Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-01-09
]ApAN'S GREATEST ACTOR
AND CUSTOMS Of STAGE

The Jefferson family of actors
which for nearly one hundred and fiji
ty years has been known both in Eng
land and the United States, has its
counterpart in this country in the XII.
kugoros and Danjuros. Onoye Kiku-
goro is the fifth of mat name. the
founder of the family having gone on
the stage in 1885. ichikawa Daniuro.
considered the greatest living actor of
japan, can boast line of theatrical
ancestors that reaches pack two hun
dred and twenty years.
Horikoshi Ebizo, the first of the
Danjuros, was born in 1860 of poor
but respectable parents" At the age
of IA he assumed the stage name of
lchikawa Danjuro, and soon after was
acknowledged thel eading actor OF
Yedo, as Toxic was then called. He
was murdered on the stage in 1704 by
n fellow player, with whom he had
demonstrated on his licentious life
His son. Kuro. who was born in 1858.
succeeded to the stage name, which
he maintained in high repute until his
death, in 1858, Kuzo made journey in
his youth to the shrines OF Marta,
some forty miles east of Yedo where
he invoked the god to aid him in his
art; and when he afterward became q
famous actor. he took in gratitude the
name of Narita.ya as his trade name
Every actor in Japan has since then
had three separate names-his private
name. which seldom becomes public
his stage name by which he is always
known, and his trade name, which dis
tinguishes his branch from others oil
the same professional family.
The second bearer OF the Danjuro
name, being childless. adopS a son
to whom he gave MS own name. The
young man died before him. and he
thereupon adopted another, the fourth
Danjuro 1711-17SS), who was succeed
ed by his son, the fifth of that name
u741.1SO6). The sixth l7SS.1799), al
so dying before his father, whose
name had been transmitted to him In
1890. his nephew 1790.1795), inherited
the coveted name. He Is said to have
been the ablest of the Danjuros. His
son 1S23lS54) committed suicide tc
save his father from reproach, and the
name remained in allegiance for nine
teen years, until II was assumed IL
1873 by his half.brother, who was bori
in 1888. The present DanJuro. the
ninth of his name, is, therefore. 6;
years old. and. notwithstanding hi.
age, worthily upholds the traditions o.
his family. One Of his favorite parts
Is that of the hero in THE Chushin
gura," play written in 1744 by Ia
keda IZumo. which has for its subjec
the revenge Of their chieftain's dealt
by forty-seven retainers. and which I,
this day remains a stock play, sure Il
draw full houses when all others nav,
failed. Danjuro has played the par
no less than seyenIy-elght times,
fact which may not impress an Amer
lean public. accustomed to hundred
night runs. but which, here in Japan
where audiences still demand variet,
and would resent machine-made pei
formances, Is considered Remarkable
record.
The class spirit, which Is so essen
tial feature of Japanese civilization
dominates even the actors profession
There Is a theatrical aristocrac,
which no one may enter who has no
had the good fortune of inheriting
great name. rhe members of thi
aristocracy are called "nadai." The,
are entitled to advertise their name
on the playbOards over the entranc,
to their theater. AS there are onl,
five actors in Toxic. including Danjurl
and Kukugoro, who enjoy this priv
lcge, ii will be seen that IL Is a by NJ
means common one. All these mat
tiers are regulated by the Actors guild
which, until few years ago, is sale
to have been very exclusive affair.
Among the middle class OF actor!
there are frequently found men O
considerable talent. In only rare in
stances however, can they hope to be
come "nadai" upon their own merits
An actor without family antecedenti
can surmount these class barriers
only by being adopted into some arts
tocratic family Of Thespians. Tit
"supes" form the lowest class. The
laws of their guild do not permit then
same day a privilege enjoyed by theil
more distinguished associates. Thei
lot, indeed, may be said to be a hare
one.
Like revolving book cases anC
many other meritorious things, the
idea of continuous performances
probably came from Japan. Formers
theater was open from dawn unit
close upon midnight. and even now II
Toxic performance In Toxic nevel
lasts less than eight hours. In the
country the confirmed playgoer still
insists upon getting all his moneys
worth. and grumbles II the perform
ance takes less tnan fifteen hours. Tc
go to the play. therefore, is really hare
work. A whole day'S performance