Ichikawa Sadanji

Japanese: 市川左団次 - いちかわさだんじ

Kabuki actor. Takashimaya family name. Currently in its fourth generation.

First World

(1842-1904) His real name was Takahashi Eizo. He was born in Osaka. He went to Edo and became the apprentice of Ichikawa Kodanji IV, a famous actor from the end of the Edo period. He was later adopted by his teacher and in 1864 (Genji 1) took the name Sadanji. After the death of his foster father, he was inspired by his associates Kawatake Mokuami, Morita Kanya 12, and his foster mother, and was recognized for his performance as Marubashi Chuya in Mokuami's Keian Taiheiki. Later, together with Ichikawa Danjūrō IX and Onoe Kikugoro, famous Meiji period actors, he was known as "Dan, Kiku, Sa." In 1893 (Meiji 26), he built the Meijiza Theatre and became its head troupe.

[Hideo Furuido]

II

(1880-1940). His real name was Takahashi Eijiro. He was the eldest son of the first Takahashi. He took the name in 1906 (Meiji 39). He traveled to Europe and America as the first Kabuki actor from the end of that year until August of the following year, and after returning to Japan, he formed the Jiyugekijo with Osanai Kaoru. In November 1909, two years before the Bungei Kyokai's A Doll's House, he performed Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman as the first performance, trialing Western plays and becoming a standard-bearer for the modern theater movement. He also performed many Kabuki plays together with Okamoto Kidō and Mayama Seika, establishing the new Kabuki genre. On the other hand, he also made an effort to revive old plays whose performance traditions had ceased, such as the Kabuki classics "Kenuki" and "Narukami," as well as the live dramas of Namboku Tsuruya IV. In 1928 (Showa 3), he visited the Soviet Union and gave the first overseas Kabuki performance.

[Hideo Furuido]

III

(1898-1969). His real name was Kiyoshi Arakawa. He was the son of Ichikawa Monnosuke VI. In the troupe of Ichikawa Kikugoro VI, he played leading and female roles under the name Ichikawa Omezo IV, and after Kikugoro's death, he became the elder of the Kikugoro troupe and showed refined performances in both leading and elderly roles. In 1952 (Showa 27), he took on the name of Ichikawa III, and in 1962 he became a member of the Japan Art Academy, and in 1964 he became a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property.

[Hideo Furuido]

IV

(1940-) His real name was Kin'ya Arakawa. He was the third generation son of Arakawa. He played leading roles in the Kikugoro Theater Company. He also played villain roles.

[Hideo Furuido]

Ichikawa Sadanji (first generation)
National Diet Library

Ichikawa Sadanji (first generation)

Ichikawa Sadanji (first generation) [Actor painting]
"Togashi Saemon" from "Kabuki Juhachiban no Uchi Kanjincho" by Toyohara Kunichika, one of a triptych, 1890 (Meiji 23), owned by the National Diet Library

Ichikawa Sadanji (first generation) [Actor painting]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。屋号高島屋。現在4世まである。

初世

（1842―1904）本名高橋栄三。大坂生まれ。江戸へ出て幕末の名優4世市川小団次(こだんじ)に入門。のち師の養子となり1864年（元治1）左団次を名のる。養父の没後その提携者であった河竹黙阿弥(もくあみ)、12世守田勘弥(かんや)、養母の庇護(ひご)を得て発奮し、黙阿弥作『慶安太平記(けいあんたいへいき)』の丸橋忠弥で認められた。のちに明治の名優9世市川団十郎、尾上(おのえ)菊五郎とともに「団・菊・左」と称せられた。1893年（明治26）明治座を建てて座主となった。

［古井戸秀夫］

2世

（1880―1940）本名高橋栄次郎。初世の長男。1906年（明治39）襲名。同年末から翌年8月にかけて歌舞伎俳優として初めて欧米に渡り、帰国後小山内薫(おさないかおる)とともに自由劇場を結成。文芸協会の『人形の家』よりも2年早い1909年11月、イプセンの『ジョン・ガブリエル・ボルクマン』を第1回に、西欧の戯曲を試演し近代劇運動の旗手となる。歌舞伎でも岡本綺堂(きどう)や真山青果(まやませいか)と組んで多くの作品を上演し、新歌舞伎というジャンルを定着させた。その一方で、歌舞伎十八番の『毛抜(けぬき)』『鳴神(なるかみ)』や、4世鶴屋南北(なんぼく)の生世話物(きぜわもの)など演出の伝承がとだえていた古劇の復活にも尽力した。1928年（昭和3）ソ連を訪問し、歌舞伎の第1回海外公演を行った。

［古井戸秀夫］

3世

（1898―1969）本名荒川清。6世市川門之助の子。6代目菊五郎の一座にあって、4世市川男女蔵(おめぞう)の名で二枚目の立役(たちやく)および女方(おんながた)を勤め、菊五郎没後は菊五郎劇団の長老として二枚目役にも老役(ふけやく)にも洗練された演技をみせた。1952年（昭和27）3世を襲名、1962年芸術院会員、1964年に重要無形文化財保持者となる。

［古井戸秀夫］