Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke, taken to a hospital Thursday morning after what police suspect was a suicide attempt, is widely popular in Japan.
He is known not just for his performances in the traditional Japanese theater but also for starring in TV drama series and contemporary plays.
He became Ichikawa Ennosuke the Fourth in 2012, assuming the stage name from his uncle.
His father was also a well-known kabuki actor with the stage name Ichikawa Danshiro the fourth.
Ichikawa Ennosuke is acknowledged as a multi-talented actor who can perform wide-ranging kabuki roles, both male and female.
He is also known for his "Super Kabuki" performances which combine traditional acting with modern technology and created a kabuki play adapted from the popular Japanese comic series "ONE PIECE."
He is currently playing the main role in a kabuki production at the Meijiza theater in Tokyo.
Meijiza says the matinee show on Thursday will be canceled.