Sennojo Shigeyama

Sennojo Shigeyama

Sennojo Shigeyama is a Kyogen actor and director born in Kyoto in 1923 as the second son of the late Sensaku Shigeyama III. He was apprenticed under his grandfather, Sensaku Shigeyama II. He inherited the name Sennojo II in 1946. In 1948 he broke the Noh/Kyogen world taboo against working with artists from other arts genre and did radio dramas with other artists. He participated in the theater movement to revitalize Kabuki and other Japanese theater forms led by the director Tetsuji Takechi. He has performed in Kabuki, Shingeki (Modern Theater), films and TV dramas and earned a reputation as the Maverick of the Kyogen World. He has also directed revival productions of eliminated Kyogen pieces and new Kyogen plays, opera and Shingeki in his highly diversified activities. His son Akira and grandson Doji are also Kyogen actors.