Kabuki actor. Born in Osaka as the son of Tokoyama (theater hair-dresser). After studying under the tutorship of Kodanji Ichikawa IV, he was adopted into the family in 1864 and started to use the name of Sadanji Ichikawa. Backed by Mokuami Kawatake, he played Chuya Marubashi in 1870 in "Keian taiheiki," a new production that was favorably reviewed. He was called "Dankikusa", together with Danjuro Ichikawa IX and Kikugoro Onoe V, who both performed around the same time. In 1893, he established the Meijiza (Meiji theater), serving as its Zato (head).