Hirotada Kamei

Hirotada Kamei

Born in 1974, Hirotada Kamei is the first son of Tadao Kamei, Noh otsuzumi master of the Kadono school, and his wife, Sataro Tanaka, the 12th-generation head of the Tanaka school of Kabuki and Nagauta hayashikata . After his first performance on the Noh stage in 1982 in the play Kappo , he performed not only hayashi but child roles in a number of plays. Until now he has performed otsuzumi in numerous Noh plays including Ishibashi , Rangyoku , Okina , Dojoji , Sagi , Sotoba komachi , Tokusa and Higaki . He has participated in overseas performances in France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and the countries of Africa as well. He has also composed numerous new Noh plays and revivals of old plays. In 2003, he was awarded the Encouragement Prize of the 18th Victor Traditional Arts Promotion Foundation Awards, and in 2007 he received the 14th Japanese Traditional Cultural Contribution Award. He is the leader of the “Sankyokai,” “Keikokai” and the “Hirotada no Kai.” He also serves as an instructor at the National Noh Theatre and the National Theatre’s training programs.