Stage names:

Bandô Hikosaburô VIII
Bandô Kamezô II
Bandô Shinsui VIII
Bandô Kamesaburô IV

Real name: Bandô Teruhiko

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII)

Birthday: 31 March 1943

Connections:

Great-great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V

Great-grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V

Grandfather: Bandô Hikosaburô VI

Father: Ichimura Uzaemon XVII

Brothers: Ichimura Manjirô II, Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV

Sons: Bandô Kamesaburô V, Bandô Kametoshi

Career:

June 1950: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Shimbashi Embujô, receiving the name of Bandô Kamesaburô IV and playing in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"

May 1965: shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 young actors of the Otowaya guild; Onoe Ushinosuke V, Bandô Kamesaburô IV and Onoe Sakon I respectively take the names of Onoe Kikunosuke IV, Bandô Shinsui VIII, and Onoe Tatsunosuke I.

October 1965: Shinsui takes part in the first Kabuki tour in Western Europe; he plays the role of Momoi Wakasanosuke in the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" [casting].

May 1972: Bandô Shinsui VIII takes the name of Bandô Kamezô II at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the warrior Kajiwara Kagetoki in the drama "Ishikiri Kajiwara".

February 1980: Bandô Kamezô II takes the name of Bandô Hikosaburô VIII at the Kabukiza, playing in the dramas "Sanemori Monogatari" and "Keya-Mura".

January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the National Theater; Hikosaburô plays the role of Minamoto no Yoritomo [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theater of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Hikosaburô plays the role of Yokogawa Unzai [casting].

January 2002: the National Theater produces the revival of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been played in its full length since November 1864; Hikosaburô plays the roles of the warrior Araki Samonnosuke and the hunter Kibazô [casting].

Comments:

Bandô Hikosaburô VIII is a talented supporting tachiyaku and katakiyaku actor.

Bandô Hikosaburô VIII's best roles : Fujiwara Shihei/Shundô Gemba ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Lord Matsue ("Kôchiyama"), Soga no Iruka ("Imoseyama Onna Teikin"), Benkei ("Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura"), Tarôkaja's master ("Suô Otoshi") and Yakushiji Jirozaemon ("Kanadehon Chûshingura").

The mon of Bandô Hikosaburô VIII