Stage names:

Iwai Hanshirô X
Ichikawa Shôen II

Real name: Nishina Tadayoshi

Guild: Yamatoya

Poetry names: Shôen, Tojaku

Line number: JÛDAIME (X)

Existence: 8 August 1927 ~ 25 December 2011

Connections:

Master: Ichikawa Ennosuke II

Daughter: Iwai Hanshirô XI

Disciples: Iwai Yoshitarô, Iwai Wakajirô

Career:

August 1927: born in Tôkyô. He was the elder son of the dance master Hanayagi Jutarô.

November 1935: he made his first appearance on stage, in Tôkyô at the Yûrakuza, playing under his real name the role of Ichikawa Botan in the drama "Kyôenroku".

May 1939: he became disciple of Ichikawa Ennosuke II and received the name of Ichikawa Shôen II at the Yûrakuza, playing the role of Kimimatsu in the drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

November 1941: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Futari Tomomori"; Shôen played the role of a festival child [casting].

February 1946: Shôen became nadai and celebrated it by playing at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Sukemori in the drama "Takiguchi Nyûdô no Koi".

July 1951: premiere at the Kabukiza of Uno Nobuo's drama "Jiisan Baasan"; Shôen played the role of Iori's son Kyûya [casting].

October 1951: Ichikawa Shôen II took the prestigious name of Iwai Hanshirô X at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the courtesan Hikari-no-Kimi, Kewaizaka no Shôshô and Akihiko in "Genji Monogatari", "Kotobuki Soga no Taimen" and "Kokaji".

July 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Kitsune to Fuefuki"; Hanshirô played the role of Teruyoshi [casting].

March 1955: Iwai Hanshirô X, Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and Ichikawa Yaozô IX celebrated their shûmei in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza with the troupes led by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Tokizô III; Hanshirô played the roles of Nitta Shirô Tadatsune, Soga Jûrô Sukenari ^[2], Hikobê's son Hikosaburô, the yamabushi Sanukibô, Miyashige Kyûya and Nagoya Sanza ^[3] in "Kagekiyo" ^[1], "Kotobuki Soga Kabuki no Nigiwai", "Gonza to Sukejû", "Kurozuka", "Oshidori no Fu" and "Sayaate".

October 1955: first Kabuki tour in the Popular Republic of China, in Beijing (2~13 october), Shanghai (17~18 october) and Guangzhou (24~25 october); Hanshirô played the roles of Shûrinosuke and Sakurako in the drama "Domo Mata" and the dance "Meoto Dôjôji" [more details]. Hanshirô had the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

October 1956: Hanshirô moved to the Tôhô Company, a competitor of the Shôchiku Company.

1961: Hanshirô was back at the Shôchiku Company.

June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" was produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Hanshirô played the role of Kyûshichi [casting].

October 1965: first Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in West Berlin at the Der Freien Volksbühne (2~8 october), in Paris at the Théâtre de l'Odéon (15~24 october) and in Lisbonne at the Teatro São Luis (29~31 october); Hanshirô played the roles of Senoo Tarô and Kakogawa Honzô in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Shunkan" and the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" [more details].

November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theatre in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Hanshirô played the role of Miyoshi Kiyotsura [casting].

25 January 1967: his father Hanayagi Jutarô died.

March 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which was supervised by Gunji Masakatsu; Hanshirô played the role of Matsui Gengo [casting].

July 1968: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kama-ga-Fuchi Futatsu Domoe"; Hanshirô played the role of Hayano Yatôji [casting].

November 1969: premiere at the National Theatre of Mishima Yukio's drama "Chinsetsu Yumihari-zuki"; Hanshirô played the role of the daijin Riyû [more details].

March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Hanshirô played the role of Yakama Shikaroku [casting].

February 1977: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Ichimatsu Kozô no Onna"; Hanshirô played the role of Moritaya Hikotarô [more details].

February 1978: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Aibiki no Onna"; Hanshirô played the role of Oseki [more details].

January 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki" [more details]; Hanshirô played the role of the nyûdô Inokuma Raiun. He received the National Theatre Excellence Prize (Kokuritsu Gekijô Yûshûshô) for his performance.

January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki" ^[1]; Hanshirô played the role of Horikawa Kageyu [casting].

April 1982: Hanshirô received the National Theatre Excellence Prize (Kokuritsu Gekijô Yûshûshô) for his performance in the role of Sachûben Mareyo in the revival of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû".

January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" ^[1] at the National Theatre; Hanshirô played the role of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U" ^[1]; Hanshirô played the role of Shionoya Shirô, later Kan Pei [casting].

January 1992: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the roles of Sadoshima Chôgorô I and Akama Genzaemon in "Gedatsu" ^[1] and "Musume Gonomi Ukina no Yokogushi".

March 1993: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of Sugita Shuzen in the drama "Nezumi Komon Harugi no Hinagata".

May 1993: Hanshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of the tea ceremony master Chinsai in the drama "Uirô Uri" ^[1].

October 1993: Hanshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Kitanoya Shichibê in the drama "Senryô Nobori".

November 1993: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the priest Zangetsu in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô".

January 1994: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Kagekiyo" ^[1].

April 1994: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the okappiki Tsunematsu in the drama "Kurayami no Ushimatsu".

May 1994: Hanshirô played at the Kabukiza the role of Shinsai in the drama "Onna Shibaraku"; this was Hanshirô's last stage appearance at the Kabukiza.

December 1994: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the countryside samurai Akamatsu Kunenoshin in the dance "Noriaibune".

January 1995: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the dôguya Kahei in the drama "Inga Kozô".

March 1995: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the priest Mukan in Suzuki Senzaburô's ninjômono drama "Jirokichi Zange".

April 1995: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the blind priest Gantetsu in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kesakake Matsu Narita no Riken".

November 1995: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of Yamagake Heima in the drama "Hachiman Matsuri Yomiya no Nigiwai".

December 1995: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of Watanabe Gekizaemon in the drama "Ume Momiji Nishiki no Dateori".

January 1996: Hanshirô played at the National Theatre the role of the karô Sakakibara Daisuke in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura".

January 1997: tôshi kyôgen revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; Hanshirô played the role of Hanaôgiya Toheiji [casting]. This was Hanshirô's last stage appearance as he retired from the Kabuki world.

25 December 2011: Hanshirô died of multiple organ failure in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Iwai Hanshirô X spent his career as a supporting tachiyaku/nimaime/katakiyaku, excelling in many minor comical roles. He was a very popular actor during the 1950s and the 1960s, playing major roles in duo with Ichikawa Monnosuke VII at the Tôyoko Hall. He somehow lost his stardom but became a dynamic supporting actor. He was also the head of a branch of one of the Iwai Schools of Buyô.

[1] This bombastic play in the aragoto style belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban

[2] The roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Gorô Tokimune were played by Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and Ichikawa Yaozô IX.

[3] The role of Fuwa Banzaemon was played by Ichikawa Yaozô IX.

Iwai Hanshirô X playing the role of Ushiwakamaru in the dance "Hashi Benkei" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1957)

The Ichikawa Shôen line of actors

The Iwai Hanshirô line of actors