Kondo Kennosuke (近藤乾之助)
Kennosuke KONDO (April 18, 1928-) is a shite-kata (a main actor) of the Hosho school of Noh.
His father is Kenzo KONDO and his mother is Kiku's oldest son who is the second daughter of Rokuzo OHKURA, the head of kotsuzumi-gata (shoulder-drum) Ohkura school. He studied under his father and he played his first role at the age of five as a hanami-koji (a child who go to see the cherry blossoms viewing with the main character, Ushiwakamaru) in the play, "Kurama Tengu."
In 1935, at the age of seven he became a pupil of Fusao HOSHO. In 1946, at the age of eighteen he played a main role for the first time in "Yoshinoshizuka." In 1992, he received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts. In 1995, he received Shiju-hosho (the Medal with Purple Ribbon). In 2001, he received the Award of the Japan Art Academy.