Otani Takejiro

Bust of Ôtani Takejirô at Kabuki-za

• Born: 1877/12/13
• Died: 1969/12/27
• Japanese: 大谷竹次郎 (Ootani Takejirou)

Ôtani Takejirô was one of the founders of the Shôchiku corporation along with his twin brother Shiroi Matsujirô. Shôchiku today runs all professional kabuki theaters, and a major nationwide chain of movie theaters.

Born in Kyoto in 1877, he was involved in theatre from a young age, becoming the head of the Kyoto Sakai-za theater in 1895. In 1902, he and his brother Matsujirô founded the Matsutake company, combining their names to form the new company name. The company would later be renamed Shôchiku, using the on-yomi readings of the same kanji characters.

Ôtani moved to Tokyo in 1910, and soon acquired the Shintomi-za, Hongô-za, and Meiji-za. In 1914, he obtained the promotional rights to the Kabuki-za. He was later awarded the Order of Culture.

1877－1969　明治-昭和時代の実業家。 明治10年12月13日生まれ。父の跡をついで興行界にはいり,京都歌舞伎座を経営。明治35年兄白井松次郎と松竹合名社を設立。昭和12年松竹社長。第二次大戦後の演劇,映画の復興につくし,とくに歌舞伎,文楽,新派の伝統芸能の保護につとめた。昭和30年文化勲章。昭和44年12月27日死去。92歳。京都出身。

References

• Plaque on bust at Kabuki-za.
• "Ôtani Takejirô," Britannica kokusai daihyakka jiten, Britannica Japan, 2014.
• "Ôtani Takejirô," Nihon jinmei daijiten, Kodansha, 2009.