Stage names:

Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II
Yamatoyama Rinzaemon I
Yamatoyama Sensuke I
Yamatoyama Sensuke

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Existence: 1711 ~ ???

Connection:

Grandfather: Tenjô Mataemon

Father: Tenjô Matahachi

Adoptive father: Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I

Adopted sons: Yamatoyama Jinzaemon III, Yamatoyama Rinzaemon II

Career:

1711~1716: born in Kyôto. Grandson of the dôkegata actor Tenjô Mataemon. He is quickly adopted by Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I, who gives him the name of Yamatoyama Sensuke.

11th lunar month of 1716: debut on stage (hatsubutai) as a koyaku, in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater, where he performs in the kaomise drama "Tatsu no Miyako Ikuyo no Yonedawara", which is produced by his adoptive father Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I.

Fall 1720: Sensuke and his adoptive father Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I go to Ôsaka.

19th day of the 7th lunar month of 1721: his adopted father Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I dies in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1721 he changes the writing of his first name (old --> new); he performs at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Onna Genji Musha Sugoroku", which is produced by Takeshima Kôzaemon II.

11th lunar month of 1722: he takes the name of Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II and becomes zamoto in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai, where he produces the kaomise drama "Genji Moyô Ichimai Gushi", which stars Osagawa Jûemon, Sugiyama Kanzaemon III, Bandô Matajûrô I, Wakaura Kinjûrô and Sodeshima Genji.

11th lunar month of 1723: he takes back the name of Yamatoyama Sensuke I in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, where he plays a keisei role in the kaomise drama "Chûshin Futaba no Matsu", which is produced by Matsushima Hyôtarô.

11th lunar month of 1731: Sensuke becomes wakaonnagata and plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Princess hanazono in the kaomise drama "Ôyamato Wagô no Tsuchi", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III.

11th lunar month of 1732: Sensuke plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Omasu in the kaomise drama "Shikishima Wakô no Tsuzumi", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III.

12th lunar month of 1735: tour in Nagoya in a troupe led by Iwai Hanshirô III; he performs as a tachiyaku at the Seijuin no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1736: he takes back at the Kado no Shibai the name of Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II, playing the role of Arigawa Ôenosuke in the kaomise drama "Yamato Fumi Mannen no Ayatsuri", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III.

11th lunar month of 1740: Jinzaemon plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Yamazumi Sampachi in the kaomise drama "Shinra Genji Shimada Gumpô".

1st lunar month of 1741: Jinzaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).

Fall 1741: Jinzaemon goes to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1741: Jinzaemon plays in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater in the kaomise drama "Chôseiden Wagô no Futahashira", which is produced by Sakata Ichitarô.

1st lunar month of 1742: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, falls to jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).

5th lunar month of 1742: Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's play "Shinshû Kawanakajima Gassen" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Jinzaemon plays the role of Takeda Shirô Katsuyori [more details].

Fall 1744: Jinzaemon goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1744: Jinzaemon plays the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Keisei Makura Gundan", which is produced by Anegawa Shinshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1745: Jinzaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).

Fall 1745: Jinzaemon goes to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1745: Jinzaemon plays at the the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Manzairaku".

1st lunar month of 1746: Jinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is still at jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).

11th lunar month of 1746: Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II takes the name of Yamatoyama Rinzaemon I in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater, performing in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Ômu Kotoba" which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I; his stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Sanogawa Jûkichi (final performance before his death), Nakamura Utaemon I, Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakamura Shingorô I (final performance before his death), Tamiya Jûzaburô I (final performance before his death) and Nakamura Kiyosaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1746: Rinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).

1749: he takes back the name of Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II to go on tour in Nagoya and Ise.

1758: last performances in Kamigata; we don't know what happens to him afterwards.

Comments:

Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II was said to look like his adoptive father Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I (from an artistic viewpoint) but did not achieve the same level of fame. He was a tachiyaku actor, who excelled in yatsushigoto. His career climaxed in 1740/1741 in ôshibai. In the latter years of his life, he was active mainly in tabi shibai.

Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II (left) and Sadoshima Toyono (right) playing the roles of Kozakura Sensuke and Princess Miwa in the kaomise drama "Iwatogura Kogane Masugata", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1737 at the Kado no Shibai

The Yamatoyama Sensuke line of actors

The Yamatoyama Rinzaemon line of actors

The Yamatoyama Jinzaemon line of actors