Stage name:

Tomizawa Montarô I

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kinshi

Existence: ??? ~ Summer 1743

Connection:

Master(s): Tomizawa Samanosuke II (?), Tomizawa Hanzaburô I (?)

Son (?): Kirinoya Gonjûrô III

Adopted son: Tomizawa Kiyosaki

Disciples: Tomizawa Montarô II, Tomizawa Tsuneyo, Tomizawa Chônosuke

Career:

Before 1717: he started his career in Ôsaka as a disciple of Tomizawa Hanzaburô I (according to most of the books we've checked but we doubt it as this actor was in Edo since 1684!). We do think that his real master was Tomizawa Samanosuke II, a disciple of Tomizawa Hanzaburô I's master Tomizawa Samanosuke I (the founder of the Tomizawa clan).

11th lunar month of 1717: Montarô performed as a wakaonnagata in Ôsaka in the kaomise drama "Inari Yashiki Daikoku Bashira", which was produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1723: Montarô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Ikuta Sanzaburô in the kaomise drama "Fukujukai Kogane no Minato", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

Fall 1729: Montarô went to Kyôto for the first time.

11th lunar month of 1729: Montarô played the role of Ofumi in Azuma Sanpachi's kaomise drama "Yomeiri Shichigosan", which was produced by the nadai Daikokuya Takenojô and the zamoto Arashi Koroku I.

1st lunar month of 1730: Montarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Segawa Kikujirô I.

11th lunar month of 1731: Montarô played the role of Gengobê's wife Okatsu in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Imagawajô", which was produced in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; his stage partners were Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakamura Shingorô I (who played the role of Gengobê), Sanogawa Mangiku, Somenoi Hanshirô, Yashio Ikuemon, Anegawa Chiyosaburô I and Arashi San'emon III.

1st lunar month of 1732: Montarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1732: first Kabuki adaptation of Matsuda Bunkôdô and Hasegawa Senshi puppet theater drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which was produced in Kyôto by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Montarô played the role of Akoya [casting].

11th lunar month of 1732: Montarô played in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater in the kaomise drama "Hayazaki Kogane no Hanabusa"; his stage partners were Ichiyama Sukegorô I, Arashi Kanshirô I, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I, Somenoi Hanshirô, Matsushima Moheiji, Kirinami Takie, Fujioka Daikichi, Shinozuka Kazaemon and Arashi Koroku I.

11th lunar month of 1733: Montarô played at Kameya Kumenojô's theater (Kyôto) the role of the courtesan Oishi in the kaomise drama "Chôseiden Kogane no Shikigawara", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

11th lunar month of 1734: Montarô played at Miyako Mandayû's theater (Kyôto) the role of the keisei Takakura in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Kogane no Yaguruma", which was produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1735: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which was produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Montarô played the role of Kuzu-no-Ha [casting].

11th lunar month of 1735: Montarô played the role of Kowata in the kaomise drama "Bankoku Ôshimadai", which was produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

Fall 1736: Montarô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1736: Montarô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Miyako-no-Mae in the kaomise drama "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata", which celebrated the shûmei of Tsuruya Nanboku II.

11th lunar month of 1737: Montarô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Sanuki in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1738: Montarô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Anegawa Kiyosaburô.

11th lunar month of 1738: Montarô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mitsugibune Taiheiki".

3rd lunar month of 1739: Montarô played in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Jômon no Hanabusa"; the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû were played by Ichikawa Ebizô II and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1739: Montarô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Kageyu's wife Naniwazu in Fujimoto Tobun's kaomise drama "Tokiwagi Taiheiki". The role of Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon was played by Bandô Hikosaburô I.

Fall 1740: Montarô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1740: Montarô performed in the kaomise drama "Shinra Genji Shimada Gunpô", which was produced by Sanogawa Hanazuma II at the Naka no Shibai; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Arashi Sanjûrô II, Iwai Hanshirô III, Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II, Fujikawa Heikurô, Kamakura Heikurô I, Yoshizawa Ayame II and Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II.

1st lunar month of 1741: Montarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was two little strokes below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

11th lunar month of 1741: Montarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kikusui Kageyu's wife Sawaragi in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Yakata Bandai no Kame", which was produced Fujikawa Kamenoi; the role of Kikusui Kageyu was played by Fujikawa Heikurô.

1st lunar month of 1742: Montarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was back to jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared this rank with Matsushima Hyôtarô.

11th lunar month of 1742: Montarô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Otora in the kaomise drama "Kudô Suketsune Ôiso Gayoi", which was produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

7th lunar month of 1743: Montarô appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai, where he played in the drama "Kashû Hachi Katsugi Monogatari". He suddenly fell ill and died.

Comments:

Tomizawa Montarô I was a popular and talented Kamigata onnagata actor, who made his career during the first half of the 18th century. He was able to play a wide range of roles, as musume, hime, nyôbô or keisei, equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was also expert in onna budô and achieved a reputation as a musician. It was also worthy to note that he was the first Kabuki actor to perform two of the most famous female roles: Akoya in "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki" and Kuzu-no-Ha in "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

The Actor Tomizawa Montarô I as Miyako no Mae in the play "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata", performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1736
Artist: Torii Kiyomasu II
Date: 1736
The Art Institute of Chicago (print in the public domain)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Okumura Masanobu in 1737