The actor Ôtani Tokuji I's haimyô was Bajû and, although he never officially held the name of Ôtani Bajû I, he was considered as the founder of the line.

Born in 1768. Disciple of Ôtani Tokuji I, he received the stage name of Ôtani Monzô I and started his career in Edo during the An'ei era. He took the name of Kirinoya Monzô in the 11th lunar month of 1797 at the Kiriza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Yuki Onna Keizu no Hachinoki", which welcomed in Edo the actor Arashi Sanpachi I. He went to Kamigata where he became disciple of Ôtani Tomoemon II and took back the name of Ôtani Monzô I in the 11th lunar month of 1803 in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Hatsu Yagura Kogane no Manmaku" which was produced by Nakamura Noshio III. He went back to Edo in 1810 and took the name of Ôtani Bajû II in the 11th lunar month of 1816 at the Kawarasakiza, where he played the role of Matano Gorô in the kaomise drama "Kiyomori Eiga no Utena", which also celebrated the shûmei of Sôryô Jinroku II, Sakata Hanjûrô, Bandô Matajûrô III, Ichikawa Momotarô I, Tsuuchi Monzaburô III and Ichikawa Kodanji III. He died in Edo the 29th day of the 7th lunar month of 1824 ^[1]. He was able to perform a wide range of roles, as a tachiyaku, katakiyaku and oyajigata. He excelled in jitsugoto and irogataki roles.

There will be in the future to come a full page dedicated to Ôtani Bajû II in kabuki21.com.

Dates of birth and death unknown. Disciple of Ôtani Monzô I, his first stage name was Ôtani Sugizô I and he started his career in Ôsaka. He was later on adopted by his master. He took the name of Ôtani Monzô II in the 11th lunar month of 1820 at the Kawarasakiza, where he played the role of Naniwa Rokurô in the drama "Ise Heiji Ume no Mitegura", which welcomed in Edo the actor Arashi Kanjûrô I and also celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Tamizô II and Iwai Kiyotarô IV. He went back to Kamigata at unknown times (during the 1830s) and finally took the name of Ôtani Bajû III in the 11th lunar month of 1840 at the Minamigawa no Shibai. He was active up to the end of 1850s.

Son of Ôtani Monzô II, his first stage name was ... Asao Jûroku (?). Was his father related to the Asao clan? He started his career at the beginning of the 1830s in Ôsaka. He took the name of Ôtani Sugizô II in the 11th lunar month of 1834 at the Minamigawa no Shibai. He became Ôtani Tokuji II in Ôsaka around 1847. He finally took the name of Ôtani Bajû IV in the 10th lunar month of 1862. This minor katakiyaku actor was active up to the 20s of the Meiji era.

Born in 1842 in Edo in a merchant family settled in the district of Nihonbashi Sakai-chô. Disciple of Ôtani Tomoemon IV in Ôsaka, his first stage name was Ôtani Monza (or Monzô?). He became Ôtani Monzô III around 1873 and finally took the name of Ôtani Bajû V in March 1889 at the Kiriza, performing a minor role in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". This minor katakiyaku and fukeyaku actor died in Tôkyô the 14th of November 1907. He was the father of the Shinpa actor Kawai Takeo.