KIRINOYA GONJÛRÔ
   
FOUR GENERATIONS
Kirinoya Gonjûrô I
 

The actor Kirinoya Gonjûrô I held this name from the 11th lunar month of 1711 to the 8th lunar month of 1731.

Kirinoya Gonjûrô I playing the role of Sakurai Wadaemon in Yoshida Rôfu's kaomise drama "Aioi Ôshimadai", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1722 in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater

Kirinoya Gonjûrô II
 

The actor Kirinoya Tôkurô held the name of Kirinoya Gonjûrô II from the 11th lunar month of 1732 to the 10th lunar month of 1733.

Sagawa Masugorô II (top/left), Kirinoya Gonjûrô II (center/right) and Sakakiyama Shirotarô I (bottom/left) playing the roles of Tôru Hanzô, Shôjô no Gonroku and Emonnosuke in the kaomise drama "Hatsu Butai Kogane no Ishizue", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1732 in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater

Kirinoya Gonjûrô III
Kirinoya Gonjûrô III  In Japanese | Wakayama Gonjûrô  In Japanese | Nakayama Banzô  In Japanese
 

Born in 1740. According to the latest edition (2012) of "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran", he was said to be the son of Tomizawa Montarô I. He himself said that he was the grandson of Kirinoya Tôkurô. We did not find enough proof to support both assumptions. He was for sure the disciple of Nakayama Shinkurô I and his first stage name was Nakayama Banzô. He took the name of Wakayama Gonjûrô in the 11th lunar month of 1752 in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai, performing in the kaomise program "Kyô Miyage Matsuri Zoroe" which celebrated the shûmei of both Wakayama Shinkurô and Wakayama Bunshichi. He finally took the name of Kirinoya Gonjûrô III in the 11th lunar month of 1761 at the Kado no Shibai, playing the role of Onibishi Danjô in the kaomise drama "Sôtsui Hoshi Kamakura Kagami" which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Kichiemon I. He appeared on stage for the last time in the 7th lunar month of 1767, playing at the Kado no Shibai the role of Mikawaya Giheiji in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which was staged to commemorate the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of Fujikawa Heikurô [casting]. He unfortunately died too young, the 14th day of the 11th lunar month of 1767. This katakiyaku actor was the father of Kirinoya Gonjûrô IV and the master of Kirinoya Tokujirô. His last ranking in the 1767 Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual].

Nakayama Raisuke I (left) and Kirinoya Gonjûrô III (right) playing the roles of Nan Yohachi and Hiraoka Gôzaemon in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which was staged in the 12th lunar month of 1762 at the Naka no Shibai

Kirinoya Gonjûrô IV
Kirinoya Gonjûrô IV  In Japanese | Mimasu Kamesaburô  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Son of Kirinoya Gonjûrô III and disciple of Mimasu Daigorô II, he served his apprenticeship in Ôsaka hama shibai, performing under the name of Mimasu Kamesaburô. He made his debut in ôshibai in the 11th month of 1795, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he performed in Chikamatsu Tokuzô's kaomise drama "Ichiban Yari Tôkai Suzuri", which celebrated the shûmei of Fujikawa Hachizô III. He finally took the name of Kirinoya Gonjûrô IV in the 11th lunar month of 1801 in Ôsaka. He also became tôdori at the Kado no Shibai in 1804. He was active up to the beginning of the 1820s (according to "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten") or up to 1838 (according to "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran"). He was a katakiyaku actor.

Kirinoya Gonjûrô IV performing in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata", which was staged in the 4th lunar month of 1805 at the Kado no Shibai

 
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