Stage names:

Iwai Hanshirô X
Ichikawa Shôen II

Real name: Nishina Tadayoshi

Guild: Yamatoya

Line number: JÛDAIME (X)

Existence: 8 August 1927 ~ 25 December 2011

Connections:

Master: Ichikawa Ennosuke II

Disciples: Iwai Yoshitarô, Iwai Wakajirô

Career:

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

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

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

February 1946: Shôen becomes nadai and celebrates 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 plays the role of Iori's son Kyûya [casting].

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

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

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 plays the roles of Shûrinosuke and Sakurako in the drama "Domo Mata" and the dance "Meoto Dôjôji" [more details]. Hanshirô has the opportunity to meet the stars of the Chinese Traditional Opera like the famous Mei Lan-Fang.

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

1961: Hanshirô is back at the Shôchiku.

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

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

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

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

January 1980: Hanshirô receives the National Theatre Excellence Prize (Kokuritsu Gekijô Yûshûshô) for his performance in the role of Inokuma Nyûdô Raiun in the revival of the drama "Modoribashi Senani Gohiiki".

January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Hanshirô plays the role of Horikawa Kageyu [casting].

April 1982: Hanshirô receives 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" at the National Theatre; Hanshirô plays the role of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U", which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Hanshirô plays the role of Shionoya Shirô, later Kan Pei [casting].

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

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

May 1993: Hanshirô plays at the Kabukiza the role of the tea ceremony master Chinsai in the drama "Uirô Uri".

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

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

January 1994: Hanshirô plays at the National Theatre the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Kagekiyo".

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 1996: Hanshirô plays 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 plays the role of Hanaôgiya Toheiji [casting]. This is Hanshirô's last stage appearance.

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

Comments:

Iwai Hanshirô X spent his career as a dynamic supporting tachiyaku/nimaime/katakiyaku, excelling in many minor comical roles. He was a very popular actor during his Shôen years, playing major roles in duo with Ichikawa Monnosuke VII. His popularity helped him receiving one of the most prestigious Kabuki stage names but he somehow lost his stardom and became a supporting actor. He was also the head of a branch of one of the Iwai shools of dance.

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