Yaeko Mizutani

Actress. Real name Matsuno Yaeko. Born in Tokyo on August 1, 1905. Raised by her brother-in-law Mizutani Chikushi, she made her debut in 1913 (Taisho 2) at the age of 8 in the play "Naira" at the Geijutsuza theater run by Chikushi. In 1916 she adopted the stage name Mizutani Yaeko, and in 1920 she attracted attention for her role as Chiruchiru in the Minshuza production of "Aoi Tori," and formed the "Wakamonoza" with her co-star Tomoda Kyosuke. During this time she studied at Futaba Girls' High School, but because this violated school rules, she appeared anonymously as a masked young lady in the 1921 national film "Kantsubaki." In the same year she joined the Kenkyuza troupe, and in 1923 she was invited by Inoue Masao, with whom she had co-starred in "Kantsubaki," to play Tsuyuko in "The Captain's Daughter," which became a hit role for the pair. In 1924, she formed the Second Art Theatre Company, playing roles such as Nora in A Doll's House, but soon ran into financial difficulties and Yaeko began participating in Shinpa theatre on her own. In 1928 (Showa 3), she joined Shochiku, and continued to perform with Shinpa and alone with the Art Theatre Company. In 1937, she married the kabuki actor Morita Kan'ya XIV, and had a daughter. In 1945 (Showa 20), the Art Theatre Company was dissolved. In 1951, she divorced, and in 1952, she joined the Shinpa Theatre Company. Her beautiful pairing with Hanayagi Shotaro in the Shinpa theatre captivated audiences, but Yaeko also performed with Kabuki and New Theatre actors, and appeared in films and musicals. After Hanayagi passed away in 1965, she literally became the backbone of the Shinpa theatre, and in 1974, she chose "The Ten Types of Yaeko" from among her hit roles. While absorbing and digesting the art of Shinpa female actors, she also accurately interpreted original plays and showed solid performances, but what attracted the audience the most was her pure beauty that made her age seem impossible to sense. She was appointed a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1966, a Person of Cultural Merit in 1971, and passed away on October 1, 1979. Her only daughter, Mizutani Yoshie (1939- ), was also active as a Shinpa actress, and in 1995 (Heisei 7), she took on the stage name of Mizutani Yaeko II.

[Kiyoshi Mizuochi]

“Yaeko Mizutani” edited by Tatsuji Noguchi (1979, Rippu Shobo)”

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

女優。本名松野八重子。明治38年8月1日東京生まれ。義兄の水谷竹紫(ちくし)に養育され、1913年（大正2）8歳のとき、竹紫が経営していた芸術座の『内部』で初舞台を踏む。1916年芸名を水谷八重子とし、20年の民衆座『青い鳥』のチルチル役で注目され、共演した友田恭助と「わかもの座」を結成する。この間雙葉(ふたば)高等女学校に学んだが、校則に触れるため、1921年の国活映画『寒椿(かんつばき)』には覆面令嬢の匿名で出演した。同年研究座に参加、23年には『寒椿』で共演した井上正夫に招かれ、『大尉の娘』の露子を演じ、このコンビの当り役となった。1924年第二次芸術座を結成して『人形の家』のノラなどを演じたが、まもなく経営困難となり、八重子は単独で新派劇に参加、28年（昭和3）松竹に入り、以後新派との合同や芸術座単独公演を続ける。1937年歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優の14世守田勘弥(かんや)と結婚し、一女をもうける。1945年（昭和20）芸術座解散。51年離婚。52年に劇団新派に加入。新派における花柳(はなやぎ)章太郎との美男美女コンビは観客を魅了したが、八重子は歌舞伎や新劇の俳優とも共演し、映画やミュージカルにも出演した。1965年に花柳が没したのちは、文字どおり新派の大黒柱となり、74年当り役のなかから「八重子十種」を選んだ。新派女方芸を吸収消化して継承する一方、創作劇にも的確な解釈を施して堅実な演技を示したが、なんといっても観客にとって最大の魅力は、年齢をすこしも感じさせない清純な美しさであった。1966年芸術院会員、71年文化功労者、昭和54年10月1日死去。ひとり娘の水谷良重(よしえ)（1939―　）も新派の女優として活躍、95年（平成7）には2代目水谷八重子を襲名した。

［水落　潔］

『野口達二編『水谷八重子』（1979・立風書房）』

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