9. KABUKI BOOK COVERS: ICHIKAWA ENNOSUKE

Kabuki Woogie is devoted to a variety of kabuki-related subjects. It began with a series of essays, including photos and videos, of a research trip to Japan in 2010, subsequently added my 25-chapter history of the first Kabuki-za, and then began a series on Japanese books about kabuki from my collection. It will soon add occasional essays by guest contributors based on papers they delivered at conferences and symposiums. One can poke around in its archives to find all of these past posts.

Entry #9 in Kabuki Woogie’s coverage of Japanese books on kabuki from my private collection is this photographic tribute volume to Ichikawa Ennosuke III (now called En’o II), perhaps the most innovative, versatile kabuki actor of his time. It was published during his heyday, in 1980, many years before he suffered a stroke that removed him from the stage for an extended period.

The first book in this series was also devoted to Ennosuke III.

The book contains many photos of Ennosuke on stage and in private, with articles and a detailed chronology of his career to the time of the publication.

If you have questions, please contact me via the comments section or email.

Book cover of Ichikawa Ennosuke. Ennosuke as Abe no Sadatō in Ōshū Adachigahara.

Rear cover. Ennosuke as Masaoka in Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise.

Table of contents.

Table of contents. 

Publication page.

Ennosuke as Benkei in Kanjinchō.

Ennosuke as Sakon the kyōgen actor in Yakko Dōjōji.

Ennosuke performing a trick technique in Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura.

Ennosuke as Nikki Danjō in Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise.

Ennosuke in Higaki.