Stage names:

Ôtani Tomoemon II
Tanimura Torazô

Guild: Akashiya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Shiyû

Existence: 1769 ~ 24th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1830 ^[1]

Connections:

Master: Tanimura Junpachi

Disciples: Ôtani Tomoemon III, Ôtani Tomoemon IV, Ôtani Tomoji, Ôtani Bajû II

Career:

1769 ~ 1785: born in Ôsaka. He starts his career as a disciple of the hama shibai actor Tanimura Junpachi, who gives him the name of Tanimura Torazô.

Spring 1785: Torazô makes his first stage appearance, in Ôsaka at the Kadomaruza, playing the role of Ômi no Kotôta in the drama "Soga Monogatari".

Fall 1790: Torazô, Ichikawa Yaozô III, and Nakamura Kumetarô II go together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1790: Torazô plays in the in the Nakamuraza kaomise drama "Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane".

11th lunar month of 1791: Torazô plays 2 roles in the Nakamuraza kaomise drama "Nidai Genji Oshi no Gôkyû".

11th lunar month of 1795: Tanimura Torazô takes the name of Ôtani Tomoemon II at the Kiriza, playing the role of Hida no Saemon in the kaomise drama "Genpei Hashira Goyomi".

1st lunar month of 1796: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Ômi no Kotôta in the new year program "Soga Daifukuchô". He also plays the role of Chôgorô in the premiere of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" [casting].

4th lunar month of 1796: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Yoichibê and Ono no Sadakurô in Namiki Gohei I's drama "Edo no Hana Akô no Shiogama", whose plot and characters are similar to "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Tomoemon plays the roles of Kinugawa Yasozaemon and Kyôgoku Dainoshin in the former theater [casting].

11th lunar month of 1796: Tomoemon plays the role of Kagehiro in the Kiriza kaomise drama "Ginsekai Matsu ni Yukihira".

1st lunar month of 1797: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer) in the new year program "Ôkazari Soga no Kadomatsu". The role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

5th lunar month of 1797: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Gokuin Sen'emon 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. Tomoemon's stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô III (Karigane Bunshichi), 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) and Nakamura Denkurô IV (Yamakawaya Gonroku).

9th lunar month of 1797: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Sukune Tarô in the "Dômyôji" scene of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1797: Tomoemon plays the roles of Miura no Kenmotsu and the yakko Namihei in the Kiriza kaomise drama "Yuki Onna Keizu no Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1798: premiere at the Kiriza (Edo) of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Tomioka Koi no Yamabiraki", commonly called "Ninin Shinbê", in which Tomoemon plays the role of the tedai Tamaya Sanshirô [casting].

6th lunar month of 1798: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô is Ichikawa Omezô I.

8th lunar month of 1798: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Dankurô in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

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

Fall 1798: Tomoemon, Sawamura Sôjûrô III and the playwright Namiki Gohei I go together to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1798: Tomoemon plays the role of Sano Gentôta Tsunekage in the kaomise drama "Kogane Bana Genji no Sakigake", which is produced by Yamashita Kamematsu at the Naka no Shibai; his stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Nakamura Utaemon III, Arashi Hinasuke II, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Onoe Koisaburô I and Fujikawa Tomokichi I.

1st lunar month of 1799: Tomoemon plays in the same theater in Namiki Gohê's play "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri".

3rd lunar month of 1799: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Nanba no Rokurô in the drama "Genpei Hashira Goyomi". The troupe moves at the end of the month from the Naka no Shibai to the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai to perform a similar program.

9th lunar month of 1800: Tomoemon plays the role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", which is staged within the precinct of the Inari Shrine in Ôsaka.

8th lunar month of 1801: Tomoemon plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Kokura Den'emon in the drama "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", which is produced by Yamashita Tokujirô. The role of the smuggler Kezori is played by Asao Tamejûrô I.

10th lunar month of 1801: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Sakurada Rinzaemon and Ishidome Busuke in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

11th lunar month of 1801: Tomoemon plays the role of Tetsuzô in the kaomise drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Kachidoki", which is produced by Ôtani Torazô at the Naka no Shibai.

12th lunar month of 1801: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Kaminari Shôkurô in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane". His stage partners are Arashi Kichisaburô II (Karigane Bunshichi), Asao Okujirô I (Hotei Ichiemon) and Mimasu Daigorô III (An no Heibei).

1st lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". The role of Matsuemon is played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII. The troupe moves to the Kado no Shibai and performs there from the 2nd to the 7th lunar months.

2nd lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Shundô Genba in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Yamashita Tokujirô; the roles of Matsuômaru and Takebe Genzô are played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Seki Sanjûrô I.

6th lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon plays at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai in Ôsaka the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ono no Sadakurô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Ehon Chûshingura". The roles of En'ya Hangan, Yuranosuke and Okaru are played by Arashi Izaburô I, Arashi Kichisaburô II and Kanô Minshi I.

7th lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon is back at the Naka no Shibai and plays the role of Satô Gôsuke in the drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi".

9th lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon plays the role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", which is staged within the precinct of the Inari Shrine in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1802: Tomoemon plays the role of Hôjô Saburô Tokifusa in Nagawa Shimesuke I's kaomise drama "Azuma Giku Naniwa no Kisewata", which is produced by Anegawa Kumajirô at the Naka no Shibai and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Segawa Rokô III. The troupe moves in the 12th lunar month from the Naka no Shibai to the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai to perform a similar program.

11th lunar month of 1803: Tomoemon plays the role of Ikaruga Daiyata in the kaomise drama "Hatsu Yagura Kogane no Manmaku", which is produced by Nakamura Noshio III at the Kado no Shibai. The troupe moves to the Kita no Shinchi Shibai in December to perform the same program for 10 days.

3rd lunar month of 1804: Tomoemon plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kasai Sadaemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Tanba no Uwasa".

10th lunar month of 1804: Tomoemon plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai in Ôsaka the role of Kyôgoku no Takumi in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi". The roles of Rokusuke and Osono are played by Ichikawa Danzô IV and Yoshizawa Iroha I.

1st lunar month of 1805: Tomoemon plays 5 roles in the drama "Koi Môde Kiyomizu Zakura", which is produced by Arashi Torasaburô at the Kado no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1805: tour in Nagoya; Tomoemon plays the role of Senoo Tarô in the drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima", which is staged in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple. His stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Shunkan), Fujikawa Tomokichi I (Chidori) and Nakamura Utaemon III (Tanzaemon).

11th lunar month of 1805: Tomoemon is back in Edo; he plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Seiwa Genji Nidai no Yumitori", which celebrated the shûmei of Arashi Ryûzô III.

1st lunar month of 1806: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon and Ômi no Kotôta in the new year drama "Nenriki Sendachi no Sugi".

6th lunar month of 1806: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô is Ichikawa Omezô I. The performance is a commercial failure.

Fall 1806: tour in Nagoya; Tomoemon plays in several dramas, including "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" and "Some Moyô Imose no Kadomatsu", which are staged in the precinct of the Inari Shrine.

11th lunar month of 1806: Tomoemon plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Yuki no Michinoku". The 13th of this month, a fire breaks out from the shop of the hair-dresser Tomokurô in the district of Nihonbashi Fukiya-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza, killing many spectators.

3rd lunar month of 1807: tour in Nagoya with the actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Segawa Rokô IV, Nakayama Yoshio I and Nakayama Bunshichi III; Tomoemon plays in the dramas "Monogusa Tarô Monogatari", "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" (roles of Shundô Genba and Sukune Tarô), "Hirakana Seisuiki" (role of Gosnhirô) and "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri" (role of Taroku).

8th lunar month of 1807: Tomoemon plays the roles of Shinzaemon and Kanbei in the dramas "Ômi Genji Shitaka Kôshaku" and "Sakaya Uta Koi no Nakakumi", which are produced by Arashi Kamesaburô in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1807: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Gunpachi in the drama "Yaemusubi Jiraiya Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1808: Tomoemon plays in the same theater 2 roles in the drama "Keisei Inazuma Zôshi", which is produced by Fujikawa Tatsuzô.

3rd lunar month of 1808: "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" is adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Tomoemon plays the roles of Kojima Motobei Masatsugu and Kitabatake Haruo [casting].

5th lunar month of 1808: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Kamamaru and the yakko Mibuhei in the drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Iori no Akebono".

6th lunar month of 1808: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of the bantô Denkurô, Senbagawa Kichihei and the sumô wrestler Tetsugadake Dadaemon in the drama "Hanayagura Koi no Sekitori" (similar to "Sekitori Senryô Nobori"). His stage partner in the role of the other sumô wrestler, Tetsugadake's rival Imagawa Jirokichi, is played by Ichikawa Yaozô IV.

7th lunar month of 1808: the troupe of actors who played from the 3rd to the 6th lunar months at the Kitagawa no Shibai, moves to Ôsaka and settles at the Naka no Shibai; Tomoemon plays the roles of Kamamaru and the yakko Mibuhei in Chikamatsu Tokuzô's drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Chikai no Sakura", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô III.

11th lunar month of 1808: Tomoemon plays the roles of Kiheiji and Butôta in the Naka no Shibai kaomise drama "Shima Meguri Tsuki no Yumihari".

1st lunar month of 1809: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of the kyôgen performer Shichirosuke and the boatman Mojibei in the drama "Keisei Itako Bushi".

4th ~ 5th lunar months of 1809: Tomoemon moves to Kyôto and plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

6th lunar month of 1809: Tomoemon plays the roles of Raigen and Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi" and "Hirakana Seisuiki", which are staged in Kyôto at the Kitano Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1809: Tomoemon moves to the Kado no Shibai in Ôsaka and plays the role of the yakko Yatahei in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri", which is produced by Mimasu Kumesaburô.

10th lunar month of 1809: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Jinshichi in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi".

11th lunar month of 1809: Tomoemon goes to Kyôto and plays 2 roles in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô", which is staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1810: Tomoemon plays 3 roles in the drama "Keisei Shina Sadame", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1810: Tomoemon plays the role of Satô Gôsuke in the drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi", which is produced by Arashi Tomisaburô II in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1810: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Yazaemon ("Sushiya") and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1810: Tomoemon plays the role of Satô Gôsuke in the drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1811: Tomoemon plays the role of Mochizuki Chôgen in the drama "Keisei Ume no Kaiga", which is staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1811: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Adachi Motonoshin in the drama "Oriawase An'eiroku".

Spring 1811: tour in Ise; Tomoemon plays at the Furuichi Shibai.

7th lunar month of 1811: Tomoemon is back in Ôsaka and plays the roles of Akabori Mizuemon, Heiji and Matakurô in the drama "Katakiuchi Senju no Sukedachi", which is produced by Ichikawa Zentarô at the Kado no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1811: Tomoemon plays in the same theater 2 roles in the drama "Iroha Gura Mitsugumi Sakazuki".

10th lunar month of 1811: Tomoemon plays the role of Wada no Hyôe Hidemori in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of Sasaki Moritsuna is Arashi Kichisaburô II. The same play is performed with the same casting in November in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1812: Tomoemon plays the roles of Sadakurô, Chadô Genkyû and Kanda Yogorô in the drama "Iroha Uta Hana no Shûitsu", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai.

4th lunar month of 1812: Tomoemon and 20 Kamigata actors (including Bandô Jûtarô and Nakayama Bungorô I) move to Edo. They perform at the Moritaza in the dramas "Tomoyobi Kawasu Shimabara no Saiken" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" (Tomoemon plays the role of the cook Kisuke).

5th lunar month of 1812: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Abe no Munetô in the drama "Zôhô Adachigahara" (similar to "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara"); the roles of Abe no Sadatô and Sodehagi are played by Bandô Jûtarô.

Summer 1812: Tomoemon goes back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1812: Tomoemon plays the roles of the highway messenger Hayasuke and Kumasaka Chôhan in the drama "Hirugaesu Nishiki no Tamoto", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai and celebrates the arrival of the Edo star Bandô Hikosaburô III. He also plays the roles of Yakushiji Jirozaemon and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Okaru and Yuranosuke are played by Nakayama Yoshio I and Nakamura Utaemon III.

3rd lunar month of 1813: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Midaroku in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

1st lunar month of 1814: Tomoemon plays the roles of the foot-soldier Denzô, Arao Murakichi and Iwashiro Takita in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. This is the first performance in Kabuki history of a play based on the "Asagao Nikki" world [casting].

4th lunar month of 1814: "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" is staged with the same casting in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1815: Tomoemon plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Ôzutsu Godayû, Matsugae Ichinomasa and Amako Shirô in the drama "Keisei Wakana no Isaoshi".

2nd lunar month of 1815: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Adachi Tomokurô and Nogami Hansuke in the drama "Katakiuchi An'eiroku". He also plays the role of Jinzaburô in the drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage". The role of Hôkaibô is played by Ichikawa Shikô I.

4th lunar month of 1815: Tomoemon and Ichikawa Shikô I move together to the Naka no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1815: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Matsuômaru and Sukune Tarô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Nakayama Bunshichi III (Umeômaru), Onoe Shinshichi II (Sakuramaru, Terukuni), Nakamura Karoku I (Sukune's wife Tatsuta, Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo) and Asao Kuzaemon I (Shiratayû, Kakuju, Takebe Genzô). Tomoemon also plays the role of the yakko Yokanbê in "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

Fall 1815: tour in Nagoya with Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Ichikawa Shikô I and Kataoka Ainosuke II.

11th lunar month of 1815: Tomoemon takes part in the kaomise program staged at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai; he plays in the dramas "Keisei Sano no Funabashi" and "Uekiya".

4th lunar month of 1816: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". The role of Musashi is played by Ichikawa Shikô I.

8th lunar month of 1816: Tomoemon plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Hiraoka Tampei in the drama "Aburauri Kuruwa Monogatari".

9th lunar month of 1816: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Kezori and Gen'emon in the drama "Koi Momiji Ogura Shikishi".

11th lunar month of 1816: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

1st lunar month of 1817: Tomoemon plays the roles of Sengoku Gonbê and Irie Chôbê in the drama "Keisei Chikugo-ga-Fuchi", which is produced by Nakamura Utagorô at the Kado no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1817: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Dada no Kanbei and Hanaya Tôsuke in the drama "Katakiuchi Midô no Mae". He also plays the role of Senoo Tarô in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima". The role of Shunkan is played by Ichikawa Ebijûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1817: Tomoemon goes to Kyôto, playing at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Washizuka Kandayû in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

1st lunar month of 1818: Tomoemon plays the role of Gunpachi in the drama "Yaemusubi Jiraiya Monogatari", which is produced by Asao Tamesaburô at the Kado no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1818: Tomoemon plays the role of the yakko Wadahei in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai. He also plays the role of Ukai Kujûrô in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima". The roles of Kamiya Jihê and Koharu are played by Bando Jûtarô I and Fujikawa Kayû II.

5th lunar month of 1818: tour in Nagoya with Ichikawa Ebijûrô I, Bando Jûtarô I and Ichikawa Hamazô. They perform in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple.

8th lunar month of 1818: Tomoemon plays 2 roles in the drama "Ehon Taikôki", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1818: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Sadakurô and Sadô in the drama "Iroha Uta Homare no Meiboku", whose plot and characters belong to the "Chûshingura" world.

11th lunar month of 1818: Tomoemon plays the role of Tôma Saburoemon in the drama "Tengajaya", which is staged in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1819: Tomoemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), is itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). Tomoemon plays three roles in the drama "Keisei Miyako Meguri", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai in Ôsaka.

8th lunar month of 1819: Tomoemon plays the role of Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is produced by Ichikawa Dankichi at the Kado no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1820: Tomoemon plays 2 roles in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai.

Spring 1821: Tomoemon, Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakayama Shinkurô III perform together in the precinct of Inaba Yakushiji temple in Kyôto, playing in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", "Hinin Adauchi", "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki" and "Deiri no Minato". Then Tomoemon goes on tour to Nagasaki.

8th lunar month of 1821: Tomoemon is back in Ôsaka and plays the roles of Tokushima Gohei and Kawagoe Chôroku in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi", which is staged at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1822: Tomoemon plays the roles of Mejiro no Kyûsuke and Hayata in the dramas "Kama-ga-Fuchi" and "Yorimasa Nue Monogatari", which are produced by Asao Yosaburô at the Naka no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1822: Tomoemon plays the role of Matano Gorô in the drama "Kajiwara Heizô Kidai no Ishikiri", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1823: Tomoemon plays the role of Horiguchi Gentazaemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Noriai Banashi", which is produced by Nakamura Kazuma in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.

5th lunar month of 1823: Tomoemon plays in the drama "Iroha Uta Homare no Meiboku", which is staged at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai. He also plays the role of the sumô wrestler Tetsugadake Dadaemon in the drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori". His stage partner in the role of Imagawa Jirokichi is Arashi Kitsusaburô II.

7th lunar month of 1823: Tomoemon plays in the drama "Yorimasa Nue Monogatari", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1823: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Sasara Sanpachi in the drama "Keisei Shina Sadame".

11th lunar month of 1823: Tomoemon takes part in the kaomise program produced by Nakamura Kazuma in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; he plays the roles of Maboroshi Takeemon and Osada Tarô in the dramas "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" and "Naka ni Atatte Kogane no Kurairi".

4th lunar month of 1824: Tomoemon plays the role of Adachi Tomokurô in the drama "Katakiuchi An'eiroku", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai. He also plays the role of Tanba Mosaku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi". The roles of Mohei and Osan are played by Arashi Kitsusaburô II and Arashi Tomisaburô II.

6th lunar month of 1824: tour in Nara with Arashi Tomisaburô II and Nakayama Bunshichi III.

9th lunar month of 1824: Tomoemon plays the role of Watônai's father Rôikkan in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is produced by Nakamura Kazuma in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai. The role of Watônai is played by Arashi Kitsusaburô II. Premiere in the same theater of the drama "Banshû Sarayashiki"; Tomoemon plays the role of Aoyama Daihachi [more details].

11th lunar month of 1824: Tomoemon plays the role of Watônai's father Rôikkan in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is staged in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai. The role of Watônai is played by Arashi Kitsusaburô II. Tomoemon also plays the role of the yakko Edohei in "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

1st lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, kanjiku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Tomoemon plays 3 roles in the drama "Momo Chidori Naruto no Shiranami", which is produced by Arashi Kichinosuke in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Gokuin Sen'emon in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô V (Karigane Bunshichi), Arashi Kitsusaburô II (Hotei Ichiemon) and Asao Gakujûrô (An no Heibei) Tomoemon also plays 2 roles in the drama "Ehon Taikôki".

4th lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Ono no Kudayû, Ichimonjiya Tokuemon and Ôta Ryôchiku in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

5th lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Tokushima Gohei in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi".

8th lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Benkei and Yazaemon ("Sushiya") in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". He also plays the role of Hansai in "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami".

9th lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon moves to Kyôto and plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Benkei and Yazaemon ("Sushiya") in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". He also plays the roles of Gentazaemon and Chûtayû in "Nagara Chôja".

10th lunar month of 1825: Tomoemon moves back to Ôsaka and plays at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai the roles of Gentazaemon and Chûtayû in "Nagara Chôja".

4th lunar month of 1826: tour in Tsu with Asao Gakujûrô, Arashi Kitsusaburô II and Arashi Tomisaburô II.

8th lunar month of 1826: Tomoemon plays at the Horie Ichinogawa Shibai the roles of Nadaemon and Goroemon in the dramas "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" and "Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi".

9th lunar month of 1826: Tomoemon plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Sawai Matagorô in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

10th lunar month of 1826: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Shiga Daishichi in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". He also plays the role of Kuheiji in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû". The roles of Hiranoya Tokubê and Tenmaya Ohatsu are played by Ichikawa Danzô V and Fujikawa Tomokichi II.

11th lunar month of 1826: Tomoemon plays the roles of Tôta and the ghost of Natora in the drama "Hana Kurabe Ise Monogatari", which is staged in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1827: Tomoemon plays the roles of Kara no Chishima no Kami, the boatman Yoichibê and Fukagusa Jinsaku in the drama "Keisei Asoyama Zakura", which is produced by Arashi Kichinosuke in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, in competition with the Kado no Shibai where the same play is staged with a different line-up.

5th lunar month of 1827: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Tsukimoto Yûmei in the drama "Keisei Kakehashi Monogatari".

7th lunar month of 1827: Tomoemon plays the roles of Gonshirô and Chûshichi in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Osome Hisamatsu", which are staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1827: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Satô Gôsuke in the drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi".

9th lunar month of 1827: Tomoemon plays in the drama "Kachidoki Mibae Genji", which is produced by Arashi Kichinosuke in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai

Fall 1827: the Naka no Shibai troupe moves to the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto.

1st lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays the roles of Jabara no Hyakubei, Shiroganeya Yozaemon and Tsukiji Danjô in the drama "Keisei Suô no Dairi", which is produced by Arashi Kichinosuke in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai

4th lunar month of 1828: tour in Nagoya with Arashi Kitsusaburô II and Sawamura Kunitarô II; Tomoemon plays the role of Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is staged at the Tachibana no Shibai.

5th lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays in the same theater in the drama "Katakiuchi Ura no Asagiri".

6th lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays in the same theater in the drama "Onna Hachinoki".

8th lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays the role of Murakami Hikoshirô and Shûto Yoemon (Yoemon's father-in-law) in the dramas "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi" and "Kewai Mizu Kinugawa Zutsumi", which are produced by Sawamura Otomatsu in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. He also plays the role of the priest Hakuunbô in the parodic play "Onna Narukami" (the leading role of the female Narukami is played by Sawamura Kunitarô II).

9th lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Ishizuka Genba and Sasaki Sadayori in the drama "Monogusa Tarô". He also plays the role of Honjô Sukeemon in the drama "Hiyokumon Kuruwa no Nishikie".

11th lunar month of 1828: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Ikkaku in the drama "Kagamiyama Kuruwa no Kikigaki", which is produced by Kataoka Shimamaru.

1st lunar month of 1829: Tomoemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Tomoemon plays in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which is produced by Kataoka Shimamaru at the Naka no Shibai.

5th lunar month of 1829: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Gonshirô and Mikawaya Giheiji in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". This performance celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, who decides to play here under the name of Ichikawa Hakuen II.

8th lunar month of 1829: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the roles of Onitsura and Kingorô in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

9th lunar month of 1829: Tomoemon plays in the same theater the role of Sasayama Kanbê in the drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji".

10th lunar month of 1829: tour in Nara; Tomoemon plays in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

3rd lunar month of 1830: Tomoemon plays the role of Manno and Tsurugisawa Danjô in the dramas "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" and "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Omokage", which are produced by Nakamura Tomisuke in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partners in the roles of Fukuoka Mitsugi and Okon ("Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba") are Onoe Kikugorô III and Nakamura Tomijûrô II. Then, he plays 4 roles in the drama "Taikô Ensho Awase" but collapses and dies suddenly during the performance.

24th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1830 ^[1]: Tomoemon dies. His tombstone is located in Ôsaka in the precinct of the Myôzôji temple in the district of Shimoteramachi.

Comments:

Ôtani Tomoemon II was a talented tachiyaku, katakiyaku and jitsuaku, who received his name in Edo but spent most of his career in the Kamigata theaters. It is said that he excelled in the tachimawari scenes.

Ôtani Tomoemon II's best roles: Gonshirô ("Hirakana Seisuiki") and Satô Gôsuke ("Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi").

[2] The 24th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 13th year of the Bunsei era was the 16th of May 1830 in the western calendar.

Ôtani Tomoemon II playing the role of Washizuka Ichiromaru in the drama "Iroha Gura Mitsugumi Sakazuki", which was staged in Ôsaka in the 9th lunar month of 1811 at the Kado no Shibai (print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Jukôdô Yoshikuni in 1824

The Ôtani Tomoemon line of actors