Kataoka Nizaemon XII was a kabuki actor known for his long, prestigious career and violent death.

Kataoka Tokichi was born into a kabuki family and three of his own sons followed in his footsteps. When he first took the stage at the age of only three, he was known by his birth name. However, he took on many stage names throughout the course of his career. In January 1936, he took on the name Nizaemon in a grand kabuki naming ceremony. He came to specialise in onnagata—or female—roles and those of graceful gentlemen.

On March 16, 1946, during the unrest following Japan's defeat in the second world war, sixty-five-year-old Kataoka Nixaemon XII was murdered by Toshiaki Iida, a writer living on his property. The two had clashed that day as Nizaemon was living lavishly while Iida starved post-war. In the end, Iida killed Nizaemon, his wife, infant son and two maids with a hatchet.

(Source: kisskh) Edit Biography