Indeed, the surprise guest really surprised everyone including Daigoro himself. Umezawa Tomio was something really surprising. No wonder Daigoro smiles like there is no end.
Show in Hiroshima Backstage: Daigoro with the Taishu Engeki icon, Umezawa Tomio.
Umezawa in his prime.
Umezawa Tomio is one of the most popular Taishu Engeki actors in the last two decades. He gained popularity in the 80's and had repeatedly appeared on Television dramas, TV movies, music and etc. Like Daigoro, he is a professional enka singer. Umezawa is the modern icon for the Taishu engeki actor and an onnagata. He is surely a good sempai that Dai-chan can look up to.
Here's a small bio on Umezawa:
Present, Vice-chairman of Umezawa Takeo Gekidan (梅沢武生劇団).
His father (late Kiyoshi Umezawa), was the chairman of the popular theater “Kengeki (剣劇)”, as well as a big star in the post-war popular theater prosperity period, becoming the top performer filling up theaters such as Asakusa “Tokiwaza (常盤座)” with many people. His mother was from Musume Kabuki (娘歌舞伎). Umezawa Takeo Gekidan specializes in parodies of Kabuki repertoires, tailoring shows like a musical, and reviewing. (Adding the “Show-style” performances of Fumio Umezawa, stages were performed in three parts.)
Currently, members of the Umezawa Takeo Gekidan number up to fifty, eldest son “Takefu” as chairman, with majority of eight siblings as members of the “family troupe”. Within the show, Fumio Umezawa plays from a handsome man’s role to a comedian, and even to a dancing glossy women’s role. In recent years he has energetically appeared on TV, winning the hearts of a wide age range from kids to adults.
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