Daigorō Tachibana
Encyclopedia
Daigorō Tachibana b. 27 January 1987 is one of Hesei era's celebrated onnagata and taishū engeki
actor. He is branded as the Taishu Engeki-kai Purinsu (大衆演劇界プリンス, Taishu Engeki's Prince) with the alias "Taishū engeki
-kai no Nyūhīrō Tensai Onnagata" (大衆演劇界のニューヒーロー 天才女形, Taishū engeki
's New Hero Genius Onnagata) and best remembered as Osei in Takeshi Kitano
’s Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
(2003). He is one of the taishū engeki
stars to have become a professional enka
recording artist.
which translates to "theater for the masses" or “working-class Kabuki” in Oita
Prefecture. His troupe, Tachibana Kikutarou Gekidan, was founded by his grandparents and it was inherited by his uncle. At the age of three, he debuted in his uncle’s theater and toured around the country for performances ever since. At an early young age, his talent and skillfulness as an onnagata (female impersonator) labeled him as one of Hesei era's genius onnagata (平成の天才女形, Hesei no tensai onnagata).
’s Zatoichi: the Blind Swordsman
(2003) as Seitaro Naruto under the disguise of a Geisha
named Osei. His performance as Osei earned him the 13th Tokyo Sports Film Awards - Japanese Arts and Entertainment Division Grand Prize (第13回 東京スポーツ映画大賞 エンターテイメント部門 日本芸能大賞, Dai 13-kai Tōkyō supōtsu eiga taishō entāteimento bumon Nippon geinō taishō). His performance in the movie alongside with Taichi Saotome
(played the younger Osei), gained media interest. Though they are from different troupes,
Taichi Saotome
and Daigoro Tachibana often practiced and performed together. They are also widely known for their friendship. One of their major collaborations was in 2007 when their troupes had a joint production, Sennen no Inori, in which they played as a tragic couple and was successful in Japan and Hawaii.
. In the magazine Jin, he was the navigator or the spokesperson in the column "What is Taishu Engeki?" in which he explains and discusses taishū engeki
to the readers.
existed. He starred with Satomi Ishihara
and Takarazuka
star Tsubasa Makoto. In 2010, he was casted in another major theatrical play titled Samurai 7. The play was based on the anime television series Samurai 7
which was adapted from Akira Kurosawa
's critically acclaimed movie, The Seven Samurai
.
In 2009, he officially entered the music industry as a professional enka
singer being signed into Teichiku Records. He released a Maxi Single
, Toki Gusuri which was composed by Kei Ogura
and released two music videos.
Tachibana is known for his signing of contract with his agency to have no public photos of him without make-up and to have no romantic relationships until he reaches the age of twenty. He also stated that he had interest in baseball when he was young and once dreamed to become a professional baseball player.
In March 2011, just two months after his 24th birthday, he officially succeeded his uncle as the chairman of the troupe. Tachibana gained the title “Third Generation Chairman” of the Gekidan Tachibana Kikutarou.
Taishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
actor. He is branded as the Taishu Engeki-kai Purinsu (大衆演劇界プリンス, Taishu Engeki's Prince) with the alias "Taishū engeki
Taishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
-kai no Nyūhīrō Tensai Onnagata" (大衆演劇界のニューヒーロー 天才女形, Taishū engeki
Taishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
's New Hero Genius Onnagata) and best remembered as Osei in Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
’s Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
Zatoichi (2003 film)
is a 2003 Japanese samurai drama and action film, directed, written, co-edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano as his eleventh film. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman....
(2003). He is one of the taishū engeki
Taishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
stars to have become a professional enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
recording artist.
Early life
Tachibana was born into a family of stage actors particularly in taishū engekiTaishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
which translates to "theater for the masses" or “working-class Kabuki” in Oita
Oita
-Companies:*Oita Asahi Broadcasting, a Japanese broadcast network in Oita Prefecture, Japan*Oita Broadcasting System, a television company based in Ōita Prefecture, Japan-Education:*Oita Junior College, a private junior college in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan...
Prefecture. His troupe, Tachibana Kikutarou Gekidan, was founded by his grandparents and it was inherited by his uncle. At the age of three, he debuted in his uncle’s theater and toured around the country for performances ever since. At an early young age, his talent and skillfulness as an onnagata (female impersonator) labeled him as one of Hesei era's genius onnagata (平成の天才女形, Hesei no tensai onnagata).
Film
In 2003, he had his screen debut in Takeshi KitanoTakeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
’s Zatoichi: the Blind Swordsman
Zatoichi (2003 film)
is a 2003 Japanese samurai drama and action film, directed, written, co-edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano as his eleventh film. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman....
(2003) as Seitaro Naruto under the disguise of a Geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
named Osei. His performance as Osei earned him the 13th Tokyo Sports Film Awards - Japanese Arts and Entertainment Division Grand Prize (第13回 東京スポーツ映画大賞 エンターテイメント部門 日本芸能大賞, Dai 13-kai Tōkyō supōtsu eiga taishō entāteimento bumon Nippon geinō taishō). His performance in the movie alongside with Taichi Saotome
Taichi Saotome
is a Japanese film and stage actor best known for playing beautiful young men and women. He is known as "Nagashime Ouji" or "Sidelong Glance Prince"....
(played the younger Osei), gained media interest. Though they are from different troupes,
Taichi Saotome
Taichi Saotome
is a Japanese film and stage actor best known for playing beautiful young men and women. He is known as "Nagashime Ouji" or "Sidelong Glance Prince"....
and Daigoro Tachibana often practiced and performed together. They are also widely known for their friendship. One of their major collaborations was in 2007 when their troupes had a joint production, Sennen no Inori, in which they played as a tragic couple and was successful in Japan and Hawaii.
Press
Tachibana was also featured in several newspapers, magazines and TV shows most notably in Gokigenyo Shougekidan, D no Gekijo and guest performances in NHK's annual Kohaku Uta GassenKohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
. In the magazine Jin, he was the navigator or the spokesperson in the column "What is Taishu Engeki?" in which he explains and discusses taishū engeki
Taishu engeki
' is a genre of popular theatre in Japan, frequently described as "light theatre", and compared to forms such as musical theatre and the revue....
to the readers.
The Arts
Tachibana also appeared in major theatrical plays. In 2008, he was cast in a controversial revival of the theatrical play titled, Bakumatsu Junjou-den. It is a play with gender bending themes set in the eve of the Meiji era where the ShinsengumiShinsengumi
The were a special police force of the late shogunate period.-Historical background:After Japan opened up to the West following U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's visits in 1853, its political situation gradually became more and more chaotic...
existed. He starred with Satomi Ishihara
Satomi Ishihara
is a Japanese actress.Popular mostly among Japanese fans, she gained recognition for her acting talent. She started taking parts acting in Japanese dramas in 2003. Also, she appeared in various commercial events also known as public relations...
and Takarazuka
Takarazuka
Takarazuka can refer to* Takarazuka, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan* Takarazuka Revue, a popular all-female acting troupe in Japan that takes place in Tokyo Takarazuka Theater.* Takarazuka Eiga, a film production company from Takarazuka Revue theater...
star Tsubasa Makoto. In 2010, he was casted in another major theatrical play titled Samurai 7. The play was based on the anime television series Samurai 7
Samurai 7
is a 2004 anime TV series, produced by Gonzo and based on Akira Kurosawa's highly regarded 1954 movie Seven Samurai. The series was directed by Toshifumi Takizawa and its music was composed by Kaoru Wada and Eitetsu Hayashi...
which was adapted from Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
's critically acclaimed movie, The Seven Samurai
The Seven Samurai
is a 1954 Japanese adventure drama film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film takes place in 1587 during the Warring States Period of Japan...
.
In 2009, he officially entered the music industry as a professional enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer being signed into Teichiku Records. He released a Maxi Single
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
, Toki Gusuri which was composed by Kei Ogura
Kei Ogura
Kei Ogura is a Japanese singer, songwriter and composer. He was also a bank clerk of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, after graduation from the University of Tokyo. His musical career was in parallel with banking activity.His major works include Saraba seishun and Oretachi-no-tabi...
and released two music videos.
Tachibana is known for his signing of contract with his agency to have no public photos of him without make-up and to have no romantic relationships until he reaches the age of twenty. He also stated that he had interest in baseball when he was young and once dreamed to become a professional baseball player.
In March 2011, just two months after his 24th birthday, he officially succeeded his uncle as the chairman of the troupe. Tachibana gained the title “Third Generation Chairman” of the Gekidan Tachibana Kikutarou.
External links
- Official Website
- Official Gekidan Tachibana Kikutaro Website
- Daigoro Tachibana at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Daigoro Tachibana at Teichiku RecordsTeichiku RecordsTeichiku Records is a Japanese record label, run by the Teichiku Entertainment company, that specialises in enka, kayōkyoku, and similar music. Teichiku is an abbreviation for , the former name of the company...