成田屋市川團十郎の書と絵画（成田山書道美術館） Naritaya Ichikawa Danjuro's Calligraphy and Paintings (Naritasan Museum of Calligraphy)

歌舞伎の初代団十郎の父は成田で生まれたとされ、それが縁で代々団十郎と成田山は繋がりがあった。

十三代目団十郎の襲名を記念して、成田山の境内にある書道美術館において、成田山に残されている代々の団十郎が書いた書画や手紙などがまとめて展示されていた。

江戸時代に活躍した団十郎たちは、単なる歌舞伎役者という枠を超えて、当時の文化人たちと合流して自ら書画などを描いていた。

七代目団十郎に関する展示が多かった。七代目は絵師の酒井抱一などとも交流しており、その生活はかなり華やかで派手なものであったようだ。

七代目はそうした贅沢暮らしを咎められて江戸を追放された。続く八代目は女役が高く評価されていたが、突然、謎の自殺を遂げた。名門を守り続けた団十郎たちの苦労はいかばかりであったろうか。

当代の団十郎は、若い頃から派手なプライベートが取り上げられたりしてきたが、その裏には伝統を引き継ぐという大きなプレッシャーがあったのかもしれない。

これからの団十郎たちは、日本の文化にどんな影響を与えていくのだろうか。

It is said that the father of the first Kabuki actor Danjuro was born in Narita, and because of this, there has been a connection between Danjuro and Naritasan for generations.

In commemoration of the succession to the name of the 13th Danjuro, calligraphy and paintings and letters written by Danjuro for generations left in Naritasan were exhibited at the calligraphy museum in the precincts of Naritasan.

Danjuro and others who were active in the Edo period went beyond the framework of mere kabuki actors and drew calligraphy and paintings by joining with the intellectuals of the time.

There were many exhibits related to Danjuro VII. The VII also interacted with the painter Hoitsu Sakai and others, and it seems that his life was quite glamorous and flashy.

The VII was expelled from Edo after being accused of such a luxurious lifestyle. The subsequent VIII was highly praised for his female roles, but he suddenly and mysteriously committed suicide. I wonder how hard it must have been for Danjuro and his friends to protect the prestigious family.

The current Danjuro has had his flashy private life taken up since he was young, but there may have been a lot of pressure behind it to carry on the tradition.

What kind of influence will Danjuro and his friends have on Japanese culture in the future?