Otsuki Bunzo (大槻文蔵)
Bunzo OTSUKI (September 25, 1942 -) is a Noh actor of the Kanze school of shite-kata (lead actors). He is currently a leading Noh actor in the Kansai region.
He was born in Osaka as the eldest son of Hideo OTSUKI. He was apprenticed to his grandfather Juzo OTSUKI, his father Hideo OTSUKI, Hisao KANZE, and Tetsunojo KANZE the Eighth. He made his debut as a player of a child's part in "Kurama Tengu" (The Goblin of Kurama) in 1947. He played his firsrt starring role in "Shojo" (The Tippling Elf) in 1930. He performed "Sagi" (The White Heron) in 1950, "Dojoji" (Dojo-ji Temple) in 1957, "Mochizuki" (The Full Moon) in 1969, "Koi no Omoni" (The Burden of Love) in 1982, "Sotoba Komachi" (Komachi on the Gravepost) in 1989, "Tomonaga - Senbo" (The Warrior Tomonaga - Penitence) in 1990, and "Higaki" (The Dead Hedge) in 1998.
He is devoted to introducing Fukkyoku Noh (revived pieces) and Shinsaku Noh (new pieces); he revived "Matsura Sayohime" (The Tragedy of Princess Matsura Sayohime) in 1985, "Karukaya" (The Karukaya) in 1986, "Tadatsu no Saemon" (Saemon in Tadatsu) in 1987, "Koremori" in 1988, "U no ha" (Cormorant Plumes) in 1991, "Shikiji Monogurui" (a mad person play) in 1907, "Kanemaki" (original form of Dojoji) in 2000, and "Nagara" (The Nagara-no-hashi Bridge) in 2001. In 1999, he gave many Noh performances of new pieces such as "Kawazu ga Numa," "Togan Boto," "Kassui Ryunyo," and "Nukata no Okimi" (Princess Nukata).
He received the Yomiuri Play Award (Excellence Actor Award), in 1997; the Excellence Award of Arts Festival by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Hosei University Noh Drama Prize in Memory of Kanze Hisao in 1998; the Osaka Arts Award, the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts in 1999; the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2002; and the grand prize of the Osaka Culture Festival Award of Osaka City, the Osaka Stage Arts Award of Osaka Prefecture in 2006.
Director of the Association for Japanese Noh Plays; Manager of the Osaka branch, the Nohgaku Performers' Association; Vice-Chairman of the Osaka Nohgaku Training Facility; and Chief Director of the Otsuki Noh Theatre.