Stage names:

Sawamura Sôjûrô VII
Sawamura Tosshô III
Sawamura Genpei IV

Real name: Sawamura Fukuzô

Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)

Guild: Kinokuniya

Poetry name: Kôga

Blazon: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い]

Existence: 1875 ~ 2 March 1949

Connections:

Adoptive father: Suketakaya Takasuke IV

Adopted brother: Sawamura Tosshi VII

Sons: Suketakaya Takasuke V, Sawamura Tanosuke V, Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII

Grandsons: Sawamura Sôjûrô IX, Sawamura Tôjûrô II, Sawamura Tanosuke VI, Sawamura Yoshijirô V

Disciples: Sawamura Tetsunosuke III, Sawamura Tetsunosuke IV, Sawamura Komondo IV, Sawamura Ujûrô III, Sawamura Ujûrô IV, Sawamura Yodogorô IV, Sawamura Sôya, Sawamura Kentarô

Career:

1875: born in Tôkyô in the district of Tsukiji. He was most likely the son of a priest based in the Honganji temple in Tsukiji.

1881: he was adopted by Suketakaya Takasuke IV, who gave him the civil name of Sawamura Fukuzô.

November 1881: first stage appearance at the Hisamatsuza, where he received the name of Sawamura Genpei IV.

2 February 1886: his adoptive father Suketakaya Takasuke IV died. Genpei and his adopted brother Sawamura Tosshi VII, went together to Kamigata.

July 1891: Genpei played at the Asahiza (Ôsaka) the role of Yamanba in the dance "Komochi Yamanba".

1892: Sawamura Genpei IV took the name of Sawamura Tosshô III at the Nakaza in Ôsaka.

November 1896: Tosshô took part in the opening ceremony of the Miyatoza [more details].

January 1898: premiere at the Miyatoza of Segawa Jokô IV's drama "Shinsaku Yakko no Koman"; Tosshô played the role of Oyuki, later Yakko no Koman [more details].

March 1899: premiere at the Meijiza of the drama "Kurotegumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki", which gathered the main scenes from the sukerokumono part of Kawatake Shinshichi II's 1858 drama "Edo Zakura Kiyomizu Seigen"; Tosshô played the roles of the shinzô Shiratama and Denji's wife Otama [casting].

December 1901: Tosshô played at the Engiza the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba".

December 1902: Tosshô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

February/March 1904: successful premiere at the Tôkyôza of Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Kiri Hitoha"; Tosshô played the roles of Ginnojô and Ôno Shûrinosuke [more details].

December 1905: Tosshô played at the Miyatoza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by Ichikawa Kodanji V.

September 1908: Sawamura Tosshô III took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII at the Kabukiza, performing in the dramas "Jûnin Otoko" and "Kôyasan".

November 1908: revival at the Kabukiza of the Kabuki Jûhachiban drama "Kagekiyo"; Sôjûrô played the role of Kagekiyo's daughter Princess Hitomaru [casting].

November 1909: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke were played by Ichikawa Danzô VII and Ichikawa Komazô VIII.

March 1911: opening of the Imperial Theater. The three leading actors of the new Kabuki troupe based in this theater were Onoe Baikô VI (onnagata), Ichikawa Komazô VIII (tachiyaku) and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (wagotoshi).

April 1912: premiere at the Naniwaza of Okamoto Kidô's "Heikegani", which starred Onoe Baikô VI and Sôjûrô.

April 1914: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Iwafuji were performed by Sawamura Sônosuke I and Onoe Baikô VI.

October 1914: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the role of Iwafuji was performed by Onoe Baikô VI.

April 1915: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Yosaburô in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi"; the role of Otomi was played by Onoe Baikô VI.

April 1916: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the roles of Yorikane, Okinoi and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Yashio and Nikki Danjô were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.

July 1916: Sôjûrô played at the Yokohamaza (Kanagawa) the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba".

December 1919: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza the role of Omiwa in the "Mikasayama Goten" scene of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin"; the role of Fukashichi was played by Onoe Tamizô III.

July 1922: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba"; the roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki was played by Morita Kan'ya XIII.

February 1924: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza (Kyôto) the role of Miuranosuke in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; his stage partners in the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Princess Toki were Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Nakamura Jakuemon III.

July 1924: Sôjûrô played at the Daikokuza the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba"; the roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki was played by Morita Kan'ya XIII.

February 1926: Sôjûrô played at the Hongôza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by Nakamura Tokizô III.

February 1927: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Princess Tamaori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojirô/Atsumori was played by Nakamura Ganjirô I.

April 1927: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Morita Kan'ya XIII.

July 1927: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi", an adaptation to Kabuki by the playwright Kimura Kinka of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel; Sôjûrô played the role of the geisha Adahachi [casting].

December 1927: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by an actress (Kikue Namiko).

March 1928: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Iwafuji were played by Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.

May 1929: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza the role of Omiwa in the "Mikasayama Goten" scene of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin"; the role of Fukashichi was played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.

June 1929: Sôjûrô played at the Imperial Theater the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichikawa Sadanji II.

January 1930: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

February 1930: Sôjûrô played at the Meijiza the role of Sakuramaru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Umeômaru), Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Matsuômaru) and Onoe Kôzô II (Shihei).

September 1930: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

March 1931: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichikawa Sadanji II.

June 1931: Sôjûrô played at the Meijiza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Iwafuji were played by Nakamura Tokizô III and Kataoka Gadô IV.

January 1932: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba"; the roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki was played by Bandô Mitsugorô VII.

November 1932: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Gedatsu", a play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Sôjûrô played the role of Taira no Munemori's son Kiyosada [more details].

March 1933: Sôjûrô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Togashi were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

March 1934: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

April 1934: Sôjûrô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu were played by Bandô Shûchô III and Nakamura Tokizô III.

March 1935: premiere at the Kabukiza of the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari"; Sôjûrô played the role of Ôkubo Tomooki [more details].

April 1936: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Princess Tamaori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojirô/Atsumori was played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

October 1936: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

June 1937: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô VI (Princess Yaegaki) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Katsuyori).

January 1938: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Ohatsu were played by Nakamura Baigyoku III and Nakamura Kaisha.

June 1938: Sôjûrô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

May 1939: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the role of Iwafuji was played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

November 1939: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Sôjûrô played the role of the yamabushi Priest Yûkei [casting].

January 1940: Sôjûrô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.

November 1940: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

February 1941: Sôjûrô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of the evil Yashio was played by Ôtani Tomoemon VI.

March 1941: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of the evil Yashio was played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

December 1941: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza the role of the evil Yashio in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Masaoka was played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

March 1942: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu were played by Ôtani Tomoemon VI and Kataoka Nizaemon XII. Sôjûrô plays also the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

June 1942: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kan U", a play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Sôjûrô played the role of Hatakeyama no Shigetada, later the Chinese general Chô Hi [casting].

November 1942: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the roles of Kaoyo and Senzaki Yagorô in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

December 1942: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

April 1943: Sôjûrô played at the Shôchiku Gekijô (Kôbe) and at the Misonoza (Nagoya, from the 15th of the month) the roles of the evil Yashio and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danjô were played by Nakamura Baigyoku III and Bandô Jusaburô III. Sôjûrô also played the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane was played by Bandô Jusaburô III.

May 1943: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata"; the role of Matahei was played by Onoe Kikugorô VI.

October 1943: Sôjûrô played at the Hitachi Mine and the Nikkô Copper Plant the role of Hayano Kanpei in the 5th act and 6th act of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

January 1945: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô".

Decembre 1946: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Ohatsu were played by Nakamura Tokizô III and Ichikawa Sumizô VI.

October 1947: Sôjûrô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

November 1947: Sôjûrô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Kaoyo, Osai and Oishi in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Decembre 1947: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Ohatsu were played by Nakamura Tokizô III and Ichikawa Sumizô VI.

February 1948: Sôjûrô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of En'ya Hangan and Oishi in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

July 1948: Sôjûrô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Princess Tamaori were played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Nakamura Tomijûrô IV.

October 1948: Sôjûrô played at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô the role of Mimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata"; the role of Sasaki Moritsuna was played by Ichikawa Ebizô IX.

December 1948: Sôjûrô played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by Nakamura Tokizô III.

January 1949: Sôjûrô played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Yorikane and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi"; the role of Nikki Danjô was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

2 March 1949: Sôjûrô collapsed on a Himeji theater's stage while playing the role of Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Comments:

Sawamura Sôjûrô VII was an amazing onnagata and wagotoshi actor, a talented dancer, who led with Onoe Kikugorô VI, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV the Kabuki world from the end of the Meiji era to the end of the forties. His special methods of acting gave birth to the expression "Sôjûrô Kabuki".

Sawamura Sôjûrô VII gathered his 10 best roles in a collection called Kôga Jisshu. The most famous ones were Ofune ("Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi"), Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamanba"), Fukuoka mitsugi ("Ise Ondo"), Dôshin ("Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto") and Ranchô ("Wakaki Uchina Gusa"). Others famous roles of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII were Fujiya Izaemon ("Kuruwa Bunshô"), Mimyô ("Moritsuna Jinya") and Kakuju ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").

"The seventh Sawamura Sôjûrô is also one of the Imperial Theatre stars. He acts so well with Baikô and Kôshirô that they form a perfect trio, and when there is a break in this stage comradeship, Tôkyô will be conscious of a blank like that which was experienced when the three great actors of Meiji passed away one after the other. Sôjûrô is at his best in samurai and aristocratic rôles, He also makes a fascinating woman, and his ability in the dance, while not so striking as that of Baikô and Kôshirô, is still very great." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

Sawamura Sôjûrô VII playing the role of Osome in the drama "Shinpan Utazaimon" (print made by Ôta Masamitsu)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1900

Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950

The Sawamura Genpei line of actors

The Sawamura Tosshô line of actors

The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors