Hiroji Otani (Hiroji Otani)

Japanese: 大谷広次(大谷広治) - おおたにひろじ

Kabuki actor. (1) First generation (1696-1747 | Genroku 9-Enkyo 4). Formerly named Otani Hirojiro. Haiku name Jucho. Stage name Maruya. Commonly known as Daijucho. Son of first generation Otani Hiroemon. Debuted at Moritaza in Edo in the winter of 1701 (Genroku 14), and later trained at Shiba Shinmei theater. In 1711 (Shotoku 1), he was given the art of rough play by Ichikawa Danjūrō II, and since then developed a lively and realistic style of acting that was not unpleasant. On the other hand, at the end of the summer of 1704 (the 2nd year of the Kyoho era), he used a water-based curtain in Kokuseiya at the Edo Ichimura-za Theatre, and in the winter of 1824, he attempted a lift in the snow in Yatsumune Taiheiki at the Edo Nakamura-za Theatre, and in the spring of 1831, he devised a technique for changing the costume from sewa to jidai (period costume) during the fight scenes in Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya at the same theatre, showing a variety of creative ideas in terms of directing.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

歌舞伎役者。(1)初世(1696‐1747∥元禄9‐延享4)　前名大谷広次郎。俳名十町。屋号丸屋。通称大十町。初世大谷広右衛門の子。1701年(元禄14)冬，江戸森田座で初舞台を踏み，のち芝神明の芝居で修業。11年(正徳1)，2世市川団十郎から荒事の芸を譲られ，以来，嫌味がなく，小気味のよい実事の芸風を開拓。一方，17年(享保2)夏末，江戸市村座の《国性爺》に水がらくりを用いたり，27年冬，江戸中村座の《八棟（やつむね）太平記》で雪中のセリ出しを試みたり，31年春，同座の《傾城福引名護屋》では，立回りのうちに，世話から時代へと衣装を変える引抜きを工夫するなど，演出面にもさまざまな創意を見せた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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