Furukawa Green Wave - Furukawa Roppa

A comedic actor. His real name was Ikuro. He was born in Tokyo as the sixth son of Baron Teruma Kato and was adopted into the Furukawa family. He dropped out of the English department at Waseda University. While still a student, he worked as a journalist for a film magazine, starred in a promotional film, and, encouraged by Ichizo Kobayashi, appeared on the Takarazuka stage in 1932 (Showa 7). Even back then, he excelled in impersonations and vocal tones, which he coined the term "vocal imitation" to mean a modern vocal tone. After that, he went on to work in "Kigeki Bakushotai" and "Kingdom of Laughter," and in 1935 he formed the Roppa troupe under the Toho umbrella, and was active on stage and in films. He was knowledgeable and a gifted writer, and wrote many scripts and essays. His later years were sluggish.

[Soya Mukai]

"Furukawa Roppa's Showa Diary" 3 volumes, supplementary volume 1 (1987-89, Shobunsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

喜劇俳優。ロッパとも書く。本名郁郎(いくろう)。男爵加藤照磨の六男として東京に生まれ、古川家の養子となる。早稲田(わせだ)大学英文科中退。在学中すでに映画雑誌の記者を勤め、PR映画にも主演、また小林一三(いちぞう)の勧めで1932年（昭和7）宝塚の舞台を踏む。当時より物真似(まね)、声色(こわいろ)を得意とし、これにモダン声色の意味で「声帯模写(せいたいもしゃ)」と名づけた。その後、「喜劇爆笑隊」「笑の王国」を経て35年東宝傘下にロッパ一座を結成、舞台と映画で活躍。博識で文才にも長じ、脚本、随筆などの著作も多い。晩年は不振であった。

［向井爽也］

『『古川ロッパ昭和日記』全三巻・補巻1（1987～89・晶文社）』

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