View source for Iwai Hanshiro VI

[[Image:Iwai-hanshiro6.jpg|right|thumb|500px|Memorial portrait of Iwai Hanshirô VI by [[Utagawa Kunisada]]. [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].]]
*''Born: [[1799]]''
*''Died: [[1836]]/4/8''
*''Other Names'': 二代目岩井粂三郎 ''(nidaime Iwai Kumesaburou)'', 初代目岩井久二郎 ''(shodaime Iwai Hisajirou)''
*''Japanese'': 六代目岩井半四郎 ''(rokudaime Iwai Hanshirou)''

Iwai Hanshirô VI was a prominent ''[[onnagata]]'' of the early 19th century. He was particularly known for playing multiple roles in a single performance. He fell ill and died during one such performance, in which he was playing 15 roles in one play.

==Names==
Like most kabuki actors, and many artists, of his time, Hanshirô had a number of names over the course of his career. He was the sixth actor to hold the name [[Iwai Hanshiro|Hanshirô]]. Prior to that, he was the first [[Iwai Hisajiro|Iwai Hisajirô]], and the second [[Iwai Kumesaburo|Iwai Kumesaburô]]. He was also known by the nickname Kumesa Hanshirô.

Hanshirô's ''[[yago|yagô]]'' (guild name) was [[Yamatoya]]. In poetry circles, he used the names Baiga and Shûka.

==Lineage==
Hanshirô VI was the son of the [[Iwai Hanshiro V|fifth Iwai Hanshirô]], and grandson of [[Iwai Hanshiro IV|Iwai Hanshirô IV]]. His maternal grandfather was [[Sawamura Sojuro III|Sawamura Sôjûrô III]], who in turn was the son of [[Sawamura Sojuro II|Sawamura Sôjûrô II]].

Hanshirô's brother followed him in taking that name, becoming [[Iwai Hanshiro VII|Iwai Hanshirô VII]].

==Life and Career==
Hanshirô made his stage debut at the age of 5 in [[1804]]/11, at the [[Nakamura-za]], under the name Iwai Hisajirô I. He [[shumei|took the name]] Kumesaburô II in [[1812]]/11, at the [[Ichimura-za]].

By the [[1822]]-[[1823]] season, he had earned the position of lead ''onnagata'' in the troupe. Three years later, he performed in the debut of [[Tsuruya Nanboku IV]]'s ''[[Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan|Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan]]''.

Kumesaburô took the name Hanshirô in [[1832]]/11, in a grand ''shûmei'' where his father and [[Iwai Hanshiro VIII|nephew]], among others, also took new names.

He fell ill during the month of [[1836]]/2, during a run at the [[Morita-za]] of the play ''Sugawara-ryû Kanagaki Soga''. The play combined the [[sekai|worlds]] of ''[[Kanadehon Chushingura|Kanadehon Chûshingura]]'', ''[[Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami]]'', and ''[[Soga Monogatari]]''; in it, Hanshirô played fifteen roles. This was to be his final stage appearance. He died two months later, on 1836/4/8, and was buried at the temple [[Joshin-ji|Jôshin-ji]] in [[Edo]]'s [[Fukagawa]] district.

==References==
*"[http://metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/60049586?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=2009.23&pos=1 Memorial Portrait of Iwai Hanshirô VI]." Utagawa Kunisada, 1836. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/3827587477/sizes/l/in/photostream/ Gallery label]. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession number 2009.23.
*"[http://www.kabuki21.com/hanshiro6.php Iwai Hanshirô VI]." Kabuki21.com.

[[Category:Artists and Artisans]]
[[Category:Edo Period]]