“To Be Smeared with Mud”… The Reason Why Sarunosuke, the Lead Actor in Super Kabuki’s *Princess Mononoke*, Declined the Role, and the Pressure on the Lead Actress, Dango

On July 3, the Super Kabuki production *Princess Mononoke* will open at the Shimbashi Enbujo Theater (Chuo Ward) in Tokyo. However, two people who should have been there are missing—

One is Ichikawa En’ō II, who passed away in September 2023 at the age of 83. He was the legendary figure of the Omodakaya troupe who founded Super Kabuki with the 1986 production of *Yamato Takeru*. The other is Ichikawa Ennosuke IV (50).In June 2023, he was arrested on charges of aiding his parents’ suicide and received a guilty verdict of three years in prison, suspended for five years. He is currently still serving his suspended sentence.

According to sources, Ennosuke had no intention of participating in *Princess Mononoke* from the outset.

“Mr. Ennosuke reportedly said, ‘My presence would overshadow the big moment for [lead actor] Dango-kun (22).’ It wasn’t just about whether his name would appear in the credits; he felt he should even refrain from being in the rehearsal hall. He was worried that it might bring disgrace to Super Kabuki,” said a Shochiku insider.

“The Ultimate Source of Wisdom”

The protagonist, Ashitaka, is played by Ichikawa Dango V. Ichikawa Ichitaro (35) plays San, and Dango’s father—who is also Ennosuke’s cousin—Ichikawa Nakashin (60) plays Okotonushi. The production will run for about two months, through August 23.

Yet Sarunosuke is deliberately keeping his distance from this landmark production celebrating the 40th anniversary of Super Kabuki. Sarunosuke has earned an impeccable reputation within the industry not only as an actor but also as a director.In particular, his “deep understanding of the source material” and his ability to “translate it into the language of Kabuki” when adapting literary works for the stage are second to none.

“He is highly knowledgeable and well-versed in everything from Kabuki history to classical theater and contemporary directing. Just by saying a single word in the rehearsal hall—‘It would be better to do it this way here’—the performance improves dramatically. For Dango, he must have been the most ‘reliable presence’ imaginable,” said a source close to Sawara-ya.

Nakaguruma and Dango reportedly pleaded with Ennosuke, asking, “Please lend us the wisdom of the Fourth Generation.” They earnestly hoped he would simply sit in a corner of the rehearsal hall and offer a word of advice—but Ennosuke firmly declined and never agreed to their request.

Kensuke Yokouchi (Theater Company Tobiraza), who is directing *Princess Mononoke*, wrote the following in his blog on January 1 of this year:

“The Fourth Generation continues to spend his days quietly in reflection and atonement. Unfortunately, he will not be joining us for this challenge. That time has not yet come.”

Yokouchi says that even after the incident, he has continued to meet with Ennosuke from time to time to discuss theater; he describes Ennosuke as “erudite and insightful,” and even writes that he would like to have him in the rehearsal hall as a “fountain of wisdom” if possible.

“It was really interesting, wasn’t it?”

What’s noteworthy is that it was none other than Ennosuke’s work that made the Super Kabuki adaptation of *Princess Mononoke* possible.Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, who was invited by Eiichiro Oda, the author of the manga *ONE PIECE*, to attend the opening night of *Super Kabuki II: ONE PIECE*, directed by Ennosuke, described the circumstances in these concise words at the production announcement press conference on June 5:

“It was just so entertaining.”

Handing over one of Ghibli’s masterpieces to Kabuki—it was this production that led Mr. Suzuki to make a decision that would normally be met with hesitation.

“What moved Mr. Suzuki was the *One Piece* directed by Ennosuke. It was a magnificent fusion of respect for the original work and Kabuki technique. He thought, ‘If they can pull that off, *Princess Mononoke* might turn out interesting too.’ Ennosuke is undoubtedly the driving force behind this project,” said a Ghibli insider.

Upon learning that Yokouchi—who had written the script for *One Piece*—would be directing, Mr. Suzuki reportedly made an immediate decision, saying, “I have no complaints whatsoever. Please go ahead with that.”

“If it weren’t for *One Piece*, Mr. Suzuki probably wouldn’t have been persuaded. *Princess Mononoke* likely wouldn’t have been adapted into a Kabuki play,” said a Kabuki insider.

At the aforementioned production announcement press conference, lead actress Dango began by expressing her feelings toward her grandfather.

“Super Kabuki was founded by my grandfather, Ichikawa En’ō II, who risked his life to realize his vision of ‘conveying the appeal of Kabuki to modern audiences.’ This will be the first new Super Kabuki production since my grandfather’s passing.”

Super Kabuki embodies the spirit of Sawagoya—a legacy created by the second-generation En’ō and propelled onto the world stage by the fourth-generation Ennosuke. At 22, Dango must shoulder that weighty legacy all by herself.

“Dango is serious and hardworking. But he’s a 22-year-old who just graduated from college in March. Not even Ennosuke had taken on the lead role in Super Kabuki at this age. I’ve heard that his co-star, Ichitaro (Nakamura), has been telling those around him, ‘I want to support Dango with all my might,’” said a Shochiku official.

The pressure is immeasurable. Even so, this source adds:

“It is precisely because Ennosuke isn’t here now that Dango can bring out his ‘own style.’ If he were in the rehearsal hall, it would inevitably become ‘the Ennosuke style.’ It’s a struggle, but for Dango, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The legacy founded by Ichikawa En’ō II, the innovations of Ichikawa Ennosuke IV, and the expectations placed on this young 22-year-old—how will the history of Sawagaya be etched into the annals? On July 3, a glimpse of the answer will be revealed when the curtain rises at the Shimbashi Enbujo Theater.