Stage names:

Onoe Matsusuke VI
Onoe Shôkaku II
Onoe Rokuya

Real name: Inoue Shin'ichi

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)

Existence: 13 July 1946 ~ 26 December 2005

Connections:

Master: Onoe Shôroku II

Brother: Ôtani Keizô

Son: Onoe Matsuya II

Career:

June 1954: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, receiving the name of Onoe Rokuya and playing in the dramas "Genji Monogatari" and "Nanbanji Monzen".

May 1971: Onoe Rokuya takes the name of Onoe Shôkaku II at the Kabukiza.

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theater of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Shôkaku plays the role du page Sakuramaru [casting].

Summer 1985: tour in the USA; Shôkaku plays the roles of Tônai and Usui Sadamitsu in "Tachi Nusubito" and "Tsuchi Gumo", which celebrate the shûmei in the USA of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII [more details].

May 1990: Onoe Shôkaku II takes the name of Onoe Matsusuke VI at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Ashida Gunsuke, Gorozô and Arajishi Otokonosuke in the dramas "Yoshinobu Inochi Goi", "Gosho no Gorozô" and "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

January 2002: the National Theater produces the revival of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Koharu Nagi Okitsu Shiranami", which has not been played in its full length since November 1864. Matsusuke plays the roles of Otsume (owner of the Miuraya bordello), Miyuki and the yakko Hayasuke [casting].

November 2005: Matsusuke appears on stage for the last time, at the Shimbashi Embujô, playing the role of Senso Dôjin in the drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari".

26 December 2005: Matsusuke dies in Tôkyô at the National Cancer Center.

Comments:

Onoe Matsusuke VI was an outstanding supporting tachiyaku of the Otowaya guild.

Onoe Matsusuke VI's best roles: Tarôkaja ("Migawari Zazen"), the man of the world ("Sukeroku"), Tambaya Hachiemon ("Fûin Giri") and Sankichi ("Sakanaya Sôgorô").

Pictures: Onoe Matsusuke VI in his dressing room

The mon of Onoe Matsusuke VI

The Onoe Matsusuke line of actors