Stage names:

Fujikawa Buzaemon I
Fujikawa Buzaemon

Poetry name: Issen

Existence: 1632 ~ 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of 1729 ^[1]

Connections:

Son-in-law: Bandô Matakurô II (Morita Kan'ya II)

Grandson: Fujikawa Heikurô, Morita Kan'ya IV

Great-grandsons: Fujikawa Hachizô I, Fujikawa Tôkurô, Fujikawa Kamenoi

Adopted son: Fujikawa Kinjûrô

Disciples: Fujikawa Shigeemon, Fujikawa Matashirô

Career:

1632: born in Kyôto.

1675: Buzaemon performed in Edo for the zamoto Ichimura Takenojô I.

1681: Buzaemon went back to Kyôto.

2nd lunar month of 1683: Buzaemon went to Edo and achieved a great success at the Moritaza by performing in the drama "Saigoku Tomita-ga-Hara".

1685: Buzaemon went back to Kyôto.

1st lunar month of 1691: Buzaemon achieved a great success in Kyôto by performing the jitsuaku role of Abe no Munetô for the Murayama Heiemon II.

6th lunar month of 1693: Buzaemon played in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater in Kojima Hikojûrô's drama "Kôshoku Denju".

Fall 1693: Buzaemon went to Edo.

1695: Buzaemon went back to Kyôto.

8th lunar month of 1697: Buzaemon achieved a great success in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater by playing the role of the priest Kisen in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Momoyo Komachi", which was produced by Sakata Tôjûrô I.

1698: Buzaemon went to Ôsaka.

6th lunar month of 1698: Buzaemon played in Ôsaka the role of Mareyo in the drama "Semimaru Nido no Shusse", which was produced by Iwai Hanshirô I; his stage partners were Asao Jûjirô I (Kita no Kata), Iwai Hanshirô I (Kiyotsura), Yamashita Matashirô I (Senju Tarô), Shinozuka Jirozaemon (Sakagami no Ôji), Uemura Takenojô (Semimaru), Mihara Jûdayû I, Ogura Bun'emon and Uemura Kichisaburô I.

Fall 1698: Buzaemon went back to Kyôto.

1st lunar month of 1699: Premiere at Miyako Mandayû's theater of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hotoke no Hara", which was produced by Sakata Tôjûrô I; Buzaemon played the role of the rônin Inui Sukedayû [casting]. This was a huge success.

3rd lunar month of 1699: Buzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Fall 1709: Buzaemon went to Edo.

1st lunar month of 1710: Buzaemon played at the Moritaza in the new year sogamono drama "Kaishun Soga".

Fall 1710: Buzaemon went back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1710: Buzaemon performed in Kyôto at Ebisuya Shôdayû's theater in the kaomise drama "Inari Chôja Yotsugimaru", which was produced by Yamashita Karumo; his stage partners were Yamashita Kyôemon I, Yoshizawa Ayame I and Sawamura Chôjûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1712: Buzaemon achieved a great success in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater by performing in the new year drama "Keisei Miidera no Kane", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

11th lunar month of 1714: Buzaemon played the role of the nyûdô Sagami in the kaomise drama "Azuma-zukuri Ôdaidokoro", which was produced at Kameya Kumenojô's theater by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I [illustration].

11th lunar month of 1717: Buzaemon played in Kyôto the role of Shinohara Jibudayû in the kaomise drama "Genjôraku Biwa no Ôumi", which was produced by Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I in Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater.

11th lunar month of 1718: Buzaemon played in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater the role of Shigaraki Daiemon in Adachi Saburôzaemon's kaomise drama "Shiga no Miyako Kogane no Hanazono", which was produced by Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I. Because of his old age, his voice was no more full of life and he could not talk for a long time any more.

11th lunar month of 1719: Buzaemon played at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Kagamiyama Kageyu in the kaomise drama "Chiyo no Ume Naniwa Kagami", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirojûrô [illustration]. This was the first stage appearance of his grandson Fujikawa Heikurô.

1st lunar month of 1721: Buzaemon fell ill and had to rest. His rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).

11th lunar month of 1721: Buzaemon appeared on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater, playing in the kaomise drama "Fuji Asama Taiheiraku", which was coproduced by Wakaura Kinjûrô and Matsumoto Shigemaki.

11th lunar month of 1723: Buzaemon's name was on the playbill of the kaomise drama, which was produced by Arashi Sanjûrô I at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater. He most likely did not appear on stage.

3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of 1729 ^[1]: Buzaemon died in Kyôto.

Comments:

Fujikawa Buzaemon I was an outstanding katakiyaku and jitsuaku actor, who was endowed with a powerful voice and was active on stage for a very long time (most likely more than 6 decades). He was considered as the first jitsuaku in Kabuki history. He was also the founder of the Fujikawa clan. His longevity was exceptional for he died at the age of 98!

[1] The 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of the 14th year of the Kyôhô era was the 31st of March 1729 in the western calendar.

Fujikawa Buzaemon I in the hyôbanki "Ogakuzu" (1699)

Prints & Illustrations

The Fujikawa Buzaemon line of actors