Overview
- Shochiku confirmed on July 17 that kataoka gato died of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital on May 11 at the age of 90.
- He was the eldest son of the 13th kataoka nizaemon and succeeded to the name of fifth Gato in 1971, continuing his family’s multi-generational kabuki lineage.
- He made his stage debut in 1940 and earned acclaim for his rich voice and versatility across roles ranging from aging characters to villains within the distinctive Kamigata style.
- His family held a private funeral following Shochiku’s announcement, with ceremony details kept confidential.
- The kabuki community has begun tributes highlighting his efforts to revive classical Kamigata works and preserve traditional performance forms.