Ichikawa Ebizō is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki

Kabuki

is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...

 actors of the Ichikawa

Ichikawa

is a Japanese surname. It can refer to:-Places:*Ichikawa, Chiba is a city in Chiba, Japan*Ichikawa, Hyogo is a town in Hyogo, Japan*Ichikawa Gakuen is a large private boys and girls school in Moto-kita-kata, Ichikawa, Chiba-People:*Ichikawa Danjūrō and Ichikawa Ebizō, stage names taken on by a...

 family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. It is a famous and important name, and receiving it is an honor.

Ebizō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called shūmei

Shumei

Shūmei are grand naming ceremonies held in Kabuki theatre. Most often, a number of actors will participate in a single ceremony, taking on new stage-names....

in which a number of actors formally change their names. A number of actors have followed a particular sequence in their stage names, preceding "Ebizō" by being called Ichikawa Shinnosuke

Ichikawa Shinnosuke

Ichikawa Shinnosuke is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family....

 or Matsumoto Kōshirō

Matsumoto Koshiro

Matsumoto Kōshirō is the stage name of a line of kabuki actors in Japan. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family....

, and following it by achieving the name Ichikawa Danjūrō

Ichikawa Danjuro

is a stage name taken on by a series of Kabuki actors of the Ichikawa family. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. It is a famous and important name, and receiving it is an honor...

.

The design of the Ichikawa family mon

Mon (badge)

, also , , and , are Japanese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family....

, three squares nested inside one another, is called mimasu (三升).

Lineage

• Ichikawa Ebizō I
  Ichikawa Danjūrō I
  Ichikawa Danjūrō I was an early kabuki actor in Japan. He remains today one of the most famous of all kabuki actors and is considered one of the most influential...
  
   (1673 - April 1675) - Took the name Danjūrō in 1693, becoming the first Ichikawa Danjūrō. Originated the aragoto
  Aragoto
  , or rough style, is a style of kabuki acting that uses exaggerated, dynamic kata and speech. Often, aragoto actors wear bold red or blue makeup , and have costumes that are padded and enlarged...
  
  form.
• Ichikawa Ebizō II (November 1735 - September 1758) - Eldest son of Ebizō I; previously known as Ichikawa Kuzō and later as Ichikawa Danjūrō II.
• Ichikawa Ebizō III (November 1772 - March 1778) - Adopted son of Ebizō II, possibly biological son. Previously known as Matsumoto Kōshirō II, and later as Ichikawa Danjūrō III.
• Ichikawa Ebizō IV (November 1782 - October 1791) - Son of Ichikawa Danjūrō V, grandson of Ebizō III; Later known as Ichikawa Danjūrō VI. Died young.
• Ichikawa Ebizō V
  Ichikawa Ebizo V
  Ichikawa Danjūrō VII was a Japanese kabuki actor who specialized in male hero roles, said to be the greatest of the 19th century...
  
   (1797 - October 1800, March 1832 - March 1859) - Grandson of Danjūrō V, previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke I and Ichikawa Yebizō and Ichikawa Danjūrō VII. Established the Kabuki Jūhachiban
  Kabuki Juhachiban
  The Kabuki Jūhachiban , or Eighteen Best Kabuki Plays, is a set of kabuki plays, strongly associated with the Ichikawa Danjūrō line of actors ever since their premieres. These works were chosen and assembled as "the eighteen" by actor Ichikawa Danjūrō VII . The pieces were considered to be...
  
  .
• Ichikawa Ebizō VI
  Ichikawa Danjuro VIII
  Ichikawa Danjuro VIII was a Japanese actor in the 19th century. He is known for his role as Prince Mitsuuji in the play Genji Moyo Furisode Hinagata. He played the role of Prince Mitsuuji in the first production in 1852...
  
   (March 1825 to February 1832) - Eldest son of Ebizō V. Previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke II, later known as Danjūrō VIII. Committed suicide in Osaka.
• Ichikawa Ebizō VII (1874) - Third son of Ebizō V. Previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke III.
• Ichikawa Ebizō VIII (1881 - November 1886) - Seventh son of Ebizō V, brother to Ichikawa Danjūrō IX
  Ichikawa Danjuro IX
  Ichikawa Danjūrō IX was one of the most successful and famous Kabuki actors of the Meiji period ....
  
  . Previously known as Ichikawa Akanbei, Ichikawa Juzō, Ichikawa Saruzō II, and Ichikawa Shinnosuke IV.
• Ichikawa Ebizō IX (May 1940 - March 1962) - Adopted son of Ichikawa Danjūrō X, his biological father was Matsumoto Kōshirō VII
  Matsumoto Koshiro VII
  Matsumoto Kōshirō VII was one of the leading tachiyaku Kabuki actors of Japan's Meiji period through the late 1940s.-Names:...
  
  . Previously known as Ichikawa Komazō V and later as Ichikawa Danjūrō XI.
• Ichikawa Ebizō X
  Ichikawa Danjuro XII
  is a Japanese actor. He is the twelfth kabuki actor to hold the illustrious name Ichikawa Danjūrō.He is the eldest son of Ichikawa Danjūrō XI. He first appeared on stage in 1953 under his birth name Natsuo Horikoshi, and in 1958 took the name Ichikawa Shinnosuke...
  
   (November 1969 to March 1985) - Eldest son of Ebizō IX. Previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI and later as Ichikawa Danjūrō XII. He is the current holder of the name Ichikawa Danjūrō.
• Ichikawa Ebizō XI
  Ichikawa Ebizo XI
  is the eleventh and current holder of the Ebizō name. He is a famous Kabuki and television actor and heir to the prestigious Ichikawa clan of kabuki actors....
  
  (May 2004–present) - Son of Ebizō X. Previously known as Ichikawa Shinnosuke VII. Ebizō XI is the current holder of the name Ichikawa Ebizō.