Stage names:

Onoe Kikujirô IV
Bandô Takesaburô IV
Bandô Kozuru

Real name: Watanabe Yoshio

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry name: Kôgiku

Existence: 29 September 1904 ~ 24 July 1981

Connection:

Grandfather: Bandô Hikojûrô I

Father: Bandô Hikojûrô II

Master: Onoe Kikugorô VI

Brothers: Nakamura Tomijûrô IV, Bandô Takesaburô III

Adopted son: Bandô Takesaburô V

Disciple: Onoe Yoshigorô

Career:

29 September 1904: born in Tôkyô in the district of Tsukiji.

April 1910: first stage appearance, at the Imperial Theater in Tôkyô, where he receives the name of Bandô Kozuru and plays the role of Kantarô in the drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima".

June 1919: Bandô Kozuru takes the name of Bandô Takesaburô IV at the Imperial Theater, performing in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

Beginning of the 1920s: he joins the troupe led by Onoe Kikugorô VI.

May 1924: Kikujirô becomes nadai and celebrates the event at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Kokingo in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". He also plays a minor role in the dance "Musume Dôjôji", which stars his master Onoe Kikugorô VI.

October 1935: Bandô Takesaburô IV takes the name of Onoe Kikujirô IV at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the wakaonnagata in the dance "Mitsu Ningyô".

May 1938: Kikujirô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tonami in "Terakoya"; his stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Genzô), Nakamura Kichiemon I (Matsuômaru) and Sawamura Tosshô IV (Chiyo).

1940s: Kikujirô joins the troupe led by Ichikawa Ennosuke II.

10 July 1949: his master Onoe Kikugorô VI dies.

1949: Kikujirô joins the Ôsaka Shôchiku Company and settles in Kyôto.

March 1958: Kikujirô takes part in the final Kabuki performance at the Ôsaka Kabukiza [more details].

17 October 1960: his younger brother Nakamura Tomijûrô IV dies.

March 1976: Kikujirô plays for the last time the role of Mimyô in the drama "Moritsuna Jin'ya, which is staged at the Kabukiza.

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

May 1978: Kikujirô plays for the last time the role of Soga no Mankô in the drama "Sukeroku", which is staged at the Minamiza; the role of Sukeroku is played by Ichikawa Ennosuke III.

Comments:

Onoe Kikujirô IV was a major supporting onnagata actor of the Kamigata Kabuki from the 1950s to the end of the 1970s. His most notable roles were Mimyô ("Moritsuna Jin'ya"), Tonami ("Terakoya"), Soga no Mankô ("Sukeroku") and Oen ("Fûin Giri"). He was also very good in some male roles like Minamoto no Yoshitsune in "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

The mon of Onoe Kikujirô IV

The Onoe Kikujirô line of actors