Shutaro Kataoka, a living national treasure Kabuki actor who played an active role as a representative female figure of Kabuki, died at his home in Osaka on the 23rd of this month due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
I was 79 years old.
Kabuki actor Hidetaro Kataoka was born in Osaka as the second son of the 13th generation Kataoka Nizaemon, and took the first stage at the age of five.
In 1956, he took the name of Hidetaro Kataoka II, and has played a unique role on many stages as a female onnagata who inherits the gentle play peculiar to Kataoka Kabuki.
In addition, in 1997, we opened the "Kabuki Juku" to train Kabuki actors who are active in the Kansai region, and we have been focusing on training younger generations.
It has been recognized as a so-called Living National Treasure, and received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays this spring.
According to Shochiku, he died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in Suita City, Osaka on the 23rd of this month because the stage at Kyoto Minamiza last December was his last appearance.
I was 79 years old.