True River Enjaku - True River Enjaku

Japanese: 実川延若 - じつかわえんじゃく

A Kabuki actor. His stage name is Kawachiya.

[Yukio Hattori]

First World

(1831-1885) He is said to have been the son of a carpenter or the illegitimate son of a chief retainer from Hoki Province (Tottori Prefecture). He was adopted by Kawachiya Shobei (Kawasho), a former teahouse at the Chikugo Theater in Dotonbori, Osaka. In his youth, he became a disciple of Sanekawa Gakujuro II and trained at a beach theater. In 1856 (Ansei 3), he went to Edo, where he was briefly adopted by Onoe Kikugoro IV and took the name Onoe Baiko. He eventually returned to Osaka, and in March 1863 (Bunkyu 3), he was given the haiku name of his master Gakujuro and changed his name to Sanekawa Enjaku. As a master of domestic plays, especially Kamigata-style wagoto (Japanese-style drama), he was considered one of the top three in Kyoto and Osaka, alongside Arashirikan IV and Nakamura Sojuro.

[Yukio Hattori]

II

(1877-1951) The eldest son of the first Enjaku. In 1915 (Taisho 4), he succeeded Sanekawa Enjiro as the second Enjaku. From the end of the Meiji period to the Taisho and Showa periods, he was active as one of the leading actors in the Kansai region along with Nakamura Ganjiro I. He inherited his father's style of acting, and in addition to excelling in Japanese-style plays, he also displayed excellent technique in fully realistic roles. In 1950 (Showa 25), he became a member of the Japan Art Academy.

[Yukio Hattori]

III

(1921-91) The eldest son of the second generation. In 1963 (Showa 38), he took the stage name of the third generation from Enjiro. He played a wide range of roles from leading roles to female roles, and had a unique, old-fashioned mask that looked like it came out of a Nishikie print. During Enjiro's time, he was also active in Takechi Kabuki.

[Yukio Hattori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。屋号は河内屋(かわちや)。

［服部幸雄］

初世

（1831―85）大工職の子とも伯耆(ほうき)国（鳥取県）の家老の落胤(らくいん)とも伝えられる。大坂の道頓堀(どうとんぼり)筑後(ちくご)芝居の前茶屋河内屋庄兵衛(しょうべえ)（河庄）の養子となった。青年時代は2世実川額十郎(がくじゅうろう)の門に入り、浜芝居で修業した。1856年（安政3）に江戸に下り、一時、4世尾上(おのえ)菊五郎の養子になり尾上梅幸と名のった。やがて大坂に帰り、63年（文久3）3月、師匠の額十郎の俳名を譲られて実川延若と改名した。世話物とくに上方(かみがた)系の和事(わごと)の名手として、4世嵐璃寛(あらしりかん)・中村宗十郎と並んで、京坂の三頭目とされた。

［服部幸雄］

2世

（1877―1951）初世の長男。1915年（大正4）実川延二郎から2世延若となる。明治末期から大正・昭和にかけ、初世中村鴈治郎(がんじろう)とともに関西の代表的俳優として活躍した。父の芸風を継ぎ、和事に優れたほか、丸本物の実事(じつごと)系の役にも優れた技芸をみせた。50年（昭和25）日本芸術院会員になった。

［服部幸雄］