Stage names:

Kataoka Gadô V
Kataoka Roen V
Kataoka Hitoshi
Kataoka Hajime

Others names:

Kataoka Nizaemon XIV
Kataoka Gadô XIII

Real name: Kataoka Hajime

Guild: Matsushimaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Existence: 6 July 1910 ~ 31 December 1993

Connections:

Great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I

Great-grandfather: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII

Grand-father: Kataoka Nizaemon X

Father: Kataoka Nizaemon XII

Brothers: Ichimura Yoshigorô II, Kataoka Roen VI

Career:

November 1917: he makes his first stage appearance, in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, playing under his real name Kataoka Hajime.

1924: Kataoka Hajime takes the name of Kataoka Hitoshi.

June 1934: Kataoka Hitoshi takes the name of Kataoka Roen V at the Kabukiza. Roen is one of the haimyô used by the Kataoka Nizaemon line of actors and Kataoka Roen V is the first actor to use it as a stage name.

March 1946: his father Kataoka Nizaemon XII is assassinated by a robber in his Ôsaka home.

July 1955: Kataoka Roen V takes the name of Kataoka Gadô V at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Ofune in the drama "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi".

October 1955: first Kabuki tour in the Popular Republic of China, in Beijing (2~13 october), Shanghai (17~18 october) and Guangzhou (24~25 october); Gadô plays the role of Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata" [more details]. Gadô has the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

April 1976: the National Theater produces the revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Gadô plays the role of Kuretake [casting].

August 1980: revival at the National Theater of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Gadô plays the role of Jisuke's wife Okaji [casting].

January 1982: revival at the National Theater of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Gadô plays the role of the old woman Takekawa [casting].

Comments:

Kataoka Gadô V was an excellent onnagata, trained in the Kamigata traditions, considering himself as the "real" Kataoka Nizaemon XIII. He posthumously received the name of Kataoka Nizaemon XIV in 1995.

There are two ways to "count" the Kataoka Gadô line of actor and, as a consequence, you may find Kataoka Gadô V referenced in some documents as the 13th of the line.

Kataoka Gadô V playing the role of Oen in the drama "Fûin Giri" in a print made by Tsuruya Kôkei in May 1986
Print courtesy of Castle Fine Arts, Inc. (all rights reserved)

The Kataoka Roen line of actors

The Kataoka Gadô line of actors