Ichikawa Ennosuke, a Japanese Kabuki actor who performed in kabuki plays for One Piece and Naruto was sentenced to three years of suspended jail time for encouraging his parents to commit suicide. The 47-year-old Ennosuke, whose real name is Kinoshi Takahiko, received his sentence from the Tokyo District Court on Friday. He was charged with giving his mother and father, Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danshiro, sleeping pills in May, which caused their deaths.
The trio was discovered unconscious at their Tokyo residence. The bodies were discovered by Ennosuke’s manager at their Tokyo residence on May 18 at approximately 10:15 a.m. Ennosuke’s parents had already passed away, but he was discovered to be “conscious but in a hazy condition” and brought to the hospital.
Prosecutors think it was a component of a suicide pact among family members. Citing Ennosuke’s major contribution to his parents’ deaths, the prosecution requested a three-year prison sentence. Kenji Yasunaga, the presiding judge, referred to the 47-year-old’s choice to aid in the suicide as “short-sighted.”
Ichikawa Ennosuke Was Full of Regret
An article that was published on May 18 accused Ennosuke of sexual harassment and bullying within his theatre collective, which prompted him to consider suicide and served as the impetus for this tragic incident. “A weekly magazine report prompted us to hold a family meeting, and we decided to say goodbye,” Ennosuke reportedly told an investigative source, according to The Mainichi.
Ennosuke acknowledged the accusations during his trial and expressed regret, stating that he was “full of regret.” Monday, 20th November marked the official issuance of Ennosuke’s sentence, and neither the prosecution nor the defense will file an appeal. The film and entertainment company Shochiku, which has presented multiple kabuki productions with Ichikawa, stated that no decision has been made regarding his theatrical comeback.
As per the verdict, Ennosuke informed his parents that he planned to commit suicide as soon as he learned about the upcoming magazine article. His parents initially advised him against carrying out the plan, but after further discussion, they decided to die together, according to the report.
Ichikawa Ennosuke’s Career in Kabuki Industry
At the age of five, Ennosuke made his stage debut in the kabuki production Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura as the young emperor Antoku. Over his career, in addition to his dance repertory, he gained recognition for his roles as tachiyaku and onnagata.
Ennosuke debuted on television in 2007 as Takeda Shingen in the taiga drama Fūrin Kazan. Subsequently, he was chosen for significant supporting parts in popular dramas like Ryōmaden, Naoki Hanzawa, and The 13 Lords of the Shogun.
Under the stage name Ichikawa Danshiro, his father performed in Kabuki as well. Ennosuke has appeared in One Piece and Naruto Kabuki plays. Additionally, he starred in the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan live-action miniseries. In 2024, he announced that he would be working on a production based on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Source: Anime News Network
