Kazuo Hasegawa

Actor. Born in Kyoto on February 27, 1908. As an elementary school student, he became a disciple of Nakamura Ganjiro I and performed on stage under the name Hayashi Chomaru. At the end of the Taisho period, the struggling Shochiku Kinema Shimokamo studio chose the handsome young man to help turn things around, and Ganjiro bestowed upon him the stage name Hayashi Chojiro. He was heavily promoted in 1927 (Showa 2) with the film "Chigo no Kenpo" (Child's Swordsmanship), and his beautiful swordsmanship made him an instant star in the film world. During the 11 years he was with Shochiku, he appeared in around 120 films, and his double role as the female role of Yukinojo and the phantom thief Yamitaro in "Yukinojo Henge" (1935-1936) was a huge hit. In 1937, after announcing his intention to join Toho at the end of his contract, he was slashed on the left cheek by a thug, but he changed his stage name to his real name, Hasegawa Kazuo, and starred in "Tojuro's Love" and "Tsuruhachi Tsurujiro". In 1942, he formed the Shin Engiza and began performing on stage. After World War II, he moved from Toho to Daiei, starring in many productions including "Gate of Hell", "The Tale of Chikamatsu", and the "Zenigata Heiji" series. In 1963 (Showa 38), he left Daiei with "Edo Mujou" following "Yukinojyo Henge", which marked his 300th film. After that, he devoted himself to stage work, mainly "Toho Kabuki", and also worked in TV series such as "Ako Roshi" and "Hanshichi Torimonochō". In 1974, he attracted attention as the director of the Takarazuka Revue production "The Rose of Versailles". He received the Minister of Education's Special Award in 1978 and performed on stage until January 1983, but passed away on April 6, 1984. He was posthumously awarded the People's Honor Award.

[Nagasaki Ichi]

"Yamamura Misa's 'Novel Hasegawa Kazuo', two volumes (1985, Yomiuri Shimbun)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

俳優。明治41年2月27日京都に生まれる。小学生のころ初世中村鴈治郎(がんじろう)に入門、林長丸の名で舞台に立つ。大正末期、経営不振の松竹キネマ下加茂(しもかも)撮影所が起死回生のため美男子の彼に白羽の矢をたて、鴈治郎から林長二郎の芸名を贈られ、1927年（昭和2）『稚児(ちご)の剣法』で大宣伝とともに売り出され、その水も滴る美剣士ぶりにより一躍映画界の寵児(ちょうじ)となる。以後、松竹在籍の11年間に約120本に出演、とくに女方雪之丞(ゆきのじょう)と怪盗闇太郎(やみたろう)二役の『雪之丞変化(へんげ)』（1935～1936）は大ヒットした。1937年、契約切れを機に東宝入りを発表したことから、暴漢に左頬(ほお)を切られたが、芸名を本名の長谷川一夫に改めて『藤十郎の恋』『鶴八(つるはち)鶴次郎』などに主演。1942年には新演伎(えんぎ)座を結成して舞台出演を始めた。第二次世界大戦後は東宝から大映に移り、『地獄門』『近松物語』「銭形平次」シリーズなど数多くに主演、1963年（昭和38）、300本記念の『雪之丞変化』に続く『江戸無情』を最後に大映を退社した。以後は、「東宝歌舞伎(かぶき)」を中心とする舞台活動に専念、かたわら「赤穂(あこう)浪士」「半七捕物帳」などのテレビ・シリーズでも活躍した。1974年には宝塚歌劇『ベルサイユのばら』で演出を担当して話題を集めた。1978年文部大臣特別賞を受け、1983年1月まで舞台を勤めたが、昭和59年4月6日死去。死後、国民栄誉賞が贈られた。

［長崎　一］

『山村美紗著『小説長谷川一夫』全二冊（1985・読売新聞社）』

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