Sawamura Tanosuke sadly passes away|News|KABUKI WEB

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June 27 ,2022

Sawamura Tanosuke sadly passes away

Kabuki actor and Living National Treasure Sawamura Tanosuke Ⅵ sadly passed away on June 23 at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 89. May his soul rest in peace.

In 1941, Tanosuke made his stage debut, taking the name of Sawamura Yoshijirō Ⅳ. In 1964, he succeeded to the name Sawamura Tanosuke Ⅵ. Trained by Onoe Baikō VII and Nakamura Utaemon VI, he displayed a dignified style of acting as an 'onnagata' (female role specialist). In his later years, with his ability and artistic range built up over many years, he played a wide range of roles from adult male roles to the elderly.

Among his most famous roles were Koman in 'Genpei Nunobiki no Taki' from 'SANEMORI MONOGATARI', Soga no Jūrō in 'YA NO NE' and Sakae Gozen in 'MEIBOKU SENDAIHAGI', etc. After taking part in the foreign tour to Hawaii in 1964, he participated in many other overseas kabuki tours.

His last performance was at the Kabukiza Theatre (2014) in the role of Soga no Jūrō in 'YA NO NE'.