| ICHIKAWA GONJÛRÔ |
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Stage names:
Real name: Okada Kikusaburô Guilds: Yamazakiya (Ichikawa years), Teshimaya (Arashi years) Poetry names: Rikaku, Rikô Existence: 15th day of the 9th lunar month of 1848 [1] ~ 27 March 1904 Connections: Adoptive father: Arashi Rikaku II Masters: Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, Arashi Rikan III Career: 15th day of the 9th lunar month of 1848: born in Kyôto in a Kabuki-liking family (his father Iseya Kisaburô was a government official). He started to learn traditional dance and music at an early age. 3rd lunar month of 1858: he became disciple of the star Arashi Rikan III, who gave him the name of Arashi Rikimaru. He played the role of Sodehagi's daughter Okimi in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which was staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai; the role of Sodehagi was played by Arashi Rikan III. 1858 ~ 1864: he took the name of Arashi Rikimatsu at an unknown dates and joined a travelling troupe of children-actors performing in miyaji shibai. He went on tour in both Kyûshû and Shikoku. 21st day of the 4th lunar month of 1863 [2]: his master Arashi Rikan III died. 1864: he was adopted by Arashi Rikaku II and received the name of Arashi Yoshisaburô. 14th day of the 7th lunar month of 1864 [3]: his adoptive father Arashi Rikaku II died. 1865: Arashi Yoshisaburô took the name of Arashi Rikaku III. 1866: he quarreled with the widow of Arashi Rikaku II and decided to leave Ôsaka. 2nd lunar month of 1867: Rikaku went to Edo. He changed the writing of his first name:
You need a Japanese Language Kit installed within your system in order to be able to read the characters 7th lunar month of 1869: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kichisama Mairu Yukari no Otozure"; Rikaku played the roles of Kobori Samonnosuke, the Enjôji page Kamesaburô and Itô Kichinoshin [casting]. 1871: Rikaku was sent to prison because of his involvement in a murder by poisoning.
This story is about a notorious dokufu, so-called “poison-woman”, who was named Okinu.
She was of humble origins but became a famous geisha in Edo. Later, she was nicknamed Yoarashi Okinu (literally Night Storm Okinu).
She poisoned with arsenic her current "official" lover, a man named Kobayashi Kinpei, in order to be freely with her new lover, who was none other than Rikaku.
The actor was himself involved deeply in the plot; he was arrested and initially condemned to death along with Okinu.
Since Okinu was pregnant, however, her execution was postponed. Rikaku’s sentence was eventually moderated and he served "only" three years in jail.
The same clemency did not applied to the murderer; after giving birth, Okinu was finally executed. Her head was cut off and displayed in public for several days.
All the details of this poisoning case are well explained in a great article written by Trevor Skingle: 1874: Rikaku came out of prison and went back to the Kabuki world; he became a disciple of the actor Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. October 1874: he took the name of Ichikawa Gonjûrô at the Kawarasakiza, playing the role of Sakurai Shinnojô in Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kumo no Ueno San'e no Sakumae", which was premiered in this theater [casting]. May 1875: revival at the Kawarasakiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kusunoki-ryû Hanami no Makuhari", which was entitled "Hanamidoki Yui no Makuhari"; Gonjûrô played the roles of Kanai Tamigorô and Motoyoshi Shinhachirô [more details]. September 1878: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Tsûzoku Saiyûki"; Gonjûrô played the role of Son Gokû [casting]. May 1881: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ôsakazuki Shusen no Tsuwamono"; Gonjûrô played the role of Lord Ii Kamon-no-Kami Naotaka [casting]. October 1881: premiere at the Harukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kiwametsuki Banzui Chôbê"; Gonjûrô played the roles of Sakuragawa Gorozô and Mizuno Jûrôzaemon [casting]. November 1884: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Mokuami's katsureki drama "Hôjô Kudai Meika no Isaoshi"; Gonjûrô played the role of Osaragi Michinoku-no-Kami [casting]. July 1890: premiere at the Shintomiza of "Kiyomasa Seichûroku", a revised version of Kawatake Shinshichi III's 1875 drama "Minori no Aki Seishô Denki". It was part of a special 2-day gala program starring Ichikawa Danjûrô IX; Gonjûrô played the role of Katagiri Katsumoto [more details]. March 1891: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ôchi's drama "Buyû no Homare Shusse Kagekiyo", a revised revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's jidaimono "Shusse Kagekiyo"; Gonjûrô played the role of Hatakeyama Shigetada [casting]. November 1893: Gonjûrô took part in the opening ceremony of the Meijiza [info]. March 1899: premiere at the Meijiza of the drama "Kurotegumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki", which gathered the main scenes from the sukerokumono part of Kawatake Shinshichi II's 1858 drama "Edo Zakura Kiyomizu Seigen"; Gonjûrô played the role of Torii Shinzaemon [casting]. March 1903: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue", which was produced to celebrate the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô VI, Onoe Baikô VI and Onoe Eizaburô VI; Gonjûrô played the role of Kobayashi Asahina Saburô [casting]. This was his last stage performance; victim of a sudden pneumonia, he had to retire. 13 September 1903: his master Ichikawa Danjûrô IX died. 27 March 1904: Gonjûrô died in Tôkyô. Comments: Ichikawa Gonjûrô was a tachiyaku actor, born and trained in Kamigata, who became one of the best disciples of Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. His most striking features were great vocal projection, great lines delivery and ... a terrible Kamigata accent. He was also involved in a famous criminal case which led him to the Tôkyô jails, where he spent three years. His others notable performances include the roles of Mizuno Jûrôzaemon ("Yudono no Chôbê") and Lord Ii Kamon-no-Kami Naotaka ("Ôsakazuki Shusen no Tsuwamono"). [1] The 15th day of the 9th lunar month of the 1st year of the Kaei era was the 11th of October 1848 in the western calendar. [2] The 21st day of the 4th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Bunkyû era was the 7th of June 1863 in the western calendar. [3] The 14th day of the 7th lunar month of the 1st year of the Genji era was the 15th of August 1864 in the western calendar. |
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Ichikawa Gonjûrô playing the role of Matsudaira Izu-no-Kami in a print made by Toyohara Kunichika Print made by Yôshû Chikanobu in 1882 Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1891 Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1900 Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1901 The Arashi Yoshisaburô line of actors The Arashi Rikaku line of actors |
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