MIMASU DAIGORÔ III

11th lunar month of 1800: Yoshizawa Kamezô, thanks to the patronage of his master Yoshizawa Iroha I, took the name of Mimasu Daigorô III at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing the role of Dankurô in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which was produced by Kataoka Ainosuke I.

9th lunar month of 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Daigorô played the role of Tokuemon [casting].

2nd ~ 3rd lunar months of 1802: Daigorô replaced the star Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who fell ill, in the role of Yoshikata in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki", which was produced by Anegawa Kamesaburô at the Kado no Shibai.

6th lunar month of 1804: tour in Nagoya with Bandô Hikosaburô III, Nakamura Daikichi I, Bando Jûtarô, Segawa Hamajirô and Nakamura Utagorô; Daigorô played at the Wakamiya no Shibai the roles of Amakawaya Gihei, Ishidô Umanojô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1804: Mimasu Daigorô III took the name of Mimasu Seibê.

2nd lunar month of 1806: the play "Kamakura Sandaiki" was staged for the first time in Kyôto, in the precincts of the Inaba Yakushi temple; the main roles were played by Yamashina Jinkichi II (Princess Toki), Bandô Jûtarô (Miuranosuke) and Seibê (Takatsuna).

26th day of the 8th lunar month of 1810: his master Yoshizawa Ayame V^[3] died.

6th lunar month of 1813: Mimasu Seibê took back the name of Mimasu Daigorô III.

11th lunar month of 1813: Daigorô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Ono no Sadakurô and Yakushiji Jirozaemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1814: Daigorô played at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Igami no Gonta in the "Sushiya" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the roles of Yasuke, Osato and Yazaemon were played by Nakayama Bunshichi III, Ogino Kinshi and Asao Kunigorô III.

Summer 1816: Daigorô went to Edo.

8th lunar month of 1816: Daigorô played at the Kiriza the roles of Tôma Hashizô and Ningyôya Kôemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura".

1st lunar month of 1817: Daigorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

Fall 1817: Daigorô went back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1817: Daigorô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Yurugi Saemon in the drama "Azuma Kagami Utsusu Nishikie".

1st lunar month of 1818: Daigorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

Fall 1824: Daigorô went to Edo to join his son Mimasu Gennosuke I.

10th lunar month of 1824: Daigorô was supposed to perform at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise program in the 11th lunar month but he suddenly fell ill.

17th day of the 10th lunar month of 1824^[1]: Daigorô died in Edo.

Comments:

Mimasu Daigorô III was a tachiyaku and katakiyaku actor, who spent most of his career in Kamigata minor theaters (hama shibai). He was not a popular actor but he played an important role by transmitting the art of his line to his son Mimasu Daigorô IV, who became one of the best Kamigata actors from the 1830's to the end of the 1850's.

[1] The 17th day of the 10th lunar month of the 7th year of the Bunsei era was the 7th of December 1824 in the western calendar.

[2] The 27th day of the 7th lunar month of the 5th year of the Kansei era was the 2nd of September 1793 in the western calendar.

[3] The 26th day of the 8th lunar month of the 7th year of the Bunka era was the 24th of September 1810 in the western calendar.

[4] Only our assumption. No proof that Mimasu Iwagorô was really a disciple of Mimasu Daigorô III.

Mimasu Daigorô III portraying Ningyôya Kôemon in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)

The Mimasu Daigorô line of actors