Kikugorō VII's 1973-1974 Name-Taking Ceremony and the Otowaya Family Art

[@成田大知-b8y]

この襲名披露を特集した『演劇界』を持っておりますが、昭和の名優が綺羅、星の如くあり、圧巻です。

[@dalesnow1707]

question, how did kikugoro became the successor if he's not the son of his predecessor?

[@karloantoniogalaydavid6397]

If I'm not mistaken, Kikugoro VII's father was Baiko VII, adopted son of Kikugoro VI. Kikugoro VI had a son, Kuroemon, but he had a short career and did seem interested in pursuing it. Blood ties are not the only factor which influence inheritance of names, the transmission of skill plays an even bigger part.

[@KabukiInDepth]

Well, he was the adoptive (according to the rumors, biological) grandson of Kikugorō VI, as his father, Onoe Baikō VII, son of a geisha from Asakusa, was adopted into the Kikugorō family. Kikugorō VI's legitimate son, Onoe Kurōemon II, dedicated himself mostly to promote kabuki outside Japan, and only played minor roles during his brief acting career, so the name was given to Baikō VII's son. I'm sure the family politics are quite more complicated than that, but I think that's the gist of it.

[@dalesnow1707]

@@KabukiInDepth Thank you guys!