Takejiro Otani - Takejiro Otani

Impresario and founder of Shochiku Co., Ltd. Born in Kyoto as the son of a theater middleman (concession stand). His twin brother was Shirai Matsujiro (1877-1951). At the age of 24, he became the head of the Sakai-za in Kyoto and started managing theaters. In 1902 (Meiji 35), he formed the Shochiku Partnership with his adopted brother Matsujiro. Two years later, he became the head of the Minami-za in Kyoto and took control of the Kyoto theater world. In the same year, Matsujiro partnered with Nakamura Ganjiro I to advance into Osaka, taking control of Osaka kabuki and bunraku. Leaving the Kansai region to his brother, Takejiro advanced into Tokyo in 1910, buying the Shintomi-za, and in 1912 (Taisho 1), he made Ichikawa Sadanji II his exclusive actor, and the following year gained management rights to the Kabuki-za. By 1930 (Showa 5), ​​he had successively acquired Tokyo's Grand Theater, Grand Kabuki, and Shinpa theaters, becoming a leading figure in the theatrical entertainment industry. In 1920, he also established Shochiku Kinema Gomei-sha, embarked on film production, and built the Shochiku Co., Ltd. that we know today. He was particularly known for his contributions to the preservation of Kabuki. In 1955 (Showa 30), he was awarded the Order of Culture, and in 1958, he opened the Shochiku Otani Library.

[Kiyoshi Mizuochi]

"Sixty Years of Otani Takejiro's Drama" edited by Kido Shiro and written by Wakiya Mitsunobu (1951, Dainihon Yubenkai Kodansha)" ▽ "New Edition of Otani Takejiro by Tanaka Junichiro (1995, Jiji Press)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

興行師、松竹株式会社創業者。芝居の仲売り（売店）の子として京都に生まれる。双生児の兄が白井松次郎（1877―1951）。24歳で京都阪井座の座主となり劇場経営に乗り出し、1902年（明治35）養子にいった兄松次郎と松竹合名社を結成。2年後に京都南座の座主となり、京都劇壇の主導権を握った。同年松次郎は初代中村鴈治郎(がんじろう)と提携、大阪へ進出、大阪歌舞伎(かぶき)、文楽を一手に収めた。竹次郎は関西を兄にゆだね、1910年に東京へ進出、新富(しんとみ)座を買収、12年（大正1）2世市川左団次を専属俳優とし、翌年に歌舞伎座の経営権を手に入れた。1930年（昭和5）までに東京の大劇場、大歌舞伎、新派を次々と傘下に収め、演劇興行界の雄となった。一方、1920年に松竹キネマ合名社を設立、映画製作にも乗り出し、今日の松竹株式会社を築き上げた。とくに歌舞伎の伝承に尽くした功績は大きい。1955年（昭和30）文化勲章受章、58年に松竹大谷図書館を開設した。

［水落　潔］

『城戸四郎編、脇屋光伸著『大谷竹次郎演劇六十年』（1951・大日本雄弁会講談社）』▽『田中純一郎著『大谷竹次郎』新版（1995・時事通信社）』

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