Stage names:

Onoe Kurôemon II
Onoe Ukon I

Real name: Terashima Kiyoaki

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Sanchô

Existence: 22 January 1922 ~ 28 March 2004

Connections:

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

Great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V

Grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V

Father: Onoe Kikugorô VI

Career:

May 1926: he makes his first stage appearance, at the Ichimuraza, where he receives the name of Onoe Ukon I and plays in the drama "Sukeroku".

November 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Oka Onitarô's dance-drama "Kakuju Senzai"; Ukon plays the role of a boy [more details].

October 1940: Ukon becomes nadai and takes the name of Onoe Kurôemon II at the Kabukiza, playing the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the drama "Kotobuki Soga no Taimen".

July 1949: his father Onoe Kikugorô VI dies; the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan troupe is created and Kurôemon becomes its administrator.

March 1951 ~ May 1953: first long stay in the USA.

March 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 1st part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Kurôemon plays the role of the zamoto Yamamura Chôdayû V [more details].

October 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 2nd part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Kurôemon plays the role of the zamoto Yamamura Chôdayû V [more details].

1954 ~ 1956: Kurôemon plays in the series of movies depicting the life and deeds of the hero Miyamoto Musashi. The 3 movies are "The legend of Musashi" (1954), "Duel at Ichijôji Temple" (1955) and "Duel on Ganryû Island" (1956).

June ~ July 1960: Kurôemon takes part in the first Kabuki tour in the USA [more details].

November 1962: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Fudô", which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Kurôemon plays the role of the karô Hata no Minbu [more details].

June 1963: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's Nagauta-based dance-drama "Ôeyama Shuten Dôji"; Kurôemon plays the role of Hirai Yasumasa [casting].

October 1963: Kurôemon settles in Hawai and becomes teacher at the University of Hawai.

28 March 2004: Kurôemon dies in Hawai.

Comments:

Onoe Kurôemon II made a short career as a Kabuki actor in Japan but spent most of his life in Hawai and in the USA, teaching and promoting Kabuki. Although he was not as talented as his father and grandfather, he was a good aragotoshi.

The Onoe Ukon line of actors