Ichikawa Ebizo XI
Encyclopedia
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.
The son of Danjuro XII
(the current head of the family), he was born in Tokyo
and began his career at the age of six in the play Genji Monogatari, 1983. In 1985 he was bestowed the name Shinnosuke VII
and continued to perform in kabuki under this name until 2003. In that time he made his first television appearance in 1994 in the NHK
Taiga drama
, Hanna no Ran, which starred his father.
In 2002/2003, he would make his first starring television role as the great Samurai
, Miyamoto Musashi
, in the NHK drama, MUSASHI. After the show's run, he once again starred as the great warrior in a kabuki drama about Musashi. He would go on to take part in several plays before his name was changed to Ebizō XI in May 2004.
Since then he has appeared in several commercials, and in his first film role, Deguchi no Nai Umi, 2006. He is currently still acting in Kabuki, making tours in Europe and various other provinces in Japan.
On November 19, 2009, Ebizō announced that he is going to marry a free newscaster Mao Kobayashi
. The two met when he appeared as a guest on her show "News Zero".
A total of 12 performances of Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
by Shochiku Grand Kabuki featuring Ebizō awere held at Sadler's Wells Theatre
in London from June 4 to 15, 2010.
On November 25, 2010, Ebizō was assaulted in the early morning hours while out drinking with Kabuka friends in Tokyo's Nishi-Azabu area. According to the Japanese press
, it was reported that he forced the man to drink tequila
from an ashtray
. Ebizō returned home, where his wife Mao Kobayashi
discovered his wounds and called the police, after which he was rushed to Toranomon Hospital. As a result of the injuries suffered Ebizō may have to retire. Theatre operator Shochiku
has indefinitely suspended him from Kabuki as a result of the incident.
Ichikawa Ebizo
Ichikawa Ebizō 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...
name. He is a famous 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...
and television actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and heir to the prestigious 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...
clan of kabuki actors.
The son of Danjuro XII
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...
(the current head of the family), he was born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and began his career at the age of six in the play Genji Monogatari, 1983. In 1985 he was bestowed the name Shinnosuke VII
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....
and continued to perform in kabuki under this name until 2003. In that time he made his first television appearance in 1994 in the NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
Taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
, Hanna no Ran, which starred his father.
In 2002/2003, he would make his first starring television role as the great Samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
, Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age...
, in the NHK drama, MUSASHI. After the show's run, he once again starred as the great warrior in a kabuki drama about Musashi. He would go on to take part in several plays before his name was changed to Ebizō XI in May 2004.
Since then he has appeared in several commercials, and in his first film role, Deguchi no Nai Umi, 2006. He is currently still acting in Kabuki, making tours in Europe and various other provinces in Japan.
On November 19, 2009, Ebizō announced that he is going to marry a free newscaster Mao Kobayashi
Mao Kobayashi (actress)
is a Japanese actress and newscaster. She was one of Fuji TV's weathercasters. On November 19, 2009, it was announced Kobayashi and kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa planned to get formally engaged sometime in December 2009....
. The two met when he appeared as a guest on her show "News Zero".
A total of 12 performances of Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura , or Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, is a Japanese play, one of the three most popular and famous in the Kabuki repertoire...
by Shochiku Grand Kabuki featuring Ebizō awere held at Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
in London from June 4 to 15, 2010.
On November 25, 2010, Ebizō was assaulted in the early morning hours while out drinking with Kabuka friends in Tokyo's Nishi-Azabu area. According to the Japanese press
Media of Japan
The communications media of Japan include numerous television and radio networks as well as newspapers and magazines in Japan. For the most part, television networks were established based on the capital contribution from existing radio networks at that time...
, it was reported that he forced the man to drink tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
from an ashtray
Ashtray
An ashtray is a receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars. Ashtrays are typically made of fireproof material such as glass, heat-resistant plastic, pottery, metal, or rock....
. Ebizō returned home, where his wife Mao Kobayashi
Mao Kobayashi (actress)
is a Japanese actress and newscaster. She was one of Fuji TV's weathercasters. On November 19, 2009, it was announced Kobayashi and kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa planned to get formally engaged sometime in December 2009....
discovered his wounds and called the police, after which he was rushed to Toranomon Hospital. As a result of the injuries suffered Ebizō may have to retire. Theatre operator Shochiku
Shochiku
is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...
has indefinitely suspended him from Kabuki as a result of the incident.
See also
- Ichikawa EbizōIchikawa EbizoIchikawa Ebizō 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...
- chronology of Ebizo kabuki actors - Ichikawa DanjūrōIchikawa Danjurois 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...
- chronology of Danjuro kabuki actors