Stage names:

Asao Kuzaemon I
Asai Kuzaemon
Nakayama Tashirô II
Takeda Nisaburô

Other name:

Ichikawa Kigan I

Guild: Kanedaya

Poetry names: Kigan (1), Kigyoku

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 1758 ~ 22nd day of the 8th lunar month of 1824 ^[1]

Connection:

Brother: Takeda Tashirô

Masters: Asao Tamejûrô I, Nakayama Tatezô I

Son: Asao Kichisaburô

Disciples: Asao Kunigorô III, Asao Gakujûrô

Career:

1758 ~ 1782: he started his career in a troupe of children-actors (kodomo shibai) performing in Ôsaka at the Takeda no Shibai. He and his brother performed under the respective names of Takeda Nisaburô and Takeda Tashirô. He joined the actor Nakayama Tatezô I at an unknown date, received the name of Nakayama Tashirô II and performed in minor theaters.

9th lunar month of 1782: he performed as a musician in the isse ichidai performance of the actor Nakayama Bunshichi I, which was staged at the Kado no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1793: Nakayama Tatezô I and Nakayama Tashirô II respectively took the names of Izumikawa Okezô and Asai Kuzaemon.

Fall 1794: Kuzaemon became disciple of the actor Asao Tamejûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1794: Asai Kuzaemon took the name of Asao Kuzaemon I in Kyôto.

9th lunar month of 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Kuzaemon played the roles of Satô Gôsuke and Takiguchi Kôzuke [casting].

10th lunar month of 1803: Kuzaemon celebrated his coming tour to Edo (onagori kyôgen) by playing at the Naka no Shibai 7 roles using some hayagawari techniques in the drama "Keisei Koi no Hikyaku".

Fall: Kuzaemon went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1803: Kuzaemon performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Monomi no Matsu".

7th day of the 4th lunar month of 1804 ^[2]: his master Asao Tamejûrô I died.

9th lunar month of 1804: Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kanjin Kanmon Tekuda no Hajimari" was staged for the first time in Edo, produced by Ichimura Uzaemon XI at the Ichimuraza; Kuzaemon played the roles of Numazu Chishima-no-Kami and Seitokuji Kyôzen [more details]. Kuzaemon also celebrated his coming departure from Edo (onagori kyôgen), achieving a great success at the Ichimuraza by playing the role of Gotobê in the drama "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô".

Fall 1804: Kuzaemon went back to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1804: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of the boatman Kochiemon in Tatsuoka Mansaku's kaomise drama "Minoriyoshi Kane no Naruki".

8th lunar month of 1807: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the smuggler Kezori and Gohei in the drama "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", which was produced by Asao Okujirô II.

6th lunar month of 1808: Kuzaemon went to Edo (for a religious pilgrimage) and played at the Nakamuraza the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneyasu in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

7th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Kuzaemon played the roles of Satô Gôsuke and the shôya Tokuemon [casting].

8th lunar month of 1808: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of Fujiwara no Shihei and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1808: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of the yakko Edohei in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

Fall 1808: Kuzaemon went back to Ôsaka.

9th lunar month of 1809: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Jinroku and Utaemon in the drama "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".

11th lunar month of 1809: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Ikegami Shichikurô in the kaomise drama "Keishoku Yuki-miru Yama", which was produced by Mimasu Kumesaburô and stars Nakayama Hyakka, Yoshizawa Ayame V, Arashi Kichisaburô II, Nakayama Shinkurô III, Nakamura Daikichi I, Kanô Minshi I and Asao Okuyama III.

3rd lunar month of 1810: tour in Ise with Nakayama Raisuke IV.

6th lunar month of 1810: tour in Nagoya with Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakayama Hyakka.

9th lunar month of 1810: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Kyôgoku no Takumi in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the roles of Rokusuke and Osono were played by Arashi Kichisaburô II and Nakamura Daikichi I.

1st lunar month of 1811: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Sawai Matagorô, Narumi and Heisaku in the drama "Keisei Ekiro no Ume", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Igagoe" world.

1st lunar month of 1813: Kuzaemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He played 3 roles at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Ane Imôto Date no Ôkido", which was produced by Ichikawa Zentarô.

4th lunar month of 1813: Kuzaemon performed in the same theater in the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri".

7th lunar month of 1813: Kuzaemon played at the Shukuin no Shibai in Sakai the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneyasu in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

11th lunar month of 1813: Kuzaemon performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri". He also played the role of Tatara Shindôzaemon in the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto".

1st lunar month of 1814: Kuzaemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, sôkanjiku sanpukutsui section ("a trio of global kanjiku") section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). The two others actors in this trio were Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakayama Shinkurô III. Kuzaemon played the roles of the old woman Otama, Yuminosuke and Tokuemon in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. This was the first performance in Kabuki history of a play based on the "Asagao Nikki" world [casting].

4th lunar month of 1814: "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" was staged with the same casting in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1814: Kuzaemon played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Sawai Matagorô and Narumi in the drama "Tsugi Awase Ekiji no Ume", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Igagoe" world.

1st lunar month of 1815: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Gohei in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi", which was produced by Kataoka Ichimatsu.

3rd lunar month of 1815: Kuzaemon moved to the Kado no Shibai and played the roles of Tatara Shindôzaemon, Kurofune and Gyôbuzaemon in the dramas "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto", "Kurofune Deiri Minato" and "Komochi Yamanba".

4th lunar month of 1815: Kuzaemon moved back to the Naka no Shibai and played the roles of Tachibana Kazue and the shôya Shôbei in the drama "Furiwakegami Matori Jikki", which was produced by Kataoka Ichimatsu.

8th lunar month of 1815: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of Kakuju, Takebe Genzô and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1815: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of Sasaya Hanbei and the gatekeeper Shôbei in the drama "Katakiuchi Ura no Asagiri".

8th lunar month of 1816: Kuzaemon went to Edo and performed at the Kiriza in the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura".

9th lunar month of 1816: Kuzaemon celebrated his coming departure from Edo (onagori kyôgen) by playing at the Kiriza 7 roles using some hayagawari techniques in the drama "Michiyuki Koi no Hikyaku".

7th lunar month of 1817: Kuzaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the dramas "Meisaku Kiri no Akebono" and "Senjin Fujito no Homare".

1st lunar month of 1818: Kuzaemon played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Sukune Tarô, Shundô Genba and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also played the roles of Jinroku and Utaemon in the drama "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".

5th lunar month of 1818: Kuzaemon played at the Takeda no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Saitô Tarozaemon Toshiyuki in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".

8th lunar month of 1818: Kuzaemon played the roles of Mataroku and Sajidayû in the drama "Musume Kagekiyo Yashima Nikki", which was produced at the Naka no Shibai by Asao Tokusaburô; his stage partners were Arashi Koroku IV (Oito) and Arashi Kichisaburô II (Yoshitoki, Kagekiyo).

Fall 1818: Kuzaemon played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Midaroku in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

11th lunar month of 1818: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of Usami Goemon, Heisaku and Kôhei in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku"; the roles of Oyone and Jûbê were played by Arashi Koroku IV and Arashi Kichisaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1819: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Iwanaga Saemon in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; his stage partners in the roles of Akoya and Shigetada were Nakamura Matsue III and Ichikawa Ebijûrô I.

7th lunar month of 1819: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

9th lunar month of 1819: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tamashima Ittô and Akaganeya Kôbê [print] in the drama "Tôtômigata Koi no Shiranami".

11th lunar month of 1819: Kuzaemon played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Tamashima Ittô and Akaganeya Kôbê in the drama "Zôho Koi no Shiranami" (an extension of the drama "Tôtômigata Koi no Shiranami").

1st lunar month of 1820: Kuzaemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("global kanjiku") section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1820: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori and Yazaemon ("Sushiya" scene) in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1820: Kuzaemon played at the Ichinogawa Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Tatara Shindôzaemon in the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto".

11th lunar month of 1820: tour in Nagoya; Kuzaemon played the role of Yazaemon ("Sushiya" scene) in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple.

1st lunar month of 1821: Kuzaemon played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Magoemon in the drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima".

3rd lunar month of 1821: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Kajiwara Heizô Kôbai Tazuna", a new version of the third act of "Miura no Ôsuke Kôbai Tazuna", revised by Kanazawa Ryûgoku I; Kuzaemon played the role of Rokurôdayû [casting].

5th lunar month of 1821: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Katô Gôsuke and Iwaki Chûtayû in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku", which was produced by Nakamura Matsuyo.

7th lunar month of 1821: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Watanabe Minbu in the drama "Hagi ha Sendai Na ha Matsumoto", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

11th lunar month of 1821: Kuzaemon played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Ono no Kudayû, Yazama Kinai and Shikama no Takubei in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

1st lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai 3 roles in the drama "Keisei Somewake no Tazuna".

2nd lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the roles of Daibutsumochi Sôemon and Konomura Ôinosuke in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". He also played the role of Kaminari Shôkurô in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane".

3rd lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played in the same theater the role of Sakaya Giemon in the drama "Ôishizuri Sakura Tanzaku", a play based on the Chûshingura world.

24th day of the 4th lunar month of 1822 ^[3]: his son Asao Kichisaburô died.

5th lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played the role of Tsuge Shinzaemon in the drama "Keisei Sano no Funabashi", which was staged within the precinct of the Goryô Shrine in the district of Senba (Ôsaka). He also played the roles of Heizaemon and Yaoya Oshichi'mother in the drama "Yaoya no Kondate".

8th lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Date no Yosabei and Hachizô in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which was produced by Onoe Umanosuke.

9th lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Iwaki Hyôbu in the drama "Kama-ga-Fuchi Futatsu Domoe".

11th lunar month of 1822: Kuzaemon appeared on stage for the last time, playing the roles of the old man Rokurôdayû and Date no Yosabei in the dramas "Kajiwara Heizô Kitai no Ishikiri" [casting] and "Iroage Somewake Tazuna", which were staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

1823 ~ 1824: he fell ill and did not appear on stage anymore until his passing away.

22nd day of the 8th lunar month of 1824 ^[1]: Kuzaemon died in Kyôto.

Comments:

Asao Kuzaemon I was a talented and popular actor specialized in katakiyaku, jitsuaku and oyajigata roles, excelling in thieves roles in sewamono dramas and mastering some hayagawari techniques, who made a fame for himself in Kamigata during the Bunka and Bunsei eras. He did also a few successful stays in Edo.

[1] The 22nd day of the 8th lunar month of the 7th year of the Bunsei era was the 14th of September 1824 in the western calendar.

[2] The 7th day of the 4th lunar month of the 1st year of the Bunka era was the 17th of May 1804 in the western calendar.

[3] The 24th day of the 4th lunar month of the 5th year of the Bunsei era was the 13th of June 1822 in the western calendar.

Asao Kuzaemon I playing the role of Sawai Matagorô in the drama "Keisei Ekiro no Ume", which was performed in the 1st lunar month of 1811 in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai (print made by Rankôsai)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû in 1815

Print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû in 1819

The Ichikawa Kigan line of actors

The Asao Kuzaemon line of actors