Kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro, known for his portrayals of attractive females as well as male roles, died of heart failure Friday morning at an Osaka hospital, his family said. He was 67.
The ninth Sojuro, whose real name was Juichi Sawamura, was scheduled to appear in a production Jan. 2 at the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo but had to cancel his performance due to a sudden illness.
Sojuro, a native of Tokyo and son of the eighth Sawamura Sojuro, made his debut in 1941 at the Kabukiza theater.
He also appeared on screen in samurai dramas between 1960 and 1963 after joining film producer Toei Co.
After making a comeback on the Kabuki stage, he played various roles in both classic and modern plays and gained popularity for his old-fashioned and vivid style of acting.