IWAI SHIJAKU
   
FIVE GENERATIONS
Iwai Shijaku I
 

The actor Iwai Hanshirô VII held the name of Iwai Shijaku I from the 11th lunar month of 1822 to the 2nd lunar month of 1844.

Iwai Shijaku I playing the role of Okaru in the seventh act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged in the 8th lunar month of 1837 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Kunisada I)

Iwai Shijaku II
 

The actor Iwai Hanshirô VIII held the name of Iwai Shijaku II from the 2nd lunar month of 1864 to the 1st lunar month of 1872.

Kawarasaki Gonjûrô I (bottom/left) and Iwai Shijaku II (top/right) playing the roles of Hanakawado Sukeroku and Miuraya Agemaki in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III in 1864

Iwai Shijaku III
Iwai Shijaku III  In Japanese | Arashi Eizaburô  In Japanese
 

Born in Ôsaka in 1840. He started his career as a disciple of Arashi San'emon X, who gave him the name of Arashi Eizaburô. he spent his prime in Ôsaka either in miyaji shibai or in hama shibai. He went to Edo in 1867, travelling with Arashi Rikaku III and Ichikawa Aragorô III. He was presented to the Edo audience at the Nakamuraza in the 2nd lunar month [print]. He became the adopted son of Iwai Shijaku II in 1870. He took the name of Iwai Shijaku III in the 2nd lunar month of 1872 at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Yayoi Zakura Shiranui Monogatari". He was a promising actor, excelling in wakashugata roles, but died too young, the 5th of October 1873.

Iwai Shijaku III (left) and Onoe Kikugorô V (right) playing the roles of the shinzô Shiratama and Kurotegumi Sukeroku in the drama "Yuki to Sumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki", which was staged in the 2nd lunar month of 1872 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Toyohara Kunichika)

Prints & Illustrations

Iwai Shijaku IV
Iwai Shijaku IV  In Japanese | Jitsukawa Yaoe  In Japanese
 

Born in Ôsaka in 1854. He started his career as a disciple of Jitsukawa Yaozô I, who gave him the name of Jitsukawa Yaoe. He went to Tôkyô in 1878 and was quickly adopted by Iwai Hanshirô VIII. He took the name of Iwai Shijaku IV in July 1878 at the Miyakoza, playing in the drama "Koi no Yami Ame no Furudera". He was an onnagata actor, who was appreciated more in sewamono than in jidaimono. Just like the previous holder of the name, he died too young, at the age of 35, the 13th of March 1889.

Iwai Shijaku IV playing the role of Osetsu in the drama "Ryôsharoku Yui no Enzetsu" in a print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1880

Print made by Yôshû Chikanobu in 1882

Print made by Morikawa Chikashige in 1882

Iwai Shijaku V
Iwai Shijaku V  In Japanese | Nishikawa Tsuneko  In Japanese
 

Iwai Shijaku V, the granddaughter of Iwai Kumesaburô V, is not a Kabuki actor but a dance master of the Iwai school of dance (Buyô), a school created by her grandfather [more details (in japanese)]. She took this name in 1946.

Iwai Shijaku V

 
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