Kabuki A to Z:Ichikawa family (Danjuro line)｜文化デジタルライブラリー

Ichikawa family (Danjuro line)

【市川家（團十郎系）】

【ICHIKAWAKE(DANJUROKEI)】

Generations of Danjuro. (First print from the left) 4th at the lower left, 6th at the upper left, 5rd at the right. (center) 9th at the lower left, 8th at the upper left, 7th at the right. (third print from the left) 2nd at the bottom, 1st at the upper left, 3rd at the upper right. “Yucho Ichikawa Keifu” owned by the National Theatre. （06138）

During the Genroku period, Ichikawa Danjuro 1st originated the Aragoto style. Since then, the style has been a representative feature of Edo Kabuki. Danjuro 2nd specialized in such Aragoto plays as “Narukami”, “Kenuki”, and “Yanone, and sophisticated the Aragoto style established by Danjuro 1st. He also had an affinity with the Wagoto style, and created the basis for “Sukeroku” that is performed today.
Danjuro 5th is a representative actor during the mid-Edo period who managed both the Aragoto and Onnagata roles.
Danjuro 7th was active during the Bunka and Bunsei periods. He presented great acting in a Kizewamono play “Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan” by Tsuruya Nanboku 4th, and in Shosagoto (posture drama), as well as in the Aragoto and Wagoto styles. In 1832, he selected the representative Aragoto plays passed down through generations, and called the set Kabuki-Juhachiban (18 best Kabuki plays). In 1840, he premiered “Kanjincho”, one of the 18 plays.
Danjuro 8th enjoyed popularity as a good-looking, handsome actor, but died at the age of 32.
As described above, Ichikawa Danjuro family became a prestigious family of actors representing Edo Kabuki for both popularity and ability, because the actors managed a variety of roles, with their acting style based on the Aragato established by Danjuro 1st.