Stage names:
| Ichikawa Danzô IV |  |
| Ichikawa Danzaburô III | |
| Ichikawa Tomozô I | |
| Nakamura Torazô | |
| Kameya Torazô | |
Guild: Mikawaya
Nicknames:
Meguro no Danzô ("Danzô from Meguro")
Tomozô Danzô
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry name: Shikô
Existence: 1745 ~ 9th day of the 10th lunar month of 1808
Connection:
Master: Ichikawa Danzô III
Adopted mother: Ichikawa Danzô III's widow
Sons: Ichikawa Dannosuke III, Ichikawa Dannosuke IV
Adopted son: Ichikawa Danzô V
Career:
1745~1763: born in Kyôto. He starts his career at an early age, performing under the name of Kameya Torazô in a troupe of children actors located at the Izumi Shikibeza. He spends some years in the minor theaters of Ôsaka (hama shibai).
1763: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Tomijûrô I and receives the name of Nakamura Torazô.
1768: Torazô settles in Edo.
11th lunar month of 1768: he becomes disciple of the actor Ichikawa Danzô III and receives the name of Ichikawa Tomozô I, playing at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe".
1769: Tomozô goes back to Kyôto.
11th lunar month of 1771: Tomozô plays in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Shinozuka Gorô in the kaomise drama "Miyako Yoshino Mikado no Takadono", which is produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I, welcomes in Kyôto the Edo actor Sakata Hangorô II and celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Anegawa Minato II and Yamatoyama Rinzaemon II.
6th lunar month of 1772: his master Ichikawa Danzô III dies. Tomozô goes back to Edo in the family of Ichikawa Danzô III's widow, who decides to adopt him.
11th lunar month of 1772: Ichikawa Tomozô I takes the name of Ichikawa Danzaburô III at the Ichimuraza, playing in the drama "Edo Katagi Hikeya Tsunazaka".
11th lunar month of 1773: Ichikawa Danzaburô III takes the name of Ichikawa Danzô IV at the Ichimuraza, playing in the drama "Kaeri Kiso Kigoto no Hatsumono".
3rd lunar month of 1776: first Kabuki adaptation of Matsu Kanshi I's puppet theater drama "Koi Musume Mukashi Hachijô", which is staged at the Nakamuraza; Danzô plays the role of Shirokiya Shôbei [casting].
5th lunar month of 1776: the play "Honchô Nijûshikô" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Danzô plays the role of Jihizô [casting].
1st lunar month of 1778: the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza [casting]; Danzô plays the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Soga no Iruka.
4th lunar month of 1780: first Kabuki adaptation of Utei Emba, Kijô Tarô and Yô Yôdai puppet theater drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which was written in the 1st lunar month of 1780. The play is produced in Edo at the Moritaza; Danzô plays the role of Daifukuya Sôroku [casting].
9th lunar month of 1780: Danzô plays for the first time the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged at the Moritaza.
3rd lunar month of 1781: Danzô plays for the first time 7 roles (nanayaku) in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Moritaza. Roles: En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Honzô's wife Tonase, Amakawaya Gihei, Yoichibei, Ono no Sadakurô and Ôwashi Bungo. This is the first time in Kabuki history that an actor plays seven roles in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
5th lunar month of 1783: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ishidô Umanojô, Kakogawa Honzô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
9th lunar month of 1783: celebrates his coming departure from Edo, playing the role of Konishi Suketarô in the drama "Buke no Hana Musume no Adauchi", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
Fall 1783: Danzô goes to Kamigata after 16 years spent in Edo.
1st lunar month of 1784: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced by Fujikawa Kikumatsu.
5th lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Danzô plays the role of Hôkaibô [casting].
11th lunar month of 1784: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Takebe Genzô and Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Onoe Ushinosuke I.
7th lunar month of 1785: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of the yakko Dennai, Kumedera Danjô and the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Otsuginasai Iwafute Shikisan".
Summer 1785: tour in Akashi in the company of the great onnagata Iwai Hanshirô IV.
1st lunar month of 1786: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
10th lunar month of 1786: tour in the Island of Shikoku.
4th lunar month of 1787: Danzô plays the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ishidô Umanojô and Amakawaya Gihei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced in Ôsaka by Nakamura Kumetarô II
1788: tour in Ise; Danzô plays in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura" at the Furuichi Shibai.
5th lunar month of 1788: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is staged in Ise at the Furuichi no Shibai; Danzô plays the roles of Kinugawa Yasaemon and Todoroki Dengoemon [casting]. He replaces Mimasu Daigorô II for the role of Rokusuke in the 6th lunar month.
Spring 1789: tour in Ise; Danzô plays in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
12th lunar month of 1789: Danzô plays 6 roles in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai. Roles: En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kakogawa Honzô, Amakawaya Gihei, Yoichibei and Ono no Sadakurô.
1st lunar month of 1790: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
Spring 1791: Danzô plays the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged in Kyôto at the Shijô Nishi no Shibai.
4th lunar month of 1791: Danzô plays in Kyôto the roles of Kumedera Danjô and the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". The role of Princess Taema is played by Yamashita Yaozô I.
3rd lunar month of 1793: Danzô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
12th lunar month of 1793: Danzô plays the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai. He also plays the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima".
1st ~ 3rd lunar months of 1794: premiere in 7 acts and 23 scenes of Tatsuoka Mansaku's drama "Keisei Haru no Tori", which is produced by the zamoto Asao Okujirô at the Kado no Shibai; Danzô plays the role of Oda Sanshichirô Nobutaka.
Summer 1794: tour in Ise.
8th lunar month of 1794: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima". The role of Chidori is played by Nakamura Noshio II.
9th lunar month of 1794: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; Danzô plays the role of Takatsuna [casting].
10th lunar month of 1795: Danzô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the wicked priest Narukami and the deity Fudô Myôô in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". The role of Princess Taema is played by Yoshizawa Iroha I.
1st lunar month of 1796: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent).
5th lunar month of 1796: tour in Miyajima with Iwai Hanshirô IV.
10th lunar month of 1796: Danzô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Kumedera Danjô and the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". The role of Princess Taema is played by Yamashita Yaozô I.
Summer 1798: Danzô goes back to Edo.
7th lunar month of 1798: Danzô plays at the Moritaza the roles of Daidôji Denbatanosuke and Araki Saemon in the drama "Katsura Otoko Yaiba no Ôdachi".
8th lunar month of 1798: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
9th lunar month of 1798: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Daihanji no Kiyosumi in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
11th lunar month of 1798: Danzô plays at the Moritaza several roles, including Shinozuka Iganokami (in a "Shibaraku" scene) and Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon, in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Mitsugi no Funauta".
1st lunar month of 1799: Danzô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
3rd lunar month of 1800: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Shunkan Futatsu Omokage".
9th lunar month of 1801: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Sanemori and Yoshikata in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
10th lunar month of 1801: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Otoku is played by Osagawa Tsuneyo II.
11th lunar month of 1801: Danzô plans to go to Ôsaka, yet he takes part in the kaomise drama "Meika no Toku Mimasu no Tamagaki", which is staged at the Kawarazakiza.
1st lunar month of 1802: Danzô goes back to Kamigata; he plays the roles of Karasuka Koroku and Tokichi in the drama "Keisei Midori no Hayashi", produced by Anegawa Kamesaburô at the Kado no Shibai.
2nd lunar month of 1802: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
3rd lunar month of 1802: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima"; the role of Chidori is played by Fujikawa Tomokichi I.
3rd ~ 5th lunar months of 1802: Danzô plays at the Kado no Shibai 7 roles in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". Roles: Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kakogawa Honzô, Amakawaya Gihei, Okaru's mother, Yoichibei and Ono no Sadakurô. The roles of En'ya Hangan, Honzô's wife Tonase and Okaru are played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Nakayama Ittoku I.
5th lunar month of 1802: Danzô plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima"; the role of Chidori is played by Fujikawa Tomokichi I.
Summer 1802: the play "Ehon Taikôki" is staged for the first time in Kyôto, produced by Arashi Sankichi at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Danzô plays the role of Takechi Mitsuhide [casting].
1st lunar month of 1803: Danzô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
5th lunar month of 1803: Danzô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of the exiled priest Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima". The role of Chidori is played by Yoshizawa Iroha I.
7th lunar month of 1803: Danzô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". The role of Princess Taema is played by Kanô Minshi I.
3rd lunar month of 1804: Danzô plays the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri", which is produced by Hayagumo Chôdayû and Kameya Kumenojô at the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto); the role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon is played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII.
9th lunar month of 1805: Danzô plays the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged in a little theater of the district of Kitano in Kyôto.
1st lunar month of 1806: Danzô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
5th lunar month of 1806: tour in Nagoya; Danzô plays the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple.
6th lunar month of 1806: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". The role of Princess Taema is played by Fujikawa Tomokichi I.
12th lunar month of 1806: Danzô takes part in the kaomise of the Kado no Shibai, with Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakamura Utaemon III. The three stars perform together in the play "Ôsakazuki Asahi no Hôrai", which is produced by Yoshizawa Minosuke.
3rd lunar month of 1808: "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Danzô plays the role of Katô Asakiyo [casting].
10th lunar month of 1808: Danzô appears on stage for the last time, at the Naka no Shibai, playing in the drama "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô III. He suddenly falls ill and has to be replaced by Ichikawa Ichizô I. He dies a few days later.
Comments:
Ichikawa Danzô IV was an outstanding tachiyaku, who covered himself in glory in both Edo and Kamigata. He succeeded in making up for his short height by developping new techniques. He was a pioneer of chûnori and excelled in tachimawari or hayagawari. He was the first Kabuki actor to perform 7 roles in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
His nickname, Meguro Danzô (Meguro's Danzô) is related to his mansion in Edo, which was located on the outskirts of the city, close to the famous Meguro Fudôson Temple.
Ichikawa Danzô IV in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I (1798~1800)
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1798
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1801
The Ichikawa Tomozô line of actors
The Ichikawa Danzaburô line of actors
The Ichikawa Danzô line of actors