Stage names:

Onoe Kikujirô II
Onoe Baika
Onoe Kikujirô II
Nakamura Sankô II
Nakamura Karyû I
Kataoka Ichimatsu

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Baika

Existence: 1814 ~ 14 June 1875

Connections:

Masters: Onoe Kikugorô III, Nakamura Tomijûrô II, Kataoka Nizaemon VII

Adopted sons: Onoe Taganojô II, Onoe Eizaburô 4.5, Nakamura Sankô III

Career:

1814 ~ 1833: born in Kamigata, he starts his career as a young disciple of Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who gives him the name of Kataoka Ichimatsu. Then, he joins the onnagata actor Nakamura Tomijûrô II and receives the name of Nakamura Karyû I.

11th lunar month of 1832: Nakamura Karyû I takes the name of Nakamura Sankô II.

11th lunar month of 1835: he becomes disciple of the star Onoe Kikugorô III and receives the name of Onoe Kikujirô II at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Yae in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

4th lunar month of 1836: premiere at the Moritaza of the drama "Hakkenden Uwasa no Takadono"; Kikujirô plays the roles of Princess Fuse, the ghost of Princess Fuse, Hamaji, Ohina, Fusahachi's wife Onui, Kakutarô's wife Hinaginu and Princess Taema [casting].

1st lunar month of 1843: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the dance "Kashiragaki Ise Monogatari" (commonly called "Noriaibune"), which is staged within the new year drama "Kioi Uta Soga no Hanadashi"; Kikujirô is one of the seven dancers [more details].

8th lunar month of 1849: Kikujirô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of Akoya in the drama "Kagekiyo"; his stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII (Kagekiyo) and Bandô Hikosaburô IV (Shigetada).

11th lunar month of 1849: Kikujirô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of the courtesan Ohatsu in the drama "Sonezaki Shinjû". The role of Hiranoya Tokubei is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.

4th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the Tokiwazu-based dance "Kioi Jishi Kabuki no Hanakago", commonly called "Kioi Jishi", starring Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Bandô Takesaburô I, Iwai Kumesaburô III and Kikujirô.

8th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi" (commonly called "Sakura Giminden"); Kikujirô plays the roles of Fuji-no-Kata and Tôgo's wife Omine [casting].

1st lunar month of 1852: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke III drama "Satomi Hakkenden"; Kikujirô plays the roles of Fusahachi's wife Onui and Hamaji [casting].

1st lunar month of 1857: Kikujirô goes back to Kamigata after 25 years spent in Edo. He settles in Ôsaka and takes the name of Onoe Baika at the Kado no Shibai.

1858: he takes back the name of Onoe Kikujirô II.

1861: Kikujirô goes back to Edo.

8th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Sakura Sôshi Gonichi no Bundan", a revised version of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi"; Kikujirô plays the roles of Oshizu-no-Kata and Tôgo's wife Omine [casting].

10th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Zôho Futatsu Domoe"; Kikujirô plays the roles of Gion no Oritsu, the keisei Fuyô, Goemon's wife Otaki and Kawashima no Omitsu [casting].

8th lunar month of 1862: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Kikujirô plays the role of Dôjûrô's wife Oriyo [casting].

2nd lunar month of 1864: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Soga Moyô Tateshi no Goshozome"; Kikujirô plays the role of Satsuki [casting].

11th lunar month of 1864: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Koharunagi Okitsu Shiranami"; Kikujirô plays the role of Funadama Osai [casting].

Comments:

Onoe Kikujirô II was a talented wakaonnagata, excelling in the roles of housewives in sewamono dramas. He co-starred stage giants like Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Ichikawa Kodanji IV or Ichikawa Danjûrô IX.

Onoe Kikujirô II's best roles: Omine ("Sakura Giminden"), Koiso ("Ude no Kizaburô"), Yae ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").

Onoe Kikujirô II playing the role of Princess Takiyasha (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III in 1862)

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1862

The Nakamura Sankô line of actors

The Onoe Kikujirô line of actors