The Japan Times reports today the sad news of the death of Nakamura Jakuemon, at the age of 91. Prior to his death, Jakuemon was the oldest living kabuki actor, and a Living National Treasure.
Jakuemon made his stage debut (hatsubutai) in 1927, at the age of seven, and after returning to kabuki following WWII, took part in the opening ceremonies for the National Theatre in 1966. He was named a Living National Treasure in 1991, and was, I am sure, present for countless major moments in the modern history of kabuki.
Right: Nakamura Jakuemon in 1954, in the film Uwasa no Onna.
I was fortunate to see the celebrated onnagata in January 2008, at Kabuki-za, where he performed alongside Nakamura Tomijûrô and Shikan in Kakuju Senzai, an auspicious New Year’s dance. His loss, I am sure, is strongly felt in the kabuki world.
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In other news, this coming May, the Shimbashi Enbujô will see the revival of Mishima Yukio’s “Chinsetsu Yumiharitsuki,” the only kabuki play (so far as I know) to take place in Okinawa.
Right: A scene from Chinsetsu Yumihari tsuki, from an illustrated book by Katsushika Hokusai.
The play is based on Takizawa Bakin’s 1807-1811 novel, based on historical myths already circulating in Japan since at least the 17th century; it tells the story of 12th century samurai warrior Minamoto no Tametomo who, after being exiled, finds his way to Okinawa, and ends up siring the first king of Okinawa.
Mishima (d. 1970) is a whole complicated phenomenon unto himself – a very different thing from Edo period (1603-1868) kabuki – and so not necessarily something I want to get involved in researching. But, as the only kabuki to take place in Okinawa, I’d be really really interested in seeing it. A shame I won’t be in Japan this May to see it.
An English translation of the play can be found on Google Books.
[...] this dance performed by the late Nakamura Jakuemon, then the oldest kabuki actor still-active; he passed away earlier this year at the age of [...]