Kita Roppeita

He is the 14th head of the Kita school of Noh and a shite actor. His mother was the third daughter of the 12th head Kita Nosei. He was born in Tokyo as the second son of the former Shogunate vassal Utsuno Kakugoro. His childhood name was Chiyozo. He succeeded the head of the Kita school in 1881 (Meiji 14) at the age of 7, and later took the name Roppeita. His pen name was Nohshin. He struggled to revive his school and was not blessed with a consistent artistic instructor, but he established his own unique style of performance. He was an unrivaled master of particularly strong spirit, brilliant technique, and freedom of expression, and as the oldest person in the Noh world, he taught the next generation. He became a member of the Japan Arts Council in 1947 (Showa 22). He was awarded the Order of Culture in 1978. He was recognized as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1980. The Kita Noh Theatre, which was rebuilt in 1973, was named after him as the 14th Kita Roppeita Memorial Noh Theatre. The 15th head of the Kita school, Kita Minoru, was adopted as his son. Roppeita was the childhood name of the founder of the school, Kita Shichidayu, and the 12th head, Nosei, also called himself Roppeita. Currently, Kita Choyo also calls himself the 16th head, Roppeita.

[Masuda Shozo]

"Kita Roppeita's Talent" (1965, Dobunkan Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

能のシテ方、喜多流14世宗家。母は12世喜多能静(のうせい)の三女。旧幕臣宇都野鶴五郎の二男として東京に生まれる。幼名千代造。1881年（明治14）7歳で喜多宗家を継ぎ、のち六平太を名のる。号は能心。流儀再興に辛苦し、芸術面でも一貫した指導者に恵まれなかったが、独自の芸風を打ち立てた。とりわけ、気迫の強さ、鮮烈な技(わざ)、表現の自在など、追随を許さぬ名人であり、能界最長老として後進の指導にあたった。1947年（昭和22）日本芸術員会員。53年文化勲章受章。55年重要無形文化財保持者に認定。73年に再建された喜多能楽堂は、彼の名をとって14世喜多六平太記念能楽堂と命名された。養子に15世宗家喜多実(みのる)がいる。なお六平太は流祖喜多七大夫(しちたゆう)の幼名で、12世能静もこれを称し、現在喜多長世も16世六平太を名のる。

［増田正造］

『喜多六平太著『六平太芸談』（1965・同文舘出版）』

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