Kabuki actors from the Ichikawa family in ukiyoe
May 28 (Tue) ‐September 1 (Sun), 2024

This museum exhibits ukiyoe woodblock prints published in Osaka in the Edo period. Many of the ukiyoe prints made in Osaka were portraits of kabuki actors performing in theatres around Dotombori.

Many of the ukiyoe woodblock prints published in Osaka are of kamigata actors but some Edo actors are also depicted. Ichikawa Danjuro VII and other famous Edo kabuki actors came to Osaka, actively interacting with each other. There were master-disciple relationships beyond regions. For example, Ichikawa Ebijuro I, kamigata kabuki actor, became an apprentice of Ichikawa Danjuro VII in Edo.

In this feature exhibition, we focus on kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family who performed in Osaka. Please enjoy ukiyoe woodblock prints of kabuki actors of the family who performed in Osaka including Ichikawa Ebijuro, Ichikawa Danzo and Ichikawa Udanji.

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The Ichikawa family’s standpoint in Osaka
The Ichikawa family is the head family of Edo kabuki, with the Ichikawa Danjuro family at the top. The family also has an influence on Osaka kabuki world and there are disciples of Ichikawa Danjuro in Osaka.

Ichikawa Ebijuro I became a disciple of Ichikawa Danjuro VII by Nakamura Utaemon III’s introduction. Nakamura Utaemon III, the top kabuki actor at the time both in name and in reality, introduced Ebijuro to Icikawa Danjuro VII school after Ebijuro’s master Ichikawa Danzo IV deceased. This shows how high Utaemon’s expectations was for Ebijuro.

Ichikawa Danzo I was a disciple of Ichikawa Danjuro I and was popular in Edo kabuki theatres. Since Ichikawa Danzo III performed in theatres in Osaka over a long period of time, their ties got strong, Ichikawa Danzo IV and V were from kamigata kabuki world. Ichikawa Danzo VI became a disciple of Ichikawa Danjuro VII.

Kabuki actors from the Ichikawa family depicted in Osaka ukiyoe had a connection with the Ichikawa Danjuro family of Edo kabuki. They inherited the tradition of Edo kabuki and at the same time built up a strong position at kamigata kabuki world.

Ichikawa Ebijuro II (1806-1829)
Son of Ichikawa Ebijuro I. His first stage performance was in 1815 (Bunka 12) in Osaka under the name of Ichikawa Sukezo. In 1817 (Bunka 14) he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Ichizo II and went back and forth between Edo and Osaka with his father. In 1827 (Bunsei 10) Ichikawa Ebijuro I, his father, deceased and he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Ebijuro II in the following year. In 1829 (Bunsei 12) he died of disease.

Ichikawa Ebijuro III (1787-1836)
At first he was a disciple of Nakayama Monjuro and the name was Nakayama Jinkichi. He changed the name to Ichikawa Takijuro I after he became a disciple of Ichikawa Ebijuro I. After Ichikawa Ebijuro I and Ichikawa Ebijuro II deceased in 1827 (Bunsei 10) and in 1829 (Bunsei 12) respectively, he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Ebijuro III in 1830 (Tenpo 1). Died in 1836 (Tenpo 7).

Ichikawa Ebijuro IV (1809-1858)
After having started his career as a child actor under the name of Matsushima Minosuke, he became a disciple of Ichikawa Danjuro VII and changed the name to Ichikawa Ichijuro. In 1844 (Koka 1), he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Ebijuro IV. He once changed the name to Bando Jutaro but again changed the name to Ichikawa Ebijuro. Died in 1858 (Ansei 5).

Ichikawa Takijuro II (year of birth and death unknown)
“Kokon haiyu nigao taizen” (anthology of actor portraits written by Utagawa Toyokuni III) says “(Ichikawa Takijuro II was) a natural son of Ichikawa Ebijuro III. His name as a child actor was Ichikawa Kiyozo and then changed the name to Ebisaburo. He was adopted into Asao Yoroku I but later came back and succeeded the name of his natural father”.
There is another theory that Ichikawa Takijuro II is later Ichikawa Ebijuro VI, but while Takijuro II is depicted in ukiyoe drawn during Kaei era (1848-1855), Ebijuro VI was born in Meiji era. Their active period is different.

Ichikawa Danzo IV (1745-1808)
Started his career as a child actor under the name of Kameya Torazo. He changed the name to Nakamura Torazo after he became a disciple of Nakamura Tomijuro I. And later he became a disciple of Ichikawa Danzo III and changed the name to Ichikawa Tomozo. He was adopted into Ichikawa Danzo III after his death and received the name of Ichikawa Danzaburo III and later Ichikawa Danzo IV. In September 1808 (Bunka 5), he gained disease and left the stage and was replaced by his desciple Ichikawa Ichizo I (later Ichikawa Ebijuro I). Ichikawa Danzo IV died on 9th the following month.

Ichikawa Danzo V (1788-1845)
He became a disciple of Ichikawa Ichizo I (later Ichikawa Ebijuro I), who was a disciple of Ichikawa Danzo IV and changed the name to Ichikawa Morinosuke. Later he was adopted into Ichikawa Danzo IV and succeeded the name of Ichikawa Danzaburo IV. During his visit to Edo, his adoptive father died. He came back to Osaka from Edo and became a popular actor and changed the name to Ichikawa Shiko I. And then he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Danzo V in 1819 (Bunsei 2). He got disease in 1844 (Koka 1) and died the following year.

Ichikawa Danzo VI (1800-1871)
Son of Ichikawa Aragoro I who was Ichikawa Danzo IV’s disciple. His first performance on stage was in Edo. He became a disciple of Ichikawa Danjuro VII and later changed the name to Ichikawa Sanzo. Later he changed the name to Ichikawa Momotaro and then Ichikawa Hakuzo. In 1834 (Tenpo 5) he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Kuzo II. He was adopted into Ichikawa Danzo V after his death in 1852 (Kaei 5) and succeeded the name of Ichikawa Danzo VI. He died in 1871 (Meiji 4).

Ichikawa Shiko II (year of birth and death unknown)
A disciple of Ichikawa Ebijuro III, was popular in Tenpo era under the name of Ichikawa Morinosuke. After he was adopted into Ichikawa Danzo V, he succeeded the name of Ichikawa Shiko II. In August 1850 (Kaei 3), he changed the name to Ichikawa Tosho I.

Ichikawa Udanji I (1843-1916)
Son of Ichikawa Kodanji IV. At first he worked at a theatre café in Dotombori but decided to become an actor. He started performing on stage in Osaka and Kyoto under the name of Ichikawa Fukutaro in 1852 (Kaei 5). In 1862 (Bunkyu 2) he co-acted with his father in Edo Morita-za theatre at the request of the father but he went back to Osaka immediately and succeeded the name of Ichikawa Udanji I. He gained the favor of Ichikawa Ichizo III and Onoe Tamizo II and led the kamigata kabuki world along with Jitsukawa Enjaku I and Nakamura Sojuro. In 1909 (Meiji 42), his eldest son succeeded the name of Ichikawa Udanji II and he changed the name to Ichikawa Sainyu. He retired in 1915 (Taisho 4).