Stage name:

Bandô Matatarô I

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 1667 ~ 28th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1704 ^[1]

Connections:

Grandfather: Bandô Matakurô I

Father: Bandô Matajirô I (Bandô Matazaemon I)

Brothers: Bandô Matakurô II, Bandô Matakurô III

Son: Bandô Matatarô II

Disciples: Bandô Hikosaburô I, Katsuyama Matagorô (Bandô Matagorô)

Career:

1667 ~ 1685: born in Edo. He made his first appearance on stage at an unknown date and received the name of Bandô Matatarô I.

1685: Matatarô performed together with his grandfather Bandô Matakurô I at the Moritaza in the drama "Usuyuki Monogatari".

Spring 1693: Matatarô went to Kyôto.

7th lunar month of 1696: Matatarô played at the Moritaza the role of Ôe no Teruhide in the drama "Hei Shinnô Masakado".

2nd lunar month of 1697: Matatarô played at the Moritaza the role of the Deity Fudô Myôô in the drama "Iwaya Fudô".

Summer 1698: short stay in Kamigata; Matatarô played the role of Ôe no Teruhide in the drama "Yûjo Tsuya Oshiroi", which was produced in Ôsaka by the zamoto Iwai Hanshirô I.

Fall 1698: Matatarô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1698: Matatarô played the role of Aranami Heita in the drama "Genji Daikoku Bashira", which was staged at the Yamamuraza.

11th lunar month of 1699: Matatarô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ishiyama Genta in the drama "Hankaichô Tsuwamono Zoroe".

10th day of the 4th lunar month of 1700 ^[2]: his grandfather Bandô Matakurô I died in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1702: Matatarô played at the Yamamuraza the role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the kaomise drama "Yunzei Otokoyama Hachiman Tarô".

1st lunar month of 1703: Matatarô played in the same theater the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the drama "Keisei Asama Soga"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Nakamura Shichisaburô I.

Spring 1704: Matatarô appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Yamamuraza, playing the roles of Shibuya Shôji and Zen'ômaru in the drama "Genji Aioi Jûnidan".

28th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1704 ^[1]: Matatarô died in Edo.

Comments:

Bandô Matatarô I was a talented and popular Genroku actor, able to play both tachiyaku and onnagata roles. He excelled in jitsugotoshi, aragotoshi and budôgoto roles. He was also an outstanding dancer.

[1] The 28th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 17th year of the Genroku era was the 2nd of April 1704 in the western calendar.

[2] The 10th day of the 4th lunar month of the 13th year of the Genroku era was the 28th of May 1700 in the western calendar.

Bandô Matatarô I in an ilustration from the book "Kokon Shibai Irokurabe Hyakunin Isshu" (1st lunar month of 1693)

The Bandô Matatarô line of actors