Stage names:

Ichikawa Danzô VII
Ichikawa Kuzô III
Ichikawa Hakuzô II
Ichikawa Momotarô II
Ichikawa Ginzô I

Guild: Mikawaya

Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)

Existence: 20th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1836 ^[1] ~ 11 September 1911

Connection:

Adoptive father: Ichikawa Danzô VI

Sons: Ichikawa San'en, Ichikawa Danzô VIII

Great-grandson: Ichikawa Danzô IX

Great-great-grandsons: Ichikawa Ginnosuke II, Ichikawa Momotarô V

Disciples: Ichikawa Hakuzô III, Ichikawa Kôjaku IV, Ichikawa Dannosuke VI, Ichikawa Ebijûrô VII, Ichikawa Danzaburô IX, Ichikawa Dannosuke, Ichikawa Momotarô

Career:

1836: born in Edo. His father Maruya Isaburô managed a restaurant in the district of Ashi-chô.

1839: he was adopted by Ichikawa Kuzô II, who gave him the name of Ichikawa Ginzô I.

11th lunar month of 1840: Ichikawa Ginzô I took the name of Ichikawa Momotarô II.

1843: Momotarô achieved a great success at Kawarasakiza, sharing the stage with the young star Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.

1844: Momotarô became disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô V and went with his master to perform in Ôsaka.

6th day of the 6th lunar month of 1845 ^[2]: Ichikawa Danzô V died in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1847: Ichikawa Momotarô II took the name of Ichikawa Hakuzô II.

10th lunar month of 1852: Hakuzô followed his adoptive father in Ôsaka for his shûmei at the Kado no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1854: Ichikawa Hakuzô II took the name of Ichikawa Kuzô III at the Naka no Shibai (Ôsaka), performing in the drama "Jiraiya".

5th lunar month of 1859: Kuzô played at the Moritaza the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Zôho Natsu Matsuri Otoko Kagami"; his stage partners in the roles of Danshichi Kurobê, Tsuribune Sabu and Otatsu were Nakamura Fukusuke I, Ichikawa Danzô VI and Arashi Hinasuke VI.

1st lunar month of 1860: the 1762 puppet drama "Kishi no Himematsu Kutsuwa Kagami" (commonly called "Kishi Hime") was adapted for the first time to Kabuki, in Edo at the Moritaza; it was integrated within the new year sogamono drama "Momo Chidori Nigiwai Soga" and Kuzô played the role of Iihara Hayatonosuke [casting].

5th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ryu to Mimasu Takane no Kumokiri"; Kuzô played the roles of the tôzoku Osaraba Denji and the Ibarasawamura servant Kyûsuke [casting].

8th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Sakura Sôshi Gonichi no Bundan", a revised version of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi"; Kuzô played the roles of Orikoshi Masatomo and Ogata Nagatonosuke [casting].

10th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Zôho Futatsu Domoe"; Kuzô played the role of Saeda Inukiyo [casting].

4th lunar month of 1864: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Wakaba no Ume Ukina no Yokogushi", commonly called "Kirare Otomi" ("Scarface Otomi"); Kuzô played the role of Kômori Yasu [casting].

22nd day of the 10th lunar month of 1871 ^[3]: his adoptive father Ichikawa Danzô VI died in Ôsaka.

August 1879: Kuzô took part in the opening ceremony of the Hisamatsuza [more details].

March 1884: premiere at the Harukiza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Chûjô Hime Taima Engi"; Kuzô played the role of the evil lady Teruhi-no-Mae [casting].

November 1885: premiere at the Chitoseza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Shisen Ryô Koban no Ume-no-Ha"; Kuzô played the roles of the rônin Fujioka Tôjûrô and Mandara no Jûemon (a member of the Chitose kôjû) [more details].

March 1886: première at the Chitoseza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Mekura Nagaya Ume-ga-Kagatobi" in which Kuzô played the roles of Matsuzô and Kaisuke [casting].

November 1887: Kuzô took part in the opening ceremony of the Azumaza [more details].

January 1888: Kuzô played at the Azumaza the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

1888: quarrel with Ichikawa Danjûrô IX.

1895: reconciliation with Ichikawa Danjûrô IX.

June 1897: Ichikawa Kuzô III took the name of Ichikawa Danzô VII at the Meijiza, playing several roles in the Kabuki program "Yumiharizuki Genke no Kaburaya", including the eponymous role of the short bombastic play "Kagekiyo", the villain Matsunaga Daizen in "Gion Sairei Shinkôki" and Ichisuke in "Kaidan Tsuki no Kasamori".

August 1897: tour in Kanazawa; Danzô played the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged at the Inariza; his stage partners were Nakamura Kangorô and Nakamura Tomijûrô III.

May 1898: Danzô played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

July 1899: Danzô was the head of a Kabuki troupe touring in Kanazawa.

January 1900: Danzô played at the Harukiza the role of the villain Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Hosokawa Katsumoto and Arajishi Otokonosuke were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke I and Ichimura Kakitsu VI.

February 1900: Danzô played the role of Tôma Saburôemon in the revenge drama "Tengajaya-mura", which was staged at the Engiza (Tôkyô); his stage partners were Nakamura Shikaku I (Iori), Sawamura Tosshi VII (Motoemon, Kôemon) and Seki Hanasuke II (Genjirô).

January 1901: Danzô played at the Kumoiza (Yokohama) the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei and Taira no Tomomori in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the role of Suke-no-Tsubone was played by Iwai Matsunosuke IV.

October 1901: Danzô played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Kô no Moronô and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan was played by Arashi Kitsusaburô IV.

December 1901: Danzô played at the Kabukiza (Kyôto) the roles of Kô no Moronô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1902: Danzô played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto was played by Ichikawa Udanji I.

September 1902: Danzô played at the Meijiza (Kyôto) the role of the villain Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto was played by Arashi Ganshô.

April 1903: Danzô played at the Kabukiza (Kyôto) the role of Yosaburô in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi"; the roles of Otomi and Kômori Yasu were played by Nakamura Kaoru and Jitsukawa Enjirô I.

November 1903: Danzô played at the Bentenza (Ôsaka) the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

December 1903: Danzô played at the Meijiza (Kyôto) the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

November 1904: Danzô played at the Meijiza (Kyôto) the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei and Taira no Tomomori in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the roles of Suke-no-Tsubone and Yoshitsune were played by Arashi Ganshô and Nakamura Shibajaku IV.

November 1906: Danzô played at the Bentenza (Ôsaka) the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

September 1907: Danzô played at the Bentenza (Ôsaka) the role of the villain Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto was played by Arashi Kitsusaburô IV.

November 1907: Danzô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Kômori Yasu in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi"; the roles of Yosaburô and Otomi were played by Arashi Tokusaburô V and Nakamura Naritarô I.

March 1908: Danzô achieved a great success at the Kabukiza by playing the role of Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Hosokawa Katsumoto and Arajishi Otokonosuke were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Ichikawa Komazô VIII.

May 1908: Danzô played at the Kabukiza the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei and Taira no Tomomori in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the roles of Suke-no-Tsubone and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Shikan V and Ichikawa Komazô VIII.

June 1908: Danzô played at the Kirakuza (Yokohama) the role of Igami no Gonta in the "Sushiya" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

July 1908: Danzô played at the Kirakuza (Yokohama) the roles of Sadakurô and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Kanpei's wife Okaru was played by Danzô's son Ichikawa Kuzô IV.

May 1909: Danzô played at the Suehiroza (Nagoya) the role of Kômori Yasu in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi"; the roles of Yosaburô and Otomi were played by Ichikawa Yaozô VII and Nakamura Shikan V.

July 1909: Danzô played at the Tôkyôza the role of Matsuômaru in the "Terakoya" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

October 1909: Danzô played at the Tôkyôza the role of Kô no Moronô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan was played by Onoe Baikô VI.

November 1909: Danzô played at the Kabukiza the role of Kô no Moronô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

June 1911: Danzô played at the Imperial Theater the great role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi was played by Onoe Baikô VI.

September 1911: Danzô fell seriously ill.

11 September 1911: Danzô died in Tôkyô ^[4].

Comments:

Ichikawa Danzô VII was an excellent jitsugotoshi and katakiyaku of the Meiji era. His ranking in term of fame was just one rank below the stars Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, Onoe Kikugorô V or Ichikawa Sadanji I.

[1] The 20th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 7th year of the Tenpô era was the 5th of May 1836 in the western calendar.

[2] The 6th day of the 6th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kôka era was the 10th of July 1845 in the western calendar.

[3] The 22nd day of the 10th lunar month of the 4th year of the Meiji era was the 4th of December 1871 in the western calendar.

[4] His tombstone was located in the Yanaka cemetery in Tôkyô.

Ichikawa Danzô VII playing the role of Ichisuke in the play "Kaidan Tsuki no Kasamori", which was staged in June 1897 at the Meijiza (print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1884

The Ichikawa Momotarô line of actors

The Ichikawa Hakuzô line of actors

The Ichikawa Kuzô line of actors

The Ichikawa Danzô line of actors