Stage names:
Ichikawa Chûsha VIII
Ichikawa Yaozô VIII
Ichikawa Matsuo
Guild: Tachibanaya
Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII)
Poetry name: Chûsha (8)
Existence: 10 November 1896 ~ 20 June 1971
Connections:
Father: Ichikawa Danshirô II
Adopted father: Ichikawa Chûsha VII
Disciples: Ichikawa Nakazô, Ichikawa Nakajirô, Ichikawa Nakanosuke III
Career:
October 1913: he makes his first appearance on stage, at the Kabukiza where he receives the name of Ichikawa Matsuo.
March 1916: Matsuo is adopted by Ichikawa Yaozô VII.
October 1918: great shûmei at the Kabukiza; Ichikawa Yaozô VII and Ichikawa Matsuo respectively take the names of Ichikawa Chûsha VII and Ichikawa Yaozô VIII.
September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô"; Yaozô plays the roles of Awazu Shichirô and Sentarô [casting].
July 1936: his adopted father Ichikawa Chûsha VII dies.
November 1939: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Yaozô plays the role of the yamabushi Priest Yamatobô [casting].
July 1951: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Yaozô plays the role of Run's brother Kyûemon [casting].
June 1953: Ichikawa Yaozô VIII takes the name of Ichikawa Chûsha VIII at the Kabukiza by playing the prestigious role of Takechi Mitsuhide in the drama "Ehon Taikôki".
November 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mishima Yukio's comical play "Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami"; Chûsha plays the role of Ebina Naamidabutsu [casting].
October 1955: Chûsha takes part in the first Kabuki tour in the Popular Republic of China; he plays the roles of Yoshitsune and Shôgen in the dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Keisei Hangonkô" [casting]. Chûsha has the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.
November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which is supervised by Mishima Yukio; Chûsha plays the role of the priest Zangetsu [casting].
1961: Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII and Chûsha leave together, with their disciples, the Shôchiku Company to sign an exclusive contract with the Tôhô Company.
December 1966: second month of the opening ceremony of the National Theater with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" in which Chûsha plays the role of Kan Shôjô in the "Tempaizan" scene [casting].
June 1971: Chûsha appears on the stage for the last time, playing the role of Shinza's land-lord in the drama "Kamiyui Shinza", which is performed at the National Theater. He dies suddenly during the performance.
Comments:
Ichikawa Chûsha VIII was a talented tachiyaku, trained by Ichikawa Chûsha VII and who was very active in both Kabuki and modern productions. Two of his best roles, at the end of his career, were Jimbei and Midaroku in the dramas "Sakura Giminden" and "Kumagai Jin'ya".
Ichikawa Chûsha VIII (right) and Nakamura Tokizô III (left) playing the roles of Kômori Yasu and Otomi in the drama "Kirare Otomi" (oil painting made by Hasegawa Noboru in 1955)
The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors
The Ichikawa Chûsha line of actors