Stage names:
Kawarazaki Gonjûrô II
Ichikawa Gonzaburô II
Ichikawa Kaoru I
Other name: Kawarazaki Gonzaburô II
Real name: Nagatani Kôtarô
Guild: Yamazakiya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Existence: 6 August 1880 ~ 11 January 1955
Connections:
Mother: Kawarazaki Gonnosuke VIII's wife Ohama
Sons: Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III, Kawarazaki Gonzaburô III
Career:
1880: born in Tôkyô in the district of Nihombashi. His family manages the shibai jaya Takedaya.
1885: he appears on stage for the first time, receving the name of Ichikawa Kaoru I and playing the role of Kan Shûsai in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1907: Ichikawa Kaoru I takes the name of Ichikawa Gonzaburô II in Ôsaka.
April 1911: Ichikawa Gonzaburô II takes at the Kabukiza the name of Kawarazaki Gonjûrô II.
September 1930: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", produced under the title "Tôryû Azuma Bunshô"; Gonjûrô plays the roles of Matsui Gengo and Tsunaemon [casting].
1939: Gonjûrô plays the role of Onoe Kikugorô V in Mizoguchi Kenji's movie "Zangiku Monogatari".
1944: Gonjûrô plays the role of Ichikawa Ebizô in Mizoguchi Kenji's movie "Danjûrô Sandai".
1951: Gonjûrô plays the roles of Yamanaka Heikurô and Okiku in Itô Daisuke's movie "Ôedo Gonin Otoko".
Comments:
Kawarazaki Gonjûrô II spent the early years of his career in Ôsaka, where he gained experience while playing in Kataoka Nizaemon XI's troupe. He moved back to Tôkyô and played either leading roles in Asakusa's small theaters (Kôen Gekijô, Miyatoza) or supporting roles at the Kabukiza. He was nicknamed "Asakusa Uzaemon" because many of his favourite roles, like Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the play "Sanemori Monogatari", were in fact associated with the great star Ichimura Uzaemon XV. He spent his career's last years in the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan troupe, playing old men roles.
Kawarazaki Gonjûrô II playing the role of Date Jirô in the drama "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô"
The Kawarazaki Gonjûrô line of actors