hideto [casting]. He also played the roles of Sankatsu and Imada Manjirô in the dramas "Sakaya" and "Ise Ondo". This was his last appearance on stage.

2 October 1952: Uzaemon died.

Comments:

Ichimura Uzaemon XVI was a onnagata and nimaime actor, who enjoyed performing in an old-fashioned style some famous Kabuki roles like Shizuka Gozen in the dance "Yoshinoyama". He unfortunately died too young, at the age of 48.

Ichimura Uzaemon XVI playing the role of Ono no Komachi in the dance "Rokkasen Sugata no Irodori", which was staged at the Kabukiza in February 1952

The Ichimura Takematsu line of actors

The Ichimura Kakitsu line of actors

The Ichimura Uzaemon line of actors and theater managers