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名題役者 (なだいやくしゃ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

名な題だい役やく者しゃ

な

だ

い

や

く

しゃ

Meanings

1

noun

chief actor in kabuki; star actor; leading actor of a troupe

Refers to a top-billed actor in kabuki, often the star or one of the leading performers of a troupe. The term is specific to the kabuki world.

彼かれは若わかくして名な題だい役やく者しゃに昇しょう進しんした。
He was promoted to chief actor at a young age.
名な題だい役やく者しゃの演えん技ぎ

は

さすが

に

素す

晴ば

らしかっ

た

。

The performance of the star actor was truly magnificent, as expected.

Kanji

名name, noted, distinguished
題topic, subject
役duty, war, campaign
者someone, person

Similar words

座ざ頭がしら
座頭 is the head or leader of a kabuki troupe, while 名題役者 specifically refers to a top-billed actor, not necessarily the troupe leader.
立たち役やく
立役 is a general term for a male lead role in kabuki, whereas 名題役者 emphasizes the actor's billing and status within the troupe.

Etymology

名題 (nadai) refers to the name board or billing, and 役者 (yakusha) means actor. The term originally designated an actor whose name was listed on the theater's signboard, indicating top billing.