| SUKETAKAYA TAKASUKE I |
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Guild: Kinokuniya Line number: SHODAI (I) Poetry names: Tosshi (1), Kôga Blazon: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い] Existence: 1685 ~ 3rd day of the 1st lunar month of 1756 [1] Connections: Master: Sawamura Chôjûrô I Son: Sawamura Kamesaburô Adopted son: Sawamura Sôjûrô II Disciples: Sawamura Chôjûrô IV, Sawamura Otoemon II, Sawamura Sôjûrô, Sawamura Genjirô, Sawamura Kodenji II, Sawamura Ujûrô I, Sawamura Sôgorô I, Sawamura Chôsaku, Sawamura Chôshirô I, Sawamura Somegorô, Sawamura Unomatsu, Sawamura Nisôji Career: 1685 ~ 1715: born in Kyôto. Third son of the samurai Miki Wakasa. His family was very close to the actor Sawamura Chôjûrô I, who accepted to train him as a disciple. After a few years round about his master, he decided to leave Kyôto, following the travelling actor Tamiya Shirogorô. He gave up acting a few years later and learnt to play flute in order to become a musician. 1715: he was back on stage in Ise at the Furuichi no Shibai, performing under the name of Someyama Kijûrô I. 1716: Sawamura Chôjûrô welcomed him back and gave him the name of Sawamura Zengorô. 11th lunar month of 1716: Zengorô performed with his master in Ôsaka in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Ichigura". 2nd lunar month of 1717: Sawamura Chôjûrô produced in Ôsaka the plays "Keisei Chibiki no Ishi" and "Keisei Kokusen'ya" in which Zengorô attracted considerable attention, especially in the second play in which he replaced the star Anegawa Shinshirô I, who fell sick at the beginning of the performance, to play the prestigious role of Watônai. 1718: he spent a few weeks in Ise and settled in Edo. 11th lunar month of 1718: he took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô at the Moritaza, playing the role of Fujiwara no Takenori in the kaomise drama "Zenkunen Yoroi Kurabe". The ideogram "Sô" [in Japanese: 惣] chosen by the actor was the one used for the concept of totality. 1st lunar month of 1720: Sôjûrô played at the Moritaza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene, included in the new year sogamono drama "Yuzuriha Kongen Soga"; his stage partner in the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was Ichikawa Danjûrô II, whose incredible performance was a huge success. 1720: he decided to change his ideogram Sô, using the one meaning the origin [in Japanese: 宗]. 1st lunar month of 1721: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Tsurukame Wakayagi Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) were Ichimura Takenojô IV, Yamanaka Takejûrô and Nakamura Takesaburô I. 11th lunar month of 1721: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ashikaga Yorikane in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô"; he shared the stage with Matsumoto Kôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I and Yamanaka Heikurô I. 1st lunar month of 1722: Sôjûrô played in the same theater 6 roles, including Soga Jûrô Sukenari, in the new year drama "Yaoya Shinjû". 11th lunar month of 1722: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Sanada Yoichi and Minamoto Yoritomo in the kaomise drama "Hinazuru Katoku Soga". 1st lunar month of 1723: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Manazuru Kazô Soga"; his stage partner in the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) was Fujimura Handayû II. 11th lunar month of 1723: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Fujiwara no Nakamitsu in the kaomise drama "Hinagata Shuten Dôji", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Ogino Izaburô I. 1st lunar month of 1724: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Kawazu Saburô and Soga Tarô in the new year drama "Yomeiri Izu Nikki". 11th lunar month of 1724: Sôjûrô moved to the Nakamuraza and played the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Okuni Kabuki"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Matsumoto Kôshirô I and Ichikawa Monnosuke I. 1st lunar month of 1725: Sôjûrô played for the first time, in the same theater, the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Funadama Izu Nikki"; his performance was well received by the audience and the critics. 11th lunar month of 1725: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Oguri Hangan in the kaomise drama "Oguri Chôseiden" (literally 'Oguri in the Palace of Long Life'); his stage partner in the role of Princess Terute was Yamamoto Hanasato. 1st lunar month of 1726: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Watanabe Tsuna in the new year drama "Kadomatsu Shitennô", which commemorated the 23rd memorial service (22nd anniversary) of the passing away of Ichikawa Danjûrô I. Summer 1726: Sôjûrô performed in the drama "Suehiro Nagoya". He portrayed Nagoya Sanza, confronting Ichikawa Danjûrô II in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in a great "Sayaate" scene.
11th lunar month of 1726: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Toriumi Yasaburô in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Jûnidan". 1st lunar month of 1727: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Yuzuriha Gongen Soga"; his stage partner in the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was Ichikawa Danjûrô II. 3rd lunar month of 1727: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II played in the same theater the roles of Seigen and Utsumi Shintarô in the drama "Konrei Otowa no Taki", which included a koroshiba well received by the audience. 4th lunar month of 1727: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II played in the same theater the roles of the rival warlords Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen in the drama "Kôyô Gun'u no Hanagasane". 11th lunar month of 1727: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Hata Rokurôzaemon in the drama "Yatsumune Taiheiki" [more details]. This program celebrated the return of Ôtani Hiroji I (along with the Kamigata actor Kirinami Onoe) in Edo after 5 years spent in Kyôto. This was also the first stage appearance for Ichikawa Masugorô, the adopted son of Danjûrô. 1st lunar month of 1728: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II played in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Soga Gorô Tokimune in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Hôraisan"; their stage partners in the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Kobayashi no Asahina, Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover) were Ogawa Zengorô I, Ôtani Hiroji I, Kirinami Onoe and Sanjô Kantarô II. 11th lunar month of 1728: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Minamoto Yoshitsune in the kaomise drama "Hoshi Kabuto Goban Tadanobu"; his stage partners in the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Kyô no Kimi were Sanjô Kantarô II and Sodesaki Iseno I. 1st lunar month of 1729: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the short and bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene, which was staged within the new year sogamono drama "Suehiro Ehô Soga". Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II played the leading roles of the brothers Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Soga Gorô Tokimune. 11th lunar month of 1729: great kaomise at the Nakamuraza; the 4 tachiyaku Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Sôjûrô performed together in the kaomise drama "Ume Goyomi Konrei Nagoya". Fall 1730: the actors Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ogino Izaburô I, Bandô Hikosaburô I and Sôjûrô performed in the drama "Meigetsu Gonin Otoko" ('Five men under the August moon'), which was staged in the same theater [casting]. 11th lunar month of 1730: Sôjûrô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Irifune Hiru-ga-Kojima". 1st lunar month of 1731: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya" [casting]. Spring 1731: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Onitsugu in the drama "Muko Denju Nishiki no Tazuna", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Oguri Hangan" world; his stage partners were Nakamura Shichisaburô II (Oguri Hangan), Ogino Izaburô I (Princess Terute), Segawa Kikunojô I (Tsumagi) and Ichikawa Danjûrô II (Gotô Saemon). 11th lunar month of 1731: Sôjûrô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Wagô Ichiji Taiheiki", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata star Sadoshima Chôgorô I. 1st lunar month of 1732: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsugoyomi Ainai Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were Ogino Izaburô I and Sadoshima Chôgorô I. 9th lunar month of 1732: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama "Ôichô Sakae Kagekiyo" [casting]. 11th lunar month of 1732: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Minamoto Yoritomo in the kaomise drama "Yamato Kotoba Imagawajô", which he wrote himself. This kaomise program welcomed in Edo the 2 Kamigata stars Anegawa Shinshirô I and Sakakiyama Koshirô I. 1st lunar month of 1733: Sôjûrô, Anegawa Shinshirô I and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I played in the same theater the roles of Kihê, Kurofune Chûemon and Shôhei in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato". 3rd lunar month of 1733: Sôjûrô performed in the same theater in the drama "Tsuma Goi Sumidagawa", which he cowroted with Eda Yaichi and Kaneko Yasugorô. 6th lunar month of 1733: Sôjûrô, Anegawa Shinshirô I and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I played in the same theater the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi, Godai Saburô and Ôtomo Sanzen in the drama "Urawakami Iroha Komachi". 11th lunar month of 1733: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the kaomise drama "Nagi no Hana Asahi Genji". He welcomed the young actor Takinaka Utagawa, who arrived from Kamigata and settled in Edo. 24th day of the 1st lunar month of 1734 [2]: his master Sawamura Chôjûrô I died in Ôsaka. Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Nitta Shirô Tadatsune and Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono drama "Jûhakkô Imayô Soga"; his stage partner in the role of Kyô no Jirô's wife was Segawa Kikunojô I. 11th lunar month of 1734: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Kamatari in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Secchû no Tamatori", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Nakamura Shingorô I. 1st lunar month of 1735: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon and Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono drama "Meizan Kasane Soga". 11th lunar month of 1735: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Abe no Yasunari in the kaomise drama "Tono Zukuri Shinoda-zuma"; Sôjûrô, in duo with Anegawa Chiyosaburô I, achieved a great success in the michiyuki "Shinoda-zuma Michiyuki". There was a shortage of stars in the Nakamuraza line-up, compared to the rival Ichimuraza, and Sôjûrô was the only one to be at the top of the bill. 1st lunar month of 1736: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Yûkun Yoroi Soga"; his stage partner in the role of Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) was Anegawa Chiyosaburô. The two actors achieved an amazing success by dancing together in "Keisei Asama-ga-Dake" at the end of the program. 8th lunar month of 1736: Sôjûrô celebrated his final performance at the Nakamuraza, where he spent 13 years. He played the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Kan Shôjô Nishiki no Tomozuna". 11th lunar month of 1736: Sôjûrô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Kimura Bunzô in the kaomise drama "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata", which celebrated the arrival in Edo from Kyôto of the actor Tomizawa Montarô I and the shûmei of Tsuruya Nanboku II. 2nd lunar month of 1737: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Shima no Kanzaemon in the new year sogamono drama "Ima-ha Mukashi Omokage Soga". 7th lunar month of 1737 (obon): Sôjûrô played in the same theater the leading role in the drama "Fûryû Shuten Dôji". 11th lunar month of 1737: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Hasebe Chôbê in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba"; the line-up included Bandô Hikosaburô I, Tsuruya Nanboku II and Tomizawa Montarô I. 1st lunar month of 1738: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Kajiwara Genta and Shiraume Moemon in the new year sogamono drama "Ukematsuri Manbai Soga". According to the chronicles, the performance was not a success. Fall 1738: Sôjûrô and Matsumoto Kôshirô II achieved together a great success by playing in the same theater the roles of Tosa Jirô and Sasaki Ganryû in the revenge play "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". 11th lunar month of 1738: Sôjûrô was back at the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Ume Yakata Inaba no Matsu", which celebrated the shûmei of Sawamura Yodogorô I and the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Tatsuoka Hisagiku. 1st lunar month of 1739: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono drama "Kamakurafû Aratama Soga". 8th lunar month of 1739: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of the otokodate Tsurigane Yazaemon in the drama "Takara no Kane Chônin Kagami". 11th lunar month of 1739: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Miyakozome Kaoru Hachinoki"; his stage partners were Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Segawa Kikujirô I and Nakamura Sukegorô I. 1st lunar month of 1740: Sôjûrô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Hime Kazari Nishiki Soga". 11th lunar month of 1740: Sôjûrô welcomed the young wakaonnagata Takinaka Shigenoi as a disciple and gave him the name of Sawamura Shigenoi. He moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Nagoya Sanza in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Moheiji; Sôjûrô confronted Bandô Hikosaburô I in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in a great "Sayaate" scene; Sôjûrô's stage partner in the role of the courtesan Katsuragi (Sanza's lover) was Segawa Kikujirô I.
1st lunar month of 1741: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year sogamono drama "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga".
3rd lunar month of 1741: Sôjûrô and the Ichimuraza troupe performed in the second part (nibanme) of "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga", which was a triumphant success. 6th lunar month of 1741: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hagiwara Itsuki in the drama "Katakiuchi Mitsugumi Sakazuki". 7th lunar month of 1741: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Yotsume Yui Katoku Sadame". 11th lunar month of 1741: Sôjûrô moved to the Nakamuraza, where a great kaomise drama was produced to celebrate the arrival in Edo of the actors Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Sanogawa Mangiku and Nakamura Shingorô I; Sôjûrô played the leading role of En'ya Hangan in Hayakawa Denshirô's kaomise drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki". 1st lunar month of 1742: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Hida Saburozaemon, Itô Kurô and the otokodate Chôjûrô in the new year sogamono drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima". 7th lunar month of 1742: premiere in Edo at Nakamuraza of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in which Sôjûrô played the role of Nagoya Sanza [casting]. 11th lunar month of 1742: Sôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Tôkurô Morinaga in the kaomise drama "Keisei Akazawayama". 1st lunar month of 1743: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Kyô no Jirô, Shigetada and the otokodate Ume no Yoshibê in the new year sogamono drama "Kadomidori Tokiwa Soga"; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I (Kurofune Chûemon), Sanogawa Mangiku (Yamabuki) and Nakamura Tomijûrô I (the courtesan Hidaka). 5th lunar month of 1743: special performance at the Nakamuraza related to the exhibition of a sacred image of Prince Shôtoku in the Shitennôji Temple in the district of Yûshima. Sôjûrô played the roles of the minister Iname and Ukamuse no Hachibei in the drama "Yamato Morokoshi Aishô Kagami". Fall 1743: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I played in the same theater the roles of the courtesans Yufuran and Yatsuhashi in the drama "Futari Yatsuhashi". They decided to go back together to Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1743: Sôjûrô achieved a great success in Ôsaka at the Ônishi no Shibai by playing the role of Ashikaga Yorikane in Namiki Sôsuke's kaomise drama "Futatsu Biki Nishiki no Manmaku", which was produced by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I; his stage partner in the role of the courtesan Konohana was Nakamura Tomijûrô I. 12th lunar month of 1743: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I played in the same theater the roles of Saitô Shôkurô and the courtesan Tôyama in the drama "Ômonguchi Yoroi Gasane". 3rd lunar month of 1744: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi and Ôfude Hachirô in the drama "Ôshû Shinobu Ishi". 9th lunar month of 1744: Sôjûrô performed in the same theater in the drama "Yuki Moyoi Magaki no Hachinoki". 10th lunar month of 1744: Sôjûrô moved to Kyôto and took part in a 10-days long special program commemorating the 11th memorial service (10th anniversary) of the passing away of his late master Sawamura Chôjûrô I. Fall 1744: Sôjûrô went to Edo. 11th lunar month of 1744: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ise no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Tono Zukuri Genji Jûnidan". 1st lunar month of 1745: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Aburaya Shôkurô and Kagekiyo in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsu Goyomi Kotobuki Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Shigetada (Kagekiyo's ennemy) and Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover) were Bandô Hikosaburô I and Onoe Kikugorô I.
5th lunar month of 1745: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Kyûemon in the drama "Sato Gayoi Fujimi Saikyô", whose plot and characters were related to the "Sonezaki Shinjû" world; his stage partners in the roles of Hiranoya Tokubê and Tenmaya Ohatsu were Ichikawa Danzô III and Arashi Tominosuke I. 11th lunar month of 1745: Sôjûrô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Yoshisada and Akamatsu Norisuke in the kaomise drama "Onna Kusunoki Yosooi Kagami", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata onnagata Yoshizawa Ayame II. 1st lunar month of 1746: Sôjûrô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Kikeba Mukashi Soga Monogatari". Sôjûrô used back again the old ideogram "Sô" (associated to the concept of totality) only for this performance. 3rd lunar month of 1746: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the role of the shirozake seller Shinbê in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hanamichi"; his stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku, the courtesan Agemaki and Ikyû were Onoe Kikugorô I, Arashi Tominosuke I and Nakajima Mihoemon I. 5th lunar month of 1746: Sôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Abe no Seimei and Urashima Gorô (V) in the drama "Ichi-no-Tomi Seiwa Nendaiki". This play was based on the legendary character Urashima Tarô and the playwright introduces several generations of the hero and his heirs: Urashima Tarô (I), Jirô (II), Saburô (III) and Shirô (IV) were played by Ichikawa Ebizô II, Sawamura Harugorô I, Sawamura Kijûrô I and Ogino Izaburô I. This unusual play was a triumphant success. 7th ~ 10th lunar months of 1746: Sawamura Sôjûrô performed for a few months under the name of Sawamura Chôjûrô III. His favourite disciple Sawamura Harugorô I took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô [3] and held it up to his death in 1748. 11th lunar month of 1746: he went to Kyôto where he took back his previous name of Sawamura Sôjûrô (old ideogram "Sô" associated to the concept of totality), performing in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Ômu Kotoba", which was produced by the zamoto Nakamura Kumetarô I; his stage partners were Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Sanogawa Jûkichi (final performance before his death) and Nakamura Utaemon I. 1st lunar month of 1747: Sôjûrô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 3rd lunar month of 1747: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I performed together in the same theater in the drama "Kuronushi Iroha Mondô". 6th lunar month of 1747: Sôjûrô achieved an amazing success in Kyôto by playing the role of Ôkishi Miyauchi in the drama "Ôyasu Yonjûshichihon", whose script was based on the famous Akô vendetta. Fall 1747: Sôjûrô decided to play a jitsuaku role for his last performance in Kyôto in the drama "Kantô Koroku". the, he went to Edo. 11th lunar month of 1747: he took one more time the name of Sawamura Chôjûrô III at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Izu Gunzei Sumô no Nishiki" and shared the top of the bill with the 2 stars Ichikawa Ebizô II and Segawa Kikunojô I. This performance was a great success. 1st lunar month of 1748: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi (grand - extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the new year sogamono drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga". 5th lunar month of 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" was performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Chôjûrô played the roles of Igami no Gonta and Tadanobu [casting]. 8th lunar month of 1748: première for the puppets theater in Ôsaka, at the Takemotoza, of the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura", written by Takeda Izumo, Miyoshi Shôraku and Namiki Senryû I. The main thema was the famous Akô vendetta and the vendetta leader puppet (Ôboshi Yuranosuke) reproduced the acting of Sawamura Sôjûrô in the role of Ôkishi Miyauchi (==> 6th lunar month of 1747). 25th day of the 11th lunar month of 1748 [4]: his young disciple Sawamura Sôjûrô died. 11th lunar month of 1748: Chôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Tada Kurando and Uji Tsûen in the kaomise drama "Onna Moji Heike Monogatari". 1749: Chôjûrô adopted the young actor Utagawa Shirogorô. 1st lunar month of 1749: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the roles of Yoban Jûnai (Jûnai the night watchman) and Komurasaki Kamon in the new year sogamono drama "Otoko Moji Soga Monogatari". 3rd lunar month of 1749: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Itô Kurô in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Ie Zakura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Ebizô II (Sukeroku), Nakamura Shichisaburô II (the sake seller) and Segawa Kikujirô I (Agemaki). 6th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Chôjûrô played the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke [casting]. 11th lunar month of 1749: Chôjûrô achieved a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing the roles of Bingo no Saburô and Hata Rokurôzaemon in the kaomise drama "Onnô Taiheiki". His adopted son officially took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô II at the Moritaza, performing in the kaomise drama "Bijo Kurabe Kiso no Kakehashi". 1st lunar month of 1750: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Shigetada and Ume no Yoshibê new year sogamono drama "Ôkazari Saiwai Soga". 4th lunar month of 1750: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama "Shigetada Kariba Nikki". 5th lunar month of 1750: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the roles of Kanda Kamonnosuke and Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the drama "Shio Mitsutama Kazaori Komachi". 9th lunar month of 1750: Chôjûrô took part in the special program entitled "Kanadehon Shijûshichiji" commemorating the first anniversary of the passing away of Segawa Kikunojô I. 11th lunar month of 1750: Chôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Taira no Kiyomori and Kamata Hyôei in the kaomise drama "Wakaki no Ume Taira no Kiyomori". 1st lunar month of 1751: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was shingoku-jôzu-jô-jô-kichi (sincerely extreme - skilled - superior - superior - excellent). He played in the same theater the roles of Yaoya Kyûbê and Oniô in the new year drama "Izu Kosode Shôbai Kagami". 3rd lunar month of 1751: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Tôganeya Moemon in the drama "Hinagata Fuji Miru Sato". 7th lunar month of 1751: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna"; Chôjûrô played the role of Hachizô's mother [casting]. 9th lunar month of 1751: Chôjûrô achieved a great success by playing in the same theater the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya"; his stage partner in the role of the courtesan Katsuragi, Sanza's lover, was Segawa Kikujirô I. 11th lunar month of 1751: Chôjûrô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Honryô Hachinoki-zome". 1st lunar month of 1752: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was shin-goku-jô-jô-kichi (truly extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of the brothers Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were Ichikawa Yaozô I and Sawamura Sôjûrô II. 4th lunar month of 1752: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; Chôjûrô played the role of Rokuyata. 11th lunar month of 1752: Chôjûrô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Ono no Tôfû in the kaomise drama "Ume Sakura Ninin Semimaru". 1st lunar month of 1753: Chôjûrô played in the same theater the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the new year sogamono drama "Haru Fukami Iroha Soga", which mixed both the Soga Brothers and "Chûshingura" worlds. 25th day of the 4th lunar month of 1753 [5]: his disciple Sawamura Genjirô died. 7th lunar month of 1753: the play "Hirakana Seisuiki" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza [casting]. Chôjûrô played the role of Gonshirô. 11th lunar month of 1753: he moved to the Moritaza and took the name of Suketakaya Takasuke I, playing 6 roles in the kaomise drama "Masakado Kokyô no Nishiki", which also celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Sôzaburô II; his stage partners were Morita Kan'ya VI, Sawamura Kijûrô I, Matsushima Moheiji, Tsuruya Nanboku II, Ogino Yaegiri II and Sawamura Utagiku. 1st lunar month of 1754: Takasuke played in the same theater the roles of Hôjô Tokimasa and Gentôta in the new year drama "Mitsu Uroko Keisei Kagami". 11th lunar month of 1754: Takasuke became zagashira at the Moritaza and played the roles of Kiichi Hôgen and Suzuki Saburô in the kaomise drama "Kiichi Hôgen Shinan-guruma"; his stage partners were Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Azuma Tôzô II, Sawamura Otoemon II and Matsuyama Sanjûrô. 1st lunar month of 1755: Takasuke played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Sono Sugata Ariake Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of the brothers Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were Matsuyama Sanjûrô and Ichikawa Senzô. 5th lunar month of 1755: Takasuke played in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 11th lunar month of 1755: Takasuke appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Moritaza, where he played the role of Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the kaomise drama "Ôtomo no Kuronushi Sokutai Kagami". 3rd day of the 1st lunar month of 1756 [1]: Takasuke died in Edo [6]. Comments: Suketakaya Takasuke I was an outstanding actor, able to perform both tachiyaku and onnagata roles. He reached the highest levels of fame and was equally popular in Kyôto, Ôsaka and Edo. It is worth noting that he wrote around ten plays, brought a turban look-alike hat called sôjûrô zukin into fashion and was the owner of an incense shop in the theater district of Sakai-chô in Edo. Suketakaya Takasuke I was one of the 4 stars called Shitennô ("the big four", this expression comes from the four Deva kings in Buddhism) by the Edo audience (the three others were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Bandô Hikosaburô I and Ôtani Hiroji I). "Sawamura Sôjûrô acted on the Edo stage with Danjûrô, the second,
and is credited with greater versatility than the second Ichikawa.
Born the son of a samurai of rank in Kyôto, he was dismissed from his father's
roof on account of dissipation. At first he served in a subordinate capacity in
the house of Sawamura Chôjûrô. Afterwards he undertook
the duties of a clerk in the theatre, but at last requested to be made a follower
of the Sawamura family. For some reason or other Sawamura refused to bestow his
name upon this theatre upstart, there was a quarrel, and the would-be actor
went off to seek another stage patron. [1] The 3rd day of the 1st lunar month of the 6th year of the Hôreki era was the 2nd of February 1756 in the western calendar. [2] The 24th day of the 1st lunar month of the 19th year of the Kyôhô era was the 27th of February 1734 in the western calendar. [3] He has never been considered as a member of the line. [4] The 25th of the 11th lunar month of the 1st year of the Kan'en era was the 13th of January 1749 in the western calendar. [5] The 25th day of the 4th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Hôreki era was the 27th of May 1753 in the western calendar. [6] His tombstone was located in the precinct of Chôenji Temple in the district of Asakusa. |
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Suketakaya Takasuke I (right) and Matsuyama Sanjûrô (left) playing the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono "Sono Sugata Ariake Soga", which was staged at the Moritaza in the 1st lunar month of 1755 The Sawamura Tosshi line of actors The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors The Sawamura Chôjûrô line of actors The Suketakaya Takasuke line of actors |
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