Stage names:

Bandô Shûchô III
Bandô Katsutarô I
Ichikawa Masujirô

Real name: Kaneko Katsutarô

Poetry name: Senchô ("one thousand butterflies")

Guild: Yamatoya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Existence: 7 November 1880 ~ 22 September 1935

Connection:

Master: Ichikawa Danjûrô IX

Adoptive father and father-in-law: Bandô Shûchô II

Sons: Bandô Matatarô VII, Ichikawa Komazô X, Bandô Mitsugorô IX

Adopted son: Bandô Shûchô IV

Grandsons: Bandô Mitsugorô X, Bandô Shûchô V

Great-grandson: Bandô Minosuke II

Career:

1880 ~ 1896: born in Tôkyô in the district of Mukôjima. He starts his career as a disciple of the Nagauta singer Sumiyoshi Gorô, then of his master's widow after his death. His voice power declines and he decides to give up singing to become an actor.

1896: he becomes disciple of the star Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Masujirô.

April 1896: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, playing a wakaonnagata role in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

January 1899: he is adopted by Bandô Shûchô II, who gives him the name of Katsutarô I.

September 1901: his adoptive father Bandô Shûchô II dies.

September 1904: Bandô Katsutarô I becomes nadai and takes the name of Bandô Shûchô III at the Tôkyôza.

March 1906: Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu" is produced for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Tôkyôza; Shûchô plays the role of Koguruma no Tsubone [casting]. He also plays at the Meijiza the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Matsuômaru is played by Ichikawa Enshô II.

April 1907: Shûchô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Takebe Genzô's wife Tonami in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Takebe Genzô is played by Bandô Mitsugorô VII.

March 1910: Shûchô plays at the Miyatoza the role of Princess Toki in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki". The roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Miuranosuke are played by Arashi Yoshisaburô IV and Ichikawa Kuzô IV.

February ~ April 1911: Shûchô is on the road, playing the prestigious role of the wet nurse Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is performed in Hakodate (Ikedaza), Sapporo (Sapporoza), Otaru (Hanazonoza) and Nagoya (Kabukiza).

December 1911: Shûchô plays at the Miyatoza the roles of Osato and Shizuka Gozen in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

March 1912: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the role of Fuji-no-Kata in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane and his wife Sagami are played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Jitsukawa Enjirô I.

December 1912: Shûchô plays at the Miyatoza the roles of Hayano Kampei and Tonase in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Teraoka Heiemon and Ôboshi Yuranosuke are played by Ichikawa Gonzaburô II and Asao Kuzaemon IV.

February 1914: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Gonta's wife Kosen in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The role of Gonta is played by Jitsukawa Enjirô I.

April 1914: Shûchô plays at the Shintomiza the role of Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partner in the roles of Yuranosuke, Hayano Kampei and Teraoka Heiemon is Jitsukawa Enjirô I.

January 1915: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Ichikawa Yaozô VII.

February 1915: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the role of Ohaya in the "Hikimado" scene of the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". The roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Jûjibei are played by Kataoka Ichizô IV and Nakamura Matagorô I.

May 1915: Shûchô plays at the Shintomiza the roles of Kaoyo and Ichimonjiya Osai in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

January 1916: Shûchô plays at the Minamiza in Kyôto the role of Matahei's wife Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata". The role of Matahei is played by Onoe Taminosuke.

January 1917: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Umeômaru's wife Haru in the "Ga no Iwai" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Umeômaru is played by Ichikawa Danshirô II.

July 1917: Shûchô plays at the Yokohamaza in Yokohama the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Matsuômaru, Takebe Genzô and Tonami are played by Ichikawa Sadanji II, Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Ichikawa Shôchô II.

November 1917: Shûchô plays at the Yokohamaza in Yokohama the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". The role of Abe no Yasuna is played by Sawamura Gennosuke IV.

January 1918: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the role of Ofude in the "Ôtsu no Shuku", "Sasahiki" and "Sakaro" scenes of the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

June 1918: Shûchô plays at the Nihon Gekijô in Kôbe the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Ichikawa Sadanji II.

January 1919: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the roles of Oryû and Suke-no-Tsubone in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The roles of Tokaiya Gimpei and Taira no Tomomori are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII.

February 1919: Shûchô plays at the Minamiza in Kyôto the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Yoshinoyama" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The role of Tadanobu is played by Arashi Ganshô.

April 1920: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the role of Matahei's wife Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata". The role of Matahei is played by Ichikawa Danshirô II.

December 1920: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Fuji-no-Kata in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane and his wife Sagami are played by Nakamura Utaemon V and Onoe Baikô VI.

April 1921: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ichimonjiya Osai in the act VI of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

June 1921: Shûchô plays at the Yokohama Gekijô (Yokohama) the roles of Oryû and Suke-no-Tsubone in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The roles of Tokaiya Gimpei and Taira no Tomomori are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII.

October 1921: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yuranosuke's wife Oishi in the "Yamashina Kankyo" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Yuranosuke, Honzô and Tonase are played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Kataoka Nizaemon XI and Nakamura Utaemon V.

November 1921: Shûchô plays at the Minamiza in Nagasaki the role of the wet nurse Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of the evil Yashio is played by Nakamura Tsuruzô III. Shûchô also plays the role of Shigetada in the "Sakaro" scene of the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

February 1922: Shûchô plays at the Yokohamaza in Yokohama the role of Matahei's wife Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata". The role of Matahei is played by Ichikawa Danshirô II.

June 1922: Shûchô plays at the Shintomiza the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Matsuômaru, Takebe Genzô and Tonami are played by Nakamura Kichiemon I, Morita Kan'ya XIII and Nakamura Tokizô III.

December 1922: Shûchô plays at the Imperial Theater (Tôkyô) the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners in the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori are Nakamura Jakuemon III and Sawamura Sônosuke I.

February 1923: Shûchô plays at the Meijiza the roles of Oryû and Suke-no-Tsubone in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The roles of Tokaiya Gimpei and Taira no Tomomori are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.

March 1923: Shûchô plays at the Shintomiza the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Matsuômaru, Takebe Genzô and Tonami are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII, Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Tokizô III.

July 1923: Shûchô plays at the Yokohamaza in Yokohama the role of Otatsu in the sewamono "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami".

November 1923: Shûchô plays at the Minamiza in Azabu (Tôkyô) the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Matsuômaru is played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII. This is the first kabuki performance to be staged in Tôkyô after the terrible earthquake that hit the city the 1st of September 1923.

March 1924: Shûchô plays at the Minamiza in Nagasaki the role of Osono in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi". The role of Rokusuke is played by Arashi Kichisaburô VI.

May 1924: Shûchô plays at the Shôchiku Gekijô in Kôbe the role of Oiwa in the "Mikasayama Goten" scene of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". The role of Fukashichi is played by Bandô Jusaburô III.

September 1924: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza the role of Ofude in the "Ôtsu no Shuku", "Sasahiki" and "Sakaro" scenes of the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

October 1924: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza the role of Yuranosuke's wife Oishi in the "Yamashina Kankyo" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Yuranosuke, Honzô and Tonase are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII, Kataoka Nizaemon XI and Nakamura Utaemon V.

November 1924: Shûchô plays at the Hôrakuza the role of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of the clasic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The roles of Gonta and Yasuke are played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Ichimura Kamezô III.

January 1925: Shûchô plays at the Asakusa Shôchikuza the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

March 1925: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Yoshinoyama" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The roles of Tadanobu and Hayami no Tôta are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Bandô Jusaburô III.

June 1925: Shûchô plays at the Shimbashi Embujô the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Yoshinoyama" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The role of Tadanobu is played by Onoe Kikugorô VI.

September 1925: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza in Tôkyô the role of Ohaya in the "Hikimado" scene of the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". The roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Jûjibei are played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Jitsukawa Enjaku II.

October 1925: Shûchô plays at the Bentenza in Ôsaka the role of Osono in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi". He also plays the role of the wet nurse Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The roles of Rokusuke ("Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi") and the evil Yashio ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") are played by Ichikawa Udanji II.

November 1925: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yuranosuke's wife Oishi in the "Yamashina Kankyo" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Yuranosuke and Tonase are played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

April 1926: Shûchô plays at the Asakusa Shôchikuza the role of Matahei's wife Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata". The role of Matahei is played by Ichikawa Sumizô VI.

May 1926: Shûchô plays at the Asakusa Shôchikuza the role of Sodehagi in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara". His stage partners are Ichikawa Chûsha VII (Abe no Sadatô), Bandô Mitsugorô VII (Abe no Munetô) and Ichimura Kamezô III (Yoshiie).

October 1926: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tonase in the acts VIII and IX of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Tonase's husband Honzô and Tonase's daughter Konami are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII and Nakamura Shikaku II.

November 1928: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza (Tôkyô) the roles of En'ya Hangan and Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Ichikawa Sumizô VI (Hayano Kampei), Sawamura Tosshi VIII (Teraoka Heiemon) and Ôtani Tomoemon VI (Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô).

April 1929: Shûchô plays at the Hongôza in Tôkyô the role of the wet nurse Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of the evil Yashio is played by Ichikawa Sumizô VI. He also plays at the Kabukiza the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo in the "Ga no Iwai" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Matsuômaru is played by Ichikawa Sadanji II.

May 1929: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ofude in the "Sakaro" scene of the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

July 1929: Shûchô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) and the Yachiyoza (Kôbe) the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Yoshinoyama" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The role of Tadanobu is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

December 1929: Shûchô plays at the Shinjuku Shinkabukiza (Tôkyô) the roles of En'ya Hangan and Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Ichikawa Sumizô VI (Hayano Kampei, Teraoka Heiemon) and Ôtani Tomoemon VI (Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô).

May 1930: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza in Tôkyô the role of Tatsuta no Mae in the "Dômyôji" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Kakuju, Sukune Tarô and Kan Shôjô are played by Ichikawa Chûsha VII, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Nakamura Ganjirô I.

January 1931: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yuranosuke's wife Oishi in the "Yamashina Kankyo" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The role of Yuranosuke is played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.

May 1934: Shûchô plays at the Kabukiza in Nagoya the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". The role of Abe no Yasuna is played by Kataoka Gadô IV.

October 1934: Shûchô plays at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Ohaya in the "Hikimado" scene of the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". The roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Jûjibei are played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Jitsukawa Enjaku II. He also plays the roles of Kaoyo and Ichimonjiya in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Comments:

Bandô Shûchô III playing the role of Shizuka Gozen in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" (print made by Natori Shunsen 1925)

The Bandô Katsutarô line of actors

The Bandô Shûchô line of actors