Sakudayu Toyotake, a so-called Living National Treasure and holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property and a Bunrakudayu for puppet theater, his real name Yozo Ikuta, passed away on January 31st at a hospital in Tokyo due to pneumonia. He was 79 years old.
Mr. Toyotake was born in Osaka Prefecture, and in 1953 became a student of Toyotake Yamashiro no Shojo, who was also his father's teacher, and became known as Takemoto Tsunako Dayu. I stepped on stage for the first time under the name.
In 1966, he introduced himself as the first generation of Toyotake Sakudayu, and in 2009, he became a ``Kiriba Katari'', the highest level of ``Tayu'' storytellers.
Mr. Toyotake's clear storytelling was praised as demonstrating his outstanding skill in a wide range of performing arts, and he was also enthusiastic about reviving classical works and creating new works.
Because of these achievements, in 2019 he was recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property ``Ningyo Joruri Bunraku Dayu'' and a so-called Living National Treasure, and in 2021 he was selected as a Person of Cultural Merit.
According to the Bunraku Association, Toyotake passed away from pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo on January 31st.
He was 79 years old.