The Personality of Ichikawa Danjuro the First

Abstract

Ichikawa Danjuro I is often talked about in the history of Kabuki or Japanese culture. Although we have quite a lot of historical materials about him, his life in the Genroku Kabuki world has not so far been entirely reconstructed, for the most important parts of his life are not clear. Therefore, to know the personality of Danjuro and his life in Kabuki world we have to interpret the extant historical materials in our own ways.

There are few materials about Danjuro's young days. Danjuro seems to have had a strong will to raise his status in the theatre world. But he was not so handsome as others in the company, who in general attracted the audience as sexual objects rather than as actors. This might explain a reason why Danjuro came to be known as an actor of kataki-yaku (the role of a bad man) first. Later he tried to reach a position of power as a za-moto (an owner of a theatre house), but in vain; there were only four licensed theares permitted in Edo (Tokyo). However, he established his fame as the highest tachi-yakusha (the role of hero), and formed the Ichkawa House of actors. His son succeeded his roles so that the Ichikawa House would be the most priviledged house of actors after his unfortunate death.