Stage names:
| Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I |  |
| Kozakura Rinzaemon | |
| Kozakura Rinnosuke | |
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Existence: 19th day of the 5th lunar month of 1677 ~ 19th day of the 7th lunar month of 1721
Connection:
Adopted son: Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II
Disciples: Yamatoyama Zenkichi, Yamatoyama Kaoru
Career:
1677: born in the province of Yamato in a farming family.
End of the 1680s: he starts his career as a wakaonnagata, performing in tabi shibai under the name of Kozakura Rinnosuke.
1695: he takes the name of Kozakura Rinzaemon.
1st lunar month of 1705: he takes the name of Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I and, thanks to the patronage of Sakata Tôjûrô I, becomes tachiyaku in Kyôto.
Fall 1706: Jinzaemon settles in Kyôto.
11th lunar month of 1706: Jinzaemon plays in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Sukeroku in the kaomise drama "Sukeroku Shinjû Kamiko Sugata".
3rd lunar month of 1707: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô (superior).
7th lunar month of 1707: Jinzaemon plays in the same theater the role of Denjirô in the drama "Uta Makura Kaikoku Saigyô Hôshi".
1st lunar month of 1708: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).
11th lunar month of 1711: Jinzaemon plays in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater in the kaomise drama "Tsurukame no Aimuko".
3rd lunar month of 1712: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
11th lunar month of 1714: Jinzaemon plays in Kyôto the role of Wataya Shôzaburô in the kaomise drama "Yorozuyo Saiwai Gura", which was staged at Miyako Mandayû's theater.
1st lunar month of 1715: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He shares the same rank with Shibazaki Rinzaemon I and Shinozuka Jirozaemon I.
11th lunar month of 1715: Jinzaemon produces in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the kaomise drama "Chiyogasane Kiku no Shimpai".
11th lunar month of 1716: Jinzaemon produces in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the kaomise drama "Tatsu no Miyako Ikuyo no Yonedawara", where his adopted son Yamatoyama Sensuke makes his debut on stage (hatsubutai) as a koyaku.
11th lunar month of 1717: Jinzaemon produces in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater the kaomise drama "Genjôraku Biwa no Ôumi".
11th lunar month of 1718: Jinzaemon produces in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater the kaomise drama "Shiga no Miyako Kogane no Hanazono".
11th lunar month of 1719: Jinzaemon produces in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater the kaomise drama "Hôraisan Hiyoku no Tsurukame".
Fall 1720: Jinzaemon and his son Yamatoyama Sensuke go together to Ôsaka.
11th lunar month of 1720: Jinzaemon plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Honma Sukejûrô in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Nishiki no Kusazuri", which is produced by the zamoto Takeshima Kôzaemon II.
1st lunar month of 1721: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He shares the same rank with Arashi San'emon III, Takeshima Kôzaemon II and Osagawa Jûemon.
7th lunar month of 1721: Jinzaemon appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.
19th day of the 7th lunar month of 1721: Jinzaemon suddenly dies in his home in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I was a great tachiyaku actor, who achieved fame for himself in Kyôto during the 1710s. He was outstanding in many different fields, like nuregoto, yatsushigoto, budôgoto, jitsugoto, shosagoto and even aragoto. He was considered as the father of yatsushigata in Kyôto.
"Sakata Tôjûrô took him under his wing, and he became popularly known as Tôjûrô II (or Kosakata), although he should not be confused with the official holder of that name. Tôjûrô, in 1707, as a sign of his retirement, handed over to him a paper kimono such as he often used in Yôgiri plays, and it is said to have been this that turned Jinzaemon to tachiyaku parts." (Charles J. Dunn and Torigoe Bunzô in "The Actors' Analects")
Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I (left) and Kikukawa Kiyotarô (right) playing the roles of Motoyui Kyôsuke (in reality Goinosuke) and Princess Anesawa in the kaomise drama "Genjôraku Biwa no Ôumi", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1717 in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater
The Yamatoyama Jinzaemon line of actors