SAWAMURA SÔJÛRÔ III

11th lunar month of 1769: Tanosuke and his father went to Kamigata. They performed together in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Asahimaru Genji Kagami", which was produced by Onoe Kumesuke and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Shingorô II.

30th day of the 8th lunar month of 1770^[2]: his father Sawamura Sôjûrô II died in Kyôto. The actor Arashi Sangorô II welcomed the young Tanosuke into his home.

3rd ~ 5th lunar months of 1771: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Tanosuke played the role of Koganosuke [casting]; his partner in the role of Hinadori was Sawamura Kunitarô I.

11th lunar month of 1771: Sawamura Tanosuke I took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô III in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing the role of Nitta Yoshisuke in the kaomise drama "Miyako Yoshino Mikado no Takadono", which was produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I, welcomed in Kyôto the Edo actor Sakata Hangorô II and celebrated also the shûmei of both Anegawa Minato II and Yamatoyama Rinzaemon II; Sôjûrô's others stage partners were Onoe Shinshichi I, Sawamura Kunitarô I, Ichikawa Tomozô I, Arashi Tôjûrô, Arashi Shichigorô II, Bandô Manzô, Yamashita Shungorô and Fujikawa Sango.

1st lunar month of 1772: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Momonoi Wakasanosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1772: Sôjûrô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Shiraume Genji Kuruwa no Hachinoki", which was produced by Anegawa Chiyosaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1773: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Yamazaki Yogorô and Imagawa Tokiwanosuke in the drama "Koi Denju Chôchô Narezome Zakura", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Futatsu Chôchô" world.

2nd lunar month of 1773: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Konami in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

5th lunar month of 1773: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Yamazaki Yogorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1773: Sôjûrô moved to Hayagumo Chôdayû and Hoteiya Umenojô theater, playing in the kaomise drama "Etariya Etari Tsuwamono Majiwari", which was produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I.

1st lunar month of 1774: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Hosokawa Iorinosuke and the peasant Yoshirô in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Miyako no Nishiki".

Fall 1774: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1774: Sôjûrô performed in the kaomise drama "Akanesasu Kogane no Maruyama", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango in Kyôto.

2nd lunar month of 1775: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kiriko Senjirô in the drama "Keisei Kane no Nariwataru".

3rd lunar month of 1775: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Yamazaki Yogorô in "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

Fall 1775: Sôjûrô settled in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1775: Sôjûrô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Gohiiki Tenmokuzan", which was produced by Mimasu Matsunojô.

12th lunar month of 1775: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

7th lunar month of 1776: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Yoshitsune and Tadanori in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

8th lunar month of 1776: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Yosaku and Keimasa in "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

11th lunar month of 1776: Sôjûrô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Genji Saikô Uchide no Kozuchi", which was produced by Arashi Shichisaburô II.

12th lunar month of 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Sôjûrô played the role of Wada Shizuma [casting].

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; Sôjûrô played the role of Nagoya Jûzô [casting].

11th lunar month of 1777: after nine years spent in Kamigata,

Fall 1777: Sôjûrô decided to go back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1777: Sôjûrô performed at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Hito no Kuni Yori Mitsugi no Irifune".

1st lunar month of 1778: the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" was staged for the very first time in Edo, at the Moritaza; Sôjûrô played the roles of Shibaroku, Motome and Koganosuke.

7th lunar month of 1778: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Yamazaki Yogorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1778: Sôjûrô performed at the Ichimuraza in Masuyama Kinpachi I's kaomise drama "Sakimasuya Ume no Kachidoki", which welcomed in Edo the actor Onoe Kikugorô I.

8th lunar month of 1779: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Sonobe Saemon [illustration] in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

11th lunar month of 1779: Sôjûrô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Mori Sakae Kusunoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Azuma Tôzô III and Segawa Otome.

5th lunar month of 1780: tour in Sendai.

11th lunar month of 1780: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Taira no Munemori, Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu and Kongô Dôji in the kaomise drama "Kite Kaeru Nishiki no Wakayaka".

1st ~ 3rd lunar months of 1781: the Nakamuraza had to delay the staging of its new year sogamono drama because of heavy financial issues.

5th lunar month of 1781: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hisamatsu in the drama "Shôbu Zake Muko no Otogi".

11th lunar month of 1781: premiere of the dance-drama "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi" (commonly called "Kumo no Hyôshimai") at the Nakamuraza, which was staged within the kaomise drama "Shitennô Tonoi no Kisewata"; the roles of the spirit of the spider, Minamoto no Raikô, Sadamitsu and Sakata Kintoki were played by Segawa Kikunojô III, Sôjûrô, Onoe Matsusuke I and Ichikawa Danjûrô V.

1st lunar month of 1782: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Nanakusa Yosooi Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kudô Saemon Suketsune were played by Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Ichikawa Danjûrô V.

5th lunar month of 1782: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of the shirozake seller Shinbê in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Natori Gusa"; the roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and Ikyû were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Rikô I and Nakamura Nakazô I.

7th lunar month of 1782: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Datezome Shikata Kôshaku", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

11th lunar month of 1782: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Hachiman Tarô, Manzai and Katsuta Jirô in the kaomise drama "Godai Genji Mitsugi no Furisode"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Segawa Kikunojô III, Ichikawa Danzô IV and Onoe Matsusuke I.

1st lunar month of 1783: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of the priest Seigen and Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga"; the roles of Princess Sakura and Soga Gorô Tokimune were played by Iwai Hanshirô IV and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.

5th lunar month of 1783: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; his stage partner in the role of Kanpei's wife Okaru was Segawa Kikunojô III.

8th lunar month of 1783: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; his stage partner in the role of Chôgorô's rival sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi was Ichikawa Monnosuke II.

11th lunar month of 1783: Sôjûrô moved to the Ichimuraza and played 4 roles in the kaomise drama "Kuruma Gakari Tekuda no Gunbai".

4th lunar month of 1784: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Nakazô I quarreled.

5th lunar month of 1784: the Ichimuraza moved from its current location to the district of Kobiki-chô. Sôjûrô went back to the Nakamuraza.

7th lunar month of 1784: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". Sôjûrô replaced Ichikawa Monnosuke II who was supposed to play these roles but left suddenly the theater in the 6th lunar month.

8th lunar month of 1784: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kamiya Jihê in Chikamatsu Monzaemon masterpiece's "Shinjû Ten no Amijima"; the role of Koharu was played by Iwai Hanshirô IV [print]. From the 17th of this month, he also played the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1784: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which celebrated the departure of Iwai Hanshirô IV to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1784: Sôjûrô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima".

1st lunar month of 1785: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsuhana Mimasu Soga". He also played the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the Tomimoto-based dance-drama "Shinobu Koi Yanagi ni Katsurao".

3rd lunar months of 1785: the great actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, performing with Sôjûrô in the drama "Mitsu Ningyô Yayoi no Hinagata".

8th lunar month of 1785: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1785: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Takeda Katsuyori in the drama "Osana Najimi Kasane Kotoba".

11th lunar month of 1785: Sôjûrô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Yuki Motsu Take Furisode Genji".

5th lunar month of 1786: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; his stage partner in the role of Yuranosuke was his brother Ichikawa Yaozô III.

6th lunar month of 1786: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners in the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Tsuribune Sabu were Ôtani Hiroji III and Nakayama Kojûrô VI.

11th lunar month of 1786: Sôjûrô performed in the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kumoi no Hana Yoshino no Wakamusha". Premiere at the Nakamuraza of the Tomimoto-based dance-drama "Sode Furu Yuki Yoshino Shûi" (nowadays entitled "Meoto Gitsune"), which was staged within the kaomise drama "Kumoi no Hana Yoshino no Wakamusha"; Sôjûrô played the role of Kusunoki Masatsura [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1787: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô, disguised as a shirozake-seller, in the drama "Sukeroku Natori no Yaezakura"; his stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku/Soga Gorô, Agemaki and Ikyû were Ichikawa Yaozô III, Osagawa Tsuneyo II and Onoe Matsusuke I.

5th lunar month of 1787: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Teraoka Heiemon and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1788: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kawaraya Tokubê in the drama "Tsuki no Tomo Yoi no Miya Gohyakuzaki".

1st lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô moved to the Ichimuraza, which was back in business in the 11th lunar month of 1788, playing the role of Danzaburô, Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Noriyori in the new year sogamono drama "Koi no Yosuga Kanagaki Soga"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Segawa Kikunojô III, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Asao Tamejûrô I and Onoe Matsusuke I.

3rd lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hikoroku in the second part (nibanme) of the new year sogamono drama "Koi no Yosuga Kanagaki Soga". He also performed in duo with Segawa Kikunojô III in the Tomimoto-based dance "Sono Omokage Asama-ga-Dake".

4th lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kameya Chûbê in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai"; his stage partner in the role of the courtesan Umegawa was Segawa Kikunojô III.

5th lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Shindô Genpachi and Kashima Masugorô in the drama "Sanjikkoku Yofune no Hajimari".

6th lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan, Hayano Kanpei, Jûtarô and Ishidô Nuinosuke in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

11th lunar month of 1789: Sôjûrô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana no Oedo Masakado Matsuri".

1st lunar month of 1790: his rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Kyô no Jirô and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Ureshiku Zonji Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1790: Sôjûrô, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Ôtani Hiroji III performed together in the Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Tao Yanagi Oboro no Kurokami".

4th lunar month of 1790: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hanbê in the love drama "Ochiyo Hanbê"; his partner in the role of Ochiyo was Iwai Hanshirô IV.

6th lunar month of 1790: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Sagisaka Sanai in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

8th lunar month of 1790: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1790: the play "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; it celebrated the onagori kyôgen of the Kamigata star Asao Tamejûrô I; Sôjûrô played the role of Izumi no Saburô [more details].

11th lunar month of 1790: Sôjûrô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Iwao no Hana Mine no Kusunoki".

1st lunar month of 1791: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Mankô and Miura Yoshimura in the new year sogamono drama "Shunshoku Edoe Soga", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Sawamura Kunitarô I.

6th lunar month of 1791: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Tadanobu, Yasuke (in the "Sushiya" scene) and the fox Genkurô in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

9th lunar month of 1791: Sôjûrô played in the same theater in the drama "Take no Haru Yoshiwara Suzume", which celebrated his coming departure to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1791: second stay in Kamigata; Sôjûrô performed in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shuten Dôji", which was produced by Hanagiri Tomimatsu II in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai. He also played the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1792: Sôjûrô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Summer 1792: Sôjûrô performed in Ôsaka at the Kita no Shinchi Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1792: Sôjûrô performed in Kyôto in Namiki Gohei I's kaomise drama "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki"^[3] and kiri kyôgen "Tobakari Hana no Yoshinoyama"^[4].

1st lunar month of 1793: Sôjûrô was back in Edo and played the role of Soga Jûrô in the drama "Saikai Soga Nakamura", which was staged at the Nakamuraza.

3rd lunar month of 1793: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

4th lunar month of 1793: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Amakawaya Gihei and Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanagaki Azuma Kagami", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kanadehon Chûshingura" world. The performance was a great success for Sôjûrô.

Fall 1793: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Yamazaki Yogorô and Nuregami Chôgorô in "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1793: third stay in Kamigata. Sôjûrô played in Namiki Gohei I's kaomise drama "Kogane Masu Yonetarô Gitsune", which was produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai by Nakayama Yosaburô II and celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Bunshichi II; others actors were Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Arashi Sangorô II.

12th lunar month of 1793: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kitabatake Kazue-no-Kami in the drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi".

1st lunar month of 1794: Sôjûrôs rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was also kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

2nd lunar month of 1794: Sôjûrô was back in Edo and played at the Miyakoza the role of Soga Jûrô in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsu Akebono Kaomise Soga".

7th lunar month of 1794: premiere at the Miyakoza of the drama "Keisei Sanbon Karakasa"; Sôjûrô played the role of Nagoya Sanza [more details].

9th lunar month of 1794: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Yoshitsune in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

10th lunar month of 1794: due to some financial difficulties, the salaries of all the actors were drastically reduced. Sôjûrô's yearly salary for the coming season was set to 800 ryô after a reduction of 300 ryô.

11th lunar month of 1794: Sôjûrô played at the Miyakoza the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi and Kujaku Saburô in Namiki Gohei I's kaomise drama "Uruô Tosshi Meika no Homare", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Nakazô II and welcomed in Edo the actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakamura Noshio II and the Ôsaka playwright Namiki Gohei I.

1st lunar month of 1795: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Miyakoza; Sôjûrô played the role of Satsuma Gengobê [casting].

4th lunar month of 1795: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

8th lunar month of 1795: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Rokuyata in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; his stage partner in the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami was Segawa Kikunojô III.

9th lunar month of 1795: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1795: Sôjûrô performed at the Kiriza in the kaomise drama "Genpei Hashira Goyomi", which celebrated the shûmei of Ôtani Tomoemon II.

1st lunar month of 1796: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Daifukuchô". He also played the role of Ume no Yoshibê [illustration] in the premiere of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" [casting]. His performance was so great that the role of Ume no Yoshibê was definitively set based on Sôjûrô's acting in this play. It became a standard to portray an Edo otokodate.

4th lunar month of 1796: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Yuranosuke and Fuwa in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Edo no Hana Akô no Shiogama", whose plot and characters were similar to "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" was staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Sôjûrô played the roles of Rokusuke and Lord Koori Otonari in the former theater [casting].

11th lunar month of 1796: Sôjûrô played 3 roles at the Kiriza in the kaomise drama "Ginsekai Matsu ni Yukihira".

1st lunar month of 1797: Sôjûrô played in the same theater 3 roles, including Soga Jûrô Sukenari, in the new year sogamono drama "Ôkazari Soga no Kadomatsu"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kudô Saemon Suketsune were played by Ichikawa Omezô I and Bandô Hikosaburô III.

5th lunar month of 1797: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Karigane Bunshichi in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Aigikyô Karigane Komon", a revival of "Aigikyô Karigane Gomon", written by the same playwright and staged for the first time in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai in the 7th lunar month of 1774. Sôjûrô's stage partners were Segawa Kikunojô III (Bunshichi's wife Otsuta, Heibei's wife Otsugi), Arashi Ryûzô II (Kaminari Shôkurô), Ichikawa Omezô I (Hotei Ichiemon), Ôtani Hiroji III (Yamakawaya Gon'emon), Ôtani Tomoemon II (Gokuin Sen'emon) and Nakamura Denkurô IV (Yamakawaya Gonroku).

9th lunar month of 1797: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1797: Sôjûrô played at the Kiriza the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Yuki Onna Keizu no Hachinoki". Sôjûrô, Segawa Kikunojô III and Ichikawa Yaozô III performed together in the Tomimoto-based dance "Miya Mairi Musubi no Kamigaki".

1st lunar month of 1798: premiere at the Kiriza (Edo) of Namiki Gohei I's play "Tomioka Koi no Yamabiraki", commonly called "Ninin Shinbê", in which Sôjûrô played the role of Demura Shinbê [casting].

9th lunar month of 1798: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Satsuma Gengobê in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Gozonji Godairiki" (very similar to "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"); the roles of Sasano Sangobê and the courtesan Koman were played by Ôtani Tomoemon II and Segawa Kikunojô III.

Fall 1798: Sôjûrô, the playwright Namiki Gohei I and Ôtani Tomoemon II went together to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1798: fourth stay in Kamigata; Sôjûrô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo in the kaomise drama "Kogane Bana Genji no Sakigake", which was produced by Yamashita Kamematsu; his stage partners were Nakamura Utaemon III, Arashi Hinasuke II, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Ôtani Tomoemon II, Onoe Koisaburô I and Fujikawa Tomokichi I.

1st lunar month of 1799: Sôjûrô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the roles of Hisayoshi and Motome in Namiki Gohê's play "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". Hisayoshi's rival Ishikawa Goemon was played by Arashi Hinasuke II.

2nd lunar month of 1799: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Satsuma Gengobê in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime".

6th lunar month of 1799: Sôjûrô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Tadanobu in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1799: Sôjûrô played in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Oda Harunaga and Konoshita Tôkichi in the kaomise drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". He also played the role of Fujiya Izaemon in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's play "Awa no Naruto"; his stage partner in the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was Yoshizawa Iroha I.

8th lunar month of 1800: Sôjûrô fell ill and decided to go back to Edo after recovery.

11th lunar month of 1800: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Godai no Saburô and Ôtomo no Kuronushi in Nagawa Shimesuke I's kaomise drama "Oishigeru Nami no Une Une", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Arashi Kanjûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1801: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He fell seriously ill while playing at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Kayoi Kuruwa Naresome Soga". He had to be replaced by Ichikawa Yaozô III.

29th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1801^[1]: Sôjûrô died in Edo.

Comments:

Sawamura Sôjûrô III an outstanding tachiyaku actor, who was active from the beginning of the 1760s to the beginning of the 1800s. He was equally popular in Edo and in the Kamigata cities. He was an excellent wagotoshi and jitsugotoshi. Budôgoto roles were also his forte.

His best roles: Gengobê ("Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"), Ôboshi Yuranosuke ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Ashikaga Yorikane ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") and Soga Jûrô in numerous sogamono.

[1] The 29th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 1st year of the Kyôwa era was the 11th of May 1801 in the western calendar.

[2] The 30th day of the 8th lunar month of the 7th year of the Meiwa era was the 18th of October 1770 in the western calendar.

[3] A kaomise drama with the same title, "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki", was written by Namiki Shôzô I and was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1765 in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.

[4] This drama was premiered in Ôsaka at the Kita no Shinchi Shibai in the 8th lunar month of 1792 with the same troupe.

[5] The roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Princess Yuki were played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Fujikawa Tomokichi I.