Shokyosai Tenkatsu - Shokyosai Tenkatsu

Japanese: 松旭斎天勝 - しょうきょくさい・てんかつ

Year of death: November 11, 1944
Year of birth: May 21, 1886 (Meiji 19)
A magician active from the Meiji to Showa periods. She was the eldest daughter of a pawnbroker in Kanda, Tokyo. Her real name was Nakai (Noro, Kanazawa) Katsu. When her family fell on hard times, she became an apprentice to Matsukyosai Tenichi at the age of 11, with the promise of 25 yen per person for 10 years. She became the star of the troupe due to her strong will and good looks, which earned her the nickname "Okatsu who never cries." She accompanied Tenichi on his European and American tours (1901-05), and her performance on his return to Japan, in which she performed the "Hagoromo Dance" in illuminated costumes, was a big hit. When Tenichi retired in 1911 (Meiji 44), she formed the Tenkatsu troupe. She developed her master's stage magic into something more elegant, and performed over a thousand types of magic. During her second tour of America (1924-25) with 26 members, she visited and encouraged Japanese people living in the United States amid worsening anti-Japanese sentiment. During the Taisho era, they incorporated opera and modern drama, and in the Showa era, they performed American-style revues and jazz magic shows. At their peak, the troupe had over 100 people, and they built the golden age of Tenkatsu, the largest audience in Japan. Tenkatsu retired in 2010. His niece, Nakai Kinuko, took over as the second troupe. <Works> Matsukyosai Tenkatsu "Tenkatsu's Half-Life"

(Kayo Marukawa)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：昭和19.11.11(1944)
生年：明治19.5.21(1886)
明治から昭和にわたって活躍した奇術師。東京神田の質店の長女。本名中井(野呂,金沢)かつ。家が没落したため11歳のとき松旭斎天一の下に10年25円の約束で弟子入り。「泣かずのおかつ」と評された勝気さと美貌で一座の花形となる。天一の欧米巡業(1901～05)に同行,帰朝公演の電飾衣裳の「羽衣ダンス」で大評判となる。明治44(1911)年天一が引退すると天勝一座を結成。師の舞台奇術を華麗に発展させ,千数百種の奇術を演じた。26名の座員を率いての2度目のアメリカ巡業(1924～25)では,対日感情悪化のなかで在留邦人を慰問,激励した。大正時代はオペラや新劇をとり入れ,昭和に入るとアメリカ仕込みのレビューやジャズのマジックショーで,最盛期には一座は100人を超し,観客動員数日本一の天勝黄金時代を築いた。10年引退。2代目を姪の中井絹子が継いだ。<著作>松旭斎天勝『天勝の半生』

(丸川賀世子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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