Stage names:

Osagawa Tsuneyo IV
Yamashina Jinkichi III
Yamashina Takegorô

Guilds: Nishikiya, Taiya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry name: Kyosen

Existence: ???

Connection:

Father: Yamashina Shingorô

Career:

Before 1816: born in Kamigata. His father is the actor Yamashina Shingorô. His first stage names are Yamashina Takegorô and Yamashina Jinkichi III, which are both taken at unknown date.

Spring 1816: Jinkichi goes to Edo.

4th lunar month of 1816: Jinkichi performs at the Kiriza.

Fall 1818: the Miyakoza goes bankrupt and transfers the Ichimuraza license to the Tamagawaza.

11th lunar month of 1818: Jinkichi plays at the Tamagawaza in the kaomise drama "Shitennô Ubuyu no Tamagawa", which stars Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, Iwai Hanshirô V, Segawa Kikunojô V, Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Sôryô Jinroku II, Ichikawa Sôzaburô IV, Ôtani Bajû II and Matsumoto Yonesaburô II. The tatesakusha is Tsuruya Nanboku IV.

11th lunar month of 1823: Yamashina Jinkichi III takes the name of Osagawa Tsuneyo IV at the Ichimuraza, performing in the drama "Yama Mata Yama Hana no Yamagatsu".

11th lunar month of 1828: his yearly salary at the Ichimuraza reaches 250 ryô.

1st lunar month of 1842: Tsuneyo's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

10th lunar month of 1842: Tsuneyo takes part in the opening ceremony of the newly-built Nakamuraza in the district of Asakusa Saruwaka-chô, playing in the drama "Kinryûzan Chikai no Ishizue", which is produced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XII; his stage partners are Iwai Tojaku, Sawamura Tosshô II, Arashi Kichisaburô III, Onoe Eizaburô III, Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Arashi Izaburô II and Ichikawa Danzaburô V.

1st lunar month of 1848: Tsuneyo's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). he shares this rank with Onoe Baikô IV and Bandô Shûka I. Tsuneyo is the kanjiku for onnagata actors.

Comments:

Osagawa Tsuneyo IV was a talented and popular onnagata actor, who was born and trained in Kamigata in miyaji shibai, and achieved fame for himself in Edo from the end of the 1810s to the end of the 1840s. His field of excellence was nyôbô roles. He became an outstanding toshima in his latter years. He most likely died at the beginning of 1850. He revived the famous Osagawa Tsuneyo line of actors for only one generation, for he had no heir when he left this world.

Osagawa Tsuneyo IV in a print made by Utagawa Kunisada I

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1833

The Osagawa Tsuneyo line of actors