Onnagata: The Making of a Woman

A Demonstration and Performance by

Mr. Onoe Umenosuke

 About Onnagata

Onnagata appeared after the government banned women from the kabuki stage in 1629. Transforming on stage from a man into a beautiful woman, Mr. Onoe performed the traditional Japanese kabuki dance Ayame (Iris), which features the use of a janome-gasa (paper umbrella).

 Biography: Mr. Onoe Umenosuke

Born April 11, 1949, in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Umenosuke’s legal name is ASANO Haruo. He attended the local public schools and as a high school student was enamored by the performance of the kabuki actor ONOE Kikugoro in the historical television drama, “Minamoto no Yoshitsune,” and decided to become a kabuki “onnagata” (actor specializing in female roles). Upon graduating from high school in 1968, he went to Tokyo and joined the troupe led by ONOE Baiko (a Living National Treasure). As a disciple of Baiko’s, he inherited the name ONOE Umenosuke.

His first performance as a professional actor was in January 1969, at the Kabuki-za theater in Tokyo, and he has been a regular performer with the Grand Kabuki ever since. In addition to his 33-year career performing all over Japan, Umenosuke has performed in the United States (first in October 1969), the Republic of Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, India, Nepal, France, Spain, and Austria. He has also participated in numerous summer kabuki workshops at the University of Hawaii.