Stage names:
Ichimura uzaemon XVII
Bandô Hikosaburô VII
Bandô Shinsui VII
Bandô Kamesaburô III
Real name: Bandô Mamoru
Guilds: Tachibanaya
Line number: JÛNANADAIME (XVII)
Existence: 11 July 1916 ~ 8 July 2001
Connection:
Great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI
Great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XII)
Grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XIII)
Father: Bandô Hikosaburô VI
Sons: Bandô Hikosaburô VIII, Ichimura Manjirô II, Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV
Grandsons: Bandô Kamesaburô V, Bandô Kametoshi, Ichimura Takematsu VI, Ichimura Hikaru
Career:
October 1921: he makes his first stage appearance, at the Imperial Theater, where he receives the name of Bandô Kamesaburô III and plays in the drama "Meigetsu Hachiman Matsuri".
March 1935: Bandô Kamesaburô III takes the name of Bandô Shinsui VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the dance-drama "Otowadake Danmari". Shinsui is one of the haimyô used by the Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors and Bandô Shinsui VII is the first actor to use it as a stage name.
October 1942: Bandô Shinsui VII takes the name of Bandô Hikosaburô VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the dance-drama "Futaomote".
September 1947: premiere at the Imperial Theater of Atsumi Seitarô's version of "Nansô Satomi Hakkenden"; Hikosaburô plays the roles of Inukawa Sôsuke and Yamabayashi Fusahachi [casting].
March 1953: premiere at the Kabukiza of Osaragi Jirô's drama "Edo no Yûbae"; Hikosaburô plays the role of Yoshida Ippeita [casting].
October 1955: Bandô Hikosaburô VII takes the name of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki, Wada no Hyôe Hidemori, Minamoto no Raikô and Izumiya Tazaemon in "Ishikiri Kajiwara", "Moritsuna Jin'ya", "Tsuchi Gumo" and "Kirare Yosa"; the program commemorates the memorial services of the deaths of Onoe Baikô VI and Ichimura Uzaemon XV; this is also the hatsubutai of Uzaemon's second son Ichimura Takematsu V.
December 1955: Uzaemon celebrates both his shûmei and the 5th anniversary of the reopening of the Meijiza, playing the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts), Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act), Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) and Kobayashi Heihachirô (11th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
May 1956: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".
April 1957: Uzaemon plays at the Misonoza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".
June 1958: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Onoe Baikô VII. He also plays the role of Shundô Gemba in the drama "Terakoya".
September 1958: Uzaemon plays at the Meijiza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".
May 1959: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Hayami no Tôta in the dance-drama "Yoshinoyama".
December 1959: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Yakushiji Jirozaemon (4th act), Ono no Sadakurô (5th act), Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) and Kobayashi Heihachirô (11th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
June 1960: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Ichikawa Danzô VIII.
December 1961: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) and Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
May 1962: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Ichikawa Sadanji III; this drama is staged to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI.
January 1963: Uzaemon plays at the Shimbashi Embujô the role of Togashi Saemon in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Minamoto no Yoshitsune are played by Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.
June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" is produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Uzaemon plays the role of Daimonjiya Jihei (commonly called Sakai no Daiji) [casting].
December 1963: Uzaemon plays at the Minamiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III.
October 1965: Uzaemon takes part in the first Kabuki tour in Western Europe; he plays the roles of Matsuômaru, Tanzaemon and Yuranosuke in the plays "Kurumabiki", "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima" and "Kanadehon Chûshingura" [casting].
December 1965: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (4th, 7th, 10th and 11th acts) and Yoshida Chûzaemon (6th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
February 1967: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Dattan"; Uzaemon plays the role of the dôdôji [casting].
November 1968: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts) and Ono no Sadakurô (5th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1969: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Onoe Kurôemon II; this drama is staged to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô X.
May 1970: Uzaemon plays at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III; this drama is staged to celebrate the shûmei in Ôsaka of Ichikawa Ebizô X.
October 1970: Uzaemon plays at the Misonoza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III; this drama is staged to celebrate the shûmei in Nagoya of Ichikawa Ebizô X.
February 1971: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Shinobu are played by Nakamura Senjaku II and Ichikawa Monnosuke VII.
April 1971: revival at the National Theatre of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Uzaemon plays the role of Asayama Shuzen [casting].
December 1972: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Hayano Kampei in the michiyuki "Michiyuki Tabiji no Hanamuko"; the role of Shizuka Gozen is played by Ôkawa Hashizô II.
February 1973: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (4th, 7th and 9th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
May 1973: Uzaemon plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".
June 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Uzaemon plays the roles of Kaze-no-Kami Kizaemon and Anoya Jûbei [casting].
December 1973: Uzaemon plays at the National Theatre the roles of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) and Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Uzaemon plays the roles of Yashagorô and Tsukikage Gunryô Miyukinosuke [casting].
January 1976: Uzaemon plays at the National Theatre the role of Togashi Saemon in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Minamoto no Yoshitsune are played by Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.
November 1977: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts), Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) and Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
May 1978: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Nakamura Tomijûrô V.
January 1979: tour in the Popular Republic of China.
January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the National Theatre; Uzaemon plays the role of Ema no Koshirô Yoshitoki [casting].
January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Uzaemon plays the role of the villain Ôtomo no Kachimaro [casting].
January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Uzaemon plays the role of Umezu Kanimori [casting].
November 1984: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".
October 1986: Uzaemon plays at the National Theatre the roles of Kakogawa Honzô (2nd and 3rd acts) and Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1986: Uzaemon plays at the National Theatre the roles of Hara Goemon (6th act) and Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
December 1986: Uzaemon plays at the National Theatre the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (9th, 10th and 11th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
June 1987: tour in USSR.
September 1988: tour in South Korea.
1990: Uzaemon receives the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese).
January 1991: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-priest Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi Saemon and Minamoto no Yoshitsune are played by Nakamura Kichiemon II and Onoe Baikô VII.
February 1991: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) and Ôboshi Yuranosuke (7th and 11th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
October 1992: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Shinobu are played by Nakamura Jakuemon IV and Ichimura Manjirô II.
April 1993: Uzaemon plays at the Meijiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira is played by Uzaemon's son Bandô Hikosaburô VIII; this drama is staged to celebrate the reopening of the Meijiza.
May 1994: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi";
the role of Owasa and Owasa's daughter Shinobu are played by Nakamura Shikan VII and Nakamura Fukusuke IX.
It is interesting to note
that the role of the daughter is played by the son of the actor playing the role of the mother.
February 1995: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
February 1997: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".
November 1997: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the drama "Tôyata Monogatari", which is staged to commemorate the 36th anniversary (37th memorial service) and the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the deaths of late Bandô Mitsugorô VII and Bandô Mitsugorô VIII; the roles of Iso no Tôyata and Shizuka Gozen are played by Bandô Mitsugorô IX and Sawamura Sôjûrô IX.
April 1998: Uzaemon plays at the Shôchikuza the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô XII; this drama is staged to celebrate the shûmei in Ôsaka of Kataoka Nizaemon XV.
September 1999: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi";
the role of Owasa and Owasa's daughter Shinobu are played by Nakamura Shikan VII and Nakamura Kankurô VI.
It is interesting to note
that the role of the daughter is played by a grandson of the actor playing the role of the mother.
January 2000: Uzaemon plays at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô IX. Uzaemon falls ill and has to be replaced from the 7th by his son Bandô Hikosaburô VIII.
March 2001: Uzaemon performs on stage for the last time, with the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan at the Shimbashi Embujô, where he plays the role of Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) and the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the deaths of late Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.
April 2001: Uzaemon appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, where he takes part in the kôjô celebrating the shûmei of Bandô Mitsugorô X.
8 July 2001: Uzaemon dies in Tôkyô of breathing difficulties following a lung cancer.
Comments:
Ichimura Uzaemon XVII was one of the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century, excelling in aragoto roles. He was a Kabuki icon with encyclopedic knowledge of theater traditions. The theater critic Itô Katsuyo wrote that he was "the last heavyweight in the Kabuki world. He learned directly from the old, legendary actors".
Ichimura Uzaemon XVII playing the role of Soga Gorô in the bombastic drama "Ya-no-Ne" (painting made by Hasegawa Noboru in June 1958)
The Bandô Kamesaburô line of actors
The Bandô Shinsui line of actors
The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors
The Ichimura Uzaemon line of actors and theater managers