Why Ennosuke Refused His Return to Princess Mononoke—And Why Young Star Kankō Faces Huge Expectations

On July 3, the Super Kabuki production “Princess Mononoke” will open at the Shinbashi Enbujō Theater in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward. However, two people who would normally have been expected to be there will be absent.

One is the second-generation Ichikawa Ennosuke, who passed away in September 2023 at the age of 83. He was a legend of the Omodakaya school and the creator of Super Kabuki, which he launched with “Yamato Takeru” in 1986.

The other is the fourth-generation Ichikawa Sarunosuke (50). In June 2023, he was arrested on suspicion of assisting his parents’ suicides and was later given a guilty verdict, receiving a three-year prison sentence suspended for five years. He is still serving his probation period.

According to people involved with the production, Sarunosuke had not intended to participate in “Princess Mononoke” from the beginning.

“Sarunosuke reportedly said, ‘If I am involved, it may affect Danjō-kun’s (Ichikawa Dankō’s) big moment.’ It was not simply a matter of whether his name would appear publicly. He felt he should avoid even being present at rehearsals.”

“He worried that his involvement might damage the reputation of Super Kabuki itself.”

— A Shochiku insider

The greatest possible source of wisdom

The role of the protagonist Ashitaka is played by the fifth-generation Ichikawa Dankō. Nakamura Kazutarō (35) plays San, while Okkotonushi is portrayed by Dankō’s father, Ichikawa Chūsha (60), who is also Sarunosuke’s cousin. The production will run for approximately two months, until August 23.

For this landmark production celebrating the 40th anniversary of Super Kabuki, Sarunosuke has chosen to keep his distance.

Sarunosuke has been highly praised within the industry not only as a performer but also as a director. In particular, his ability to adapt original works into Kabuki—his deep understanding of source material and his ability to translate it into Kabuki’s unique theatrical language—has been considered exceptional.

“He is extremely knowledgeable and has a deep understanding of everything from the history of Kabuki and classical theater to modern staging techniques. When he says just one thing in rehearsal, like ‘This part would work better this way,’ the entire production improves dramatically.”

“For Dankō, he must have been the most reliable person he could have asked for.”

— A member of the Omodakaya school

Chūsha and Dankō reportedly asked Sarunosuke:

“Please lend us your wisdom.”

They desperately wanted even a small amount of guidance from him—simply sitting in the corner of the rehearsal room and offering a few words of advice would have been enough. However, Sarunosuke firmly declined and never changed his mind.

Ken Yokouchi of the theater company Tobiraza, who is directing “Princess Mononoke,” wrote the following on his blog on January 1 this year:

“The fourth-generation [Sarunosuke] is still quietly spending his days reflecting on his actions and making amends. Unfortunately, he will not be participating in this challenge. The time has not yet come.”

Yokouchi is said to have continued meeting Sarunosuke occasionally since the incident to discuss theater. He described Sarunosuke as knowledgeable and precise, and even wrote that he wished Sarunosuke could be present at rehearsals as a source of wisdom.

It was fascinating

What deserves attention is that the person who made it possible to adapt “Princess Mononoke” into a Super Kabuki production was none other than Ennosuke’s own work. Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, who was invited by “ONE PIECE” creator Eiichiro Oda to watch the first performance of Ennosuke’s “Super Kabuki II ONE PIECE,” explained the process behind the decision at a production announcement press conference on June 5 with a simple remark:

“It was fascinating.”

Bringing one of Studio Ghibli’s greatest masterpieces into the world of Kabuki was a decision that would normally invite hesitation. What convinced Suzuki was that production.

“What moved Mr. Suzuki was ‘ONE PIECE,’ directed by Mr. Ennosuke. It perfectly combined respect for the original work with Kabuki techniques. He thought, ‘If they can do something like that, perhaps ‘Princess Mononoke’ could become something incredible as well.’ There is no doubt that Mr. Ennosuke is the key figure behind this project.”
—A Studio Ghibli insider

When Suzuki learned that Yokouchi, who had written the script for “ONE PIECE,” would be handling the direction, he reportedly immediately approved it, saying:

“I have no objections. Go ahead and do it.”

“Without ‘ONE PIECE,’ Mr. Suzuki would never have moved forward. ‘Princess Mononoke’ would never have become Kabuki.”
—A Kabuki industry insider

At the aforementioned production announcement, the first thing lead actor Ichikawa Danko spoke about was his grandfather.

“Super Kabuki was created by my grandfather, the second-generation Ichikawa Enno, with the belief that he wanted to convey the appeal of Kabuki to modern audiences. This will be the first new Super Kabuki production created without my grandfather being present.”

Super Kabuki is the spirit of the Omodaka-ya school—created by second-generation Enno and elevated onto the world stage by fourth-generation Ennosuke. At just 22 years old, Danko now carries that enormous legacy on his shoulders alone.

“Danko is serious and hardworking. However, he only graduated from university in March and is just 22 years old. Even Ennosuke himself did not lead a Super Kabuki production as the main star at that age. Nakamura Ichitaro, who is appearing alongside him, has reportedly told those around him, ‘I want to support Danko with everything I have.’”
—A Shochiku insider

The pressure he faces is impossible to measure. Yet the insider added:

“Precisely because Ennosuke is not there now, Danko has the opportunity to show his own style. If Ennosuke had been in the rehearsal room, it inevitably would have become ‘Ennosuke’s style.’ It is difficult, but for Danko, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The creation of Super Kabuki by second-generation Ichikawa Enno, the innovations of fourth-generation Ichikawa Ennosuke, and the hopes placed on a young 22-year-old performer—the history of the Omodaka-ya school is about to enter a new chapter. On July 3, the curtain rises at the Shinbashi Enbujo Theater, offering the first glimpse of what that future will look like.