was one of the most successful and famous Kabuki actors of the Meiji period (1868âÂÂ1912).
Ninth in the line of actors to hold the name Ichikawa Danjà «rà Â, he is depicted in countless ukiyo-e actor prints (yakusha-e), and is widely credited with ensuring Kabuki stayed vibrant and strong as Japan struggled with modernization and Westernization.
According to Zoë Kincaid, <blockquote> Danjà «rà Â, the ninth, was the bridge that spanned the sudden gulf which yawned between the traditional past and the uncertain and changing modern world. He may be regarded as the saviour of Kabuki during a period when it might have suffered shipwreck, had there not been a man of genius at the helm to guide the craft through the troubled waters. </blockquote>
Like most Kabuki actors, Danjà «rà  IX was called by a number of different stage names at different points in his career. "Ichikawa Danjà «rà Â" is traditionally a name earned at the climax of one's career, and kept until retirement. Prior to being granted that name, he was known as Kawarasaki Sanshà Â, Kawarasaki Gonnosuke VII, Kawarasaki Gonjà «rà  I, Kawarasaki Chà Âjà «rà  III, and Ichikawa Jukai II.
Fifth son of Ichikawa Danjà «rà  VII, Danjà «rà  was a direct descendant of the first to hold the name Ichikawa Danjà «rà Â. He had six brothers in Kabuki: Danjà «rà  VIII, Ebizà  VII, Ebizà  VIII, Ichikawa Komazà  VI, Ichikawa Saruzà  I, and Ichikawa Kà Âzà Â. He was adopted by Kawarazaki Gonnosuke VI, and was the father-in-law of Ichikawa Danjà «rà  X. Danjuro had two daughters, Ichikawa Suisen II and Ichikawa Kyokubai II, and a granddaughter, Ichikawa Suisen III. Though women were banned from performing in kabuki, they took part in the theater, playing very minor roles and as stagehands.
Born in 1838, in Edo's Sakai district, the fifth son of Ichikawa Danjà «rà  VII, his parents were not legally married. He was adopted by Kawarasaki Gonnosuke VI, the head of the Kawarazaki-za theater, where he would begin his acting career. His debut was in January 1845, at the age of seven, and he was given the name Kawarasaki Chà Âjà «rà  III. Just over ten years later, in October 1855, the Kawarasaki-za and much of the city of Edo was destroyed in the Ansei earthquake. Now known as Kawarasaki Gonjà «rà  I, the actor began performing at the Ichimura-za. There, he would play Benkei for the first time in July 1859, a few months after the death of his biological father.
Gonjà «rà  continued performing at the Ichimura-za for many years. In September 1868, his adoptive father was killed by a thief; Gonjà «rà  would become head (zagashira) of the theater the following year, taking his murdered father's name, and becoming Kawarasaki Gonnosuke VII. Later that year, Gonnosuke would play the leading role of Katà  Kiyomasa in Momoyama Monogatari. This play was an early predecessor of an experimental form which would come to be called katsureki (æ´»æ´). Gonnosuke would later seek to develop and popularize katsureki plays, which sought to reproduce historical events as accurately as possible. In 1874, Gonnosuke, now known as Kawarasaki Sanshà Â, began managing and performing once more at the now-rebuilt and reopened Kawarasaki-za. At the reopening ceremony, or perhaps shortly afterwards, he took the honored name Ichikawa Danjà «rà  IX, which had not been held for twenty years. Danjà «rà  gave up managing the following year, however, and toured for six years in the provinces of Kozuke and Shimotsuke.
He returned to Edo (now Tokyo) in 1881, and performed for Emperor Meiji at the house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, along with the celebrated actors Onoe Kikugorà  V and Ichikawa Sadanji I, in April 1887. Two years later, in November 1889, he became zagashira (head) of the newly opened Kabuki-za, which is today the principal Kabuki theater in Japan. Unquestionably one of the top actors of the time, Danjà «rà  performed in the premieres of many plays at the Kabuki-za, and took part in a number of other events of import. By this point, he also had his daughters performing on stage, as kuroko (stagehands) and in very minor roles. In 1893, he performed at the grand opening ceremonies for the Meiji-za theater.
Along with Onoe Kikugorà  V, he was very likely the first kabuki actor to appear in a film. Momijigari (Maple Leaf Viewing) was filmed in November 1899, and is the oldest surviving example of Japanese filmmaking. Danjà «rà  had nothing but contempt for film, denigrating it as a foreign invention, but was eventually convinced that a film of his act would be a gift to posterity. He only agreed to be filmed on the condition that it would not be seen by anyone until after his death. The play was filmed by Shibata Tsunekichi in the open air on a windy day, and Danjà «rà  allowed only one take.
Danjà «rà  would play Benkei for the last time in April 1899, and made his final appearance on stage in May 1903. He died, in Tokyo, in September of that year. His grave is at Aoyama Cemetery.
Danjà «rà  had many disciples, including Matsumoto Kà Âshirà  VII, Ichikawa Monnosuke VI, Ichikawa Chà «sha VII, Ichikawa Shinzà  V, Ichikawa Gangyoku II, Ichikawa Raizà  V, Ichikawa Gonjà «rà Â, Ichikawa Sumizà  V, Ichikawa Dan'emon I, Ichikawa Dan'emon II, Ichikawa Shà Âzà  III, Ichikawa Shinjà «rà  II, Ichikawa Shinjà «rô III, and Ichikawa Danshirà  II.