Shigeyama Sengoro (茂山千五郎)
Sengoro SHIGEYAMA is a family name of Kyogen Okura-ryu (comic actors of Okura school) and the name of the head of the Sengoro Shigeyama family.
The Shigeyama family has been performing kyogen in Kyoto since the early Edo period and from the ninth generation, the name of the leader has been 'Sengoro.'
The current leader is the thirteenth.
The Ninth
Sengoro SHIGEYAMA the Ninth, Masatora (June 18, 1810-May 11, 1886) was a Kyogen performer in the late Edo period and the early Meiji period. He was also known as Sengo, Sensaku SHIGEYAMA the First.
Sengoro was born as a child of 佐々木甚兵衛浄喜, kimono fabrics dealer, and was first called Chuzaburo. He became a disciple of Kyuzo Hidemasa SHIGEYAMA at the age of eight and was adopted three years later. He was summoned at Imperial Palace in 1821 and performed. In the same year, however, his foster father passed away. It was doubtful that 12-year-old Sengoro could succeed to the Shigeyama family. Sengoro, under the guardianship of the iemoto, or the head of the Okura school in Edo, who ｗas in the direct lineage, kept on training. At the age of 16, Sengoro returned to Kyoto on command of the iemoto to revive the Shigeyama family. He became an official business of the Hikone clan in 1837. He was treated as an important person by Naosuke II who later became the lord of the same clan. He also returned to the official business of the Imperial Palace and thus successfully revived the Shigeyama family. Even during the chaotic period after the Meiji Restoration, he worked hard to protect traditional kyogen performance in Kyoto.
The 10th
Sengoro Masashige SHIGEYAMA, the 10th (October 27, 1864-February 5, 1950)
Third son of the Ninth. His real name was Ichizo. In 1888, he succeeded to the name Sengoro Masashige SHIGEYAMA, the 10th and in 1946, Sensaku SHIGEYAMA, the Second.
The 11th
(August 30, 1896-July 19, 1986)
His real name was Masakazu. In 1946, he succeeded to the name Sengoro SHIGEYAMA, the 11th and in 1966, Sensaku SHIGEYAMA, the Third. He was designated as the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1976.
The 12th
(December 28, 1919-)
First son of the 11th. His real name is Shime. In 1966, he succeeded to the name Sengoro SHIGEYAMA, the 12th and in 1994, Sensaku SHIGEYAMA, the Fourth. He was designated as the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) in 1989.
The 13th
(July 6, 1945-)
First son of the 12th. His real name is Masayoshi. In 1994, he succeeded the name Sengoro SHIGEYAMA, the 13th. He serves as the present head of the family.