Umewaka Minoru

Japanese: 梅若実 - うめわかみのる

A Noh actor in the Kanze school.

First World

(1828-1909) was the adopted son of Ujiaki, the 51st head of the Umewaka Rokuro family. His real name was Umewaka Ujisane. His previous names were Kamejiro, Rokunojo, and Rokuro. In 1872 (Meiji 5), he retired and adopted the name Minoru. With the collapse of the shogunate, Noh, which was its ceremonial art, fell into crisis, and the head of the Kanze family, Kiyotaka, followed the shogun to Shizuoka. The 16th head, Hosho Kuro, also left Noh for a time, but Minoru stayed in Tokyo and built the foundations for the revival of Noh. He also excelled in politics, and was supported by aristocrats and newly emerging financial groups. He was known as one of the Three Masters of the Meiji Period along with the 16th head, Hosho Kuro, and Sakurama Banma. Kanze Kasetsu was his son-in-law. The Umewaka Minoru Diary, which spans 60 years, is a valuable document of the turbulent period from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period.

[Masuda Shozo]

II

(1878-1959) The second son of the first head of the Kanze school. His real name was Umewaka Ujiyasu. Former names were Takeyo, Sanekuni, Kageaki, and Rokuro. He became the head of the Umewaka school after his sister's husband Kanze Kiyoshi (who later became the first head of the Kanze Yoshiyuki family) who had once succeeded Rokuro, left his parents' home. He founded the Umewaka school in 1921 (Taisho 10) together with his elder brother, the first head of the Umewaka school Manzaburo (who succeeded the Umewaka branch), and continued to hold the school's lone stronghold even after his brother and Kasetsu left him. After retiring in 1954 (Showa 29), he returned to the Kanze school with his family, resolving the long-standing Kanbai issue. He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1955. His style was sophisticated and elegant, and he excelled in dramatic psychological expression. The 55th Umewaka Rokuro, Masatoshi (1910-1995, formerly known as Takehisa) and Yasuyuki (1917-2003, formerly known as Yasuyuki) were Minoru's children. Shirasu Masako wrote "Umewaka Jikkisho."

[Masuda Shozo]

[References] | Umewaka Rokuro | Kanze School

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

能役者。観世流シテ方。

初世

（1828―1909）梅若六郎家51世氏賜(うじあき)の養子。本名梅若氏実(うじさね)。前名亀次郎、六之丞(ろくのじょう)、六郎。1872年（明治5）隠居名、実を名のる。幕府の崩壊とともにその式楽であった能は危機に陥り、観世宗家清孝は将軍に従って静岡に去り、16世宝生九郎(ほうしょうくろう)も一時能から離れたなかで、実は東京に踏みとどまり、能楽復興の基礎をつくった。政治的手腕にも優れ、貴族や新興財閥の後援も得、また16世宝生九郎、桜間伴馬(さくらまばんま)とともに明治三名人とうたわれた。観世華雪(かせつ)は娘婿。なお60年にわたる『梅若実日記』は幕末から明治の動乱期の貴重な資料である。

［増田正造］

2世

（1878―1959）初世の次男。本名梅若氏泰(うじやす)。前名竹世、実邦(さねくに)、景昭(かげあき)、六郎。一度六郎を継いだ姉婿の観世清之(きよし)（のちに観世喜之(よしゆき)家の初世となる）が実家に去ったあと、梅若家の当主となる。実兄の初世万三郎（梅若分家を継ぐ）とともに1921年（大正10）に梅若流を興し、兄と華雪に去られたあとも梅若流の孤塁を守ったが、隠居後の1954年（昭和29）、一門とともに観世流に復帰、長年の観梅(かんばい)問題が解決した。1955年芸術院会員。巧緻(こうち)、艶麗(えんれい)な芸風で、劇的な心理表現に優れた。55世梅若六郎、雅俊(まさとし)（1910―1995、前名武久）、恭行(やすゆき)（1917―2003、前名泰之）は実(みのる)の子。白州正子著に『梅若実聞書』がある。

［増田正造］

[参照項目] | 梅若六郎 | 観世流

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