Stage names:

Jitsukawa Enjaku II
Jitsukawa Enjirô I

Real name: Amaboshi Shôemon

Guild: Kawachiya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Shôgan

Existence: 11 December 1877 ~ 22 February 1951

Connections:

Father: Jitsukawa Enjaku I

Sons: Jitsukawa Enjaku III, Jitsukawa Ennosuke III

Disciples: Jitsukawa Enju, Jitsukawa Yaozô III

Family map: the Jitsukawa Clan

Career:

11 December 1877: born in Ôsaka in the district of Nanba Shinchi.

18 September 1885: his father Jitsukawa Enjaku I died.

October 1887 ^[1]: he made his first appearance on stage in Ôsaka at the Naniwaza, where he received the name of Jitsukawa Enjirô I.

1894: Enjirô became zagashira of a troupe of children-actors.

December 1896: Enjirô played at the Sakaiza (Ôsaka) the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri was played by Arashi Umenosuke.

1899: Enjirô went to Tôkyô and performed at the Tôkyôza.

August 1904: Enjirô played at the Kadoza the role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Arashi Tokusaburô V (Sôshichi) and Nakamura Shibajaku IV (Kojorô).

1909: Enjirô played the role of Igami no Gonta in the "Sushiya" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", in March at the Meijiza (Kyôto), in June at the Misonoza (Nagoya) and in September at the Asahiza (Ôsaka).

November 1909: revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku", in Ôsaka at the Asahiza, which was based on a new script written by Watanabe Katei; Enjirô played the role of Kawachiya Yohê [casting].

January 1910: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku" was staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Minamiza; Enjirô played the role of Kawachiya Yohê [casting].

May 1910: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku" was staged for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Shintomiza; Enjirô played the role of Kawachiya Yohê [casting].

July 1911: Enjirô played at the Asahiza (Ôsaka) the role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Nakamura Naritarô I (Issun Tokubê, Otatsu) and Arashi Kitsusaburô IV (Tsuribune Sabu).

November 1911: Enjirô played at the Nakaza the roles of Yokozô and Katsuyori in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Nakamura Naritarô I (Nureginu, Jihizô) and Arashi Tokusaburô V (Princess Yaegaki).

October 1914: Enjirô played at the Matsushima Yachiyoza (Ôsaka) the role of Tamate Gozen in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; his stage partners were Arashi Kitsusaburô IV (Gappô) and Arashi Hirosaburô (Takayasu Shuntokumaru).

August 1915: the drama "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki" revised by Enjirô was staged for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Kabukiza; Enjirô played the roles of Hishikawa Shigenobu, the ghost of Shigenobu, the servant Shôsuke and Uwabami no Sanji [casting].

October 1915: Jitsukawa Enjirô I took the name of Jitsukawa Enjaku II in Ôsaka at the Naniwaza, playing the role of Yasui Dôboku and Hachirobê in the dramas "Yasui Dôton" and "Kane Morotomo Urami no Samezaya" ^[2]; the role of Otsuma in the latter drama was played by Nakamura Fukusuke IV. The new Enjaku shared the staged with Nakamura Ganjirô I, Nakamura Baigyoku II, Nakamura Kaisha, Nakamura Fukusuke IV, Ichikawa Yaozô VII, Ichikawa Udanji II, Arashi Kichisaburô VI, Arashi Rikaku IV, Nakamura Senjaku I and Hayashi Chôzaburô.

August 1917: the play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" was produced at the Kabukiza for the first time; Enjaku played the role of Danshichi Kurobê [casting].

December 1917: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the roles of Osono and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Kataoka Gadô IV and Arashi Kichisaburô VI.

April 1919: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of Ishikawa Goemon was played by Ichikawa Gangyoku II.

December 1919: Enjaku played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kanpei, Sadakurô, Yoichibê, Teraoka Heiemon and Tonase in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

April 1920: Enjaku played at the Minatoza (Nagoya) the role of Gappô in the drama "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; the role of Tamate Gozen was played by Nakamura Jakuemon III.

September 1920: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the roles of Osono and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Sawamura Sônosuke I and Arashi Kichisaburô VI.

March 1923: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the role of Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Nakamura Fukusuke IV (Sôshichi) and Arashi Hirosaburô (the courtesan Kojorô).

February 1924: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the role of Sasaki Takatsuna in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; the roles of Princess Toki and Miuranosuke were played by Nakamura Jakuemon III and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

February 1925: Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", was revived at the Hongôza, under the supervision of the writer Nagai Kafû; Enjaku played the role of the sumô wrestler Shirafuji Genta [casting].

April 1927: Enjaku played at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the roles of Osono and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Kataoka Gadô IV and Arashi Ganshô.

May 1927: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Katsuyori in the "Jusshukô" scene of the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Nureginu were played by Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Nakamura Jakuemon III.

November 1928: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Motoemon in the drama "Tengajaya-mura"; his stage partners were Nakamura Fukusuke IV (Iori), Nakamura Ganjirô I (Tôma Saburôemon) and Nakamura Senjaku I (Somenoi).

December 1929: Enjaku played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kanpei, Sadakurô, Yoichibê and Teraoka Heiemon in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

May 1933: Ikeda Daigo's bakumatsumono drama "Saigô to Buta-hime" was staged for the first time in ôshibai, in Tôkyô at the Meijiza; Enjaku played the role of the nakai Otama [more details].

November 1935: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the role of Osono was played by Nakamura Kaisha.

January 1936: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Tanuki no Kakuhei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

19 December 1937: his younger son Jitsukawa Ennosuke III died at the age of 16.

April 1938: premiere at the Meijiza of "Kira Yashiki Uramon" and the first act of "Sengoku Yashiki" [casting], the seventh and ninth plays of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Chûshingura"; Enjaku played the role of Lord Sengoku in "Sengoku Yashiki".

May 1938: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the role of Osono was played by Nakamura Kaisha.

November 1942: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

January 1944: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the role of Osono was played by Nakamura Baigyoku III.

March 1944: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Sasaki Takatsuna in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; the roles of Princess Toki and Miuranosuke were played by Nakamura Baigyoku III and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

January 1945: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the role of Yokozô in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the role of Jihizô was played by Kataoka Gatô IV.

January 1946: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Sôgan and Obiya Chôemon in "Sakaya" and "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami".

April 1946: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Kamiya Jihê ^[3], Nippon Daemon and Tatara Shindôzaemon in "Shinjû Ten no Amijima", "Benten Kozô" and "Imorizake".

June 1946: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the roles of Tatara Shindôzaemon, Motome ^[4] and Magoemon in "Imorizake", "Koi no Odamaki" and "Koi Bikyaku".

September 1946: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Kyûsaku and Motome ^[4] in "Imose no Kadomatsu" and "Koi no Odamaki".

October 1946: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the roles of the kagokaki Jinbê and Nan Yohê (later Nanpô Jûjibê) ^[5] in "Hashimoto" and "Hikimado".

November 1946: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Nishiya Kingorô and Magoemon ^[6] in "Nozomi no Minato" and "Ninokuchi-mura".

January 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Hitotsuya Gohê ^[7] and Nan Yohê (later Nanpô Jûjibê) ^[8] in "Osaga Kaheiji" and "Hikimado". This program celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Ganjirô II and Kamimura Kichiya V and commemorated the the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Ganjirô I.

February 1947: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the roles of Obiya Chôemon and Konaya Magoemon in "Domo Mata" and "Ten no Amijima". This program celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Ganjirô II in Kyôto at the Minamiza.

March 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Ishikawa Goemon ^[9] and Sôgan in "Sanmon" and "Sakaya".

May 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Ishikawa Goemon ^[10] and Kyûsaku in "Sanmon" and "Shinpan Utazaimon".

June 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Tonbê in "Soga no Taimen" and "Tonbê Sumika".

August 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Tsuribune Sabu ^[11] and Heisaku in "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" and "Numazu".

September 1947: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the roles of Shundô Jirôemon ^[12] and Heisaku in "Numazu" and "Tsuzure no Nishiki".

October 1947: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Shimada Heizaemon and Matsuômaru ^[13] in "Yoi Gôshin" and "Terakoya".

January 1948: Enjaku played at the Nakaza the roles of Midaroku and Shundô Jirôemon ^[14] in "Kumagai Jin'ya" and "Tsuzure no Nishiki". This program celebrated the rebuilding of the Nakaza and the shûmei of Arashi San'emon XI.

February 1948: Enjaku played at the Minamiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke ^[15] in the classic Kanadehon Chûshingura.

March 1948: Enjaku played at the Misonoza the roles of Shundô Jirôemon ^[14] and Shimada Heizaemon in "Tsuzure no Nishiki" and "Yoi Gôshin". This program celebrated in Nagoya the shûmei of Arashi San'emon XI.

April 1948: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Tokugawa Hidetada and Yoshioka Kiichi Hôgen ^[16] in "Kuriyama Daizen" and "Kikubatake". For health-related reasons, Enjaku stopped acting afterwards for 17 months.

October 1949: Enjaku was back on stage, in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza, where he played the prestigious role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Sanmon"; the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi was played by Bandô Jusaburô III.

February 1950: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Ishikawa Goemon ^[17] and Heisaku in the dramas "Sanmon" and "Numazu". "Sanmon" was recorded as a movie [Sanmon Gosan no Kiri: February 1950].

May 1950: Enjaku played at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Heisaku and Ishikawa Goemon ^[17] in the dramas "Numazu" and "Sanmon".

November 1950: Enjaku played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role Ishikawa Goemon ^[17] in the drama "Sanmon".

January 1951: Enjaku appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza, where he played the role of Satô Masakiyo in the "Kosui Gozabune" act of the drama "Hachijin".

22 February 1951: Enjaku died.

Comments:

Jitsukawa Enjaku II was one of two best tachiyaku actors in Kamigata during the first half of the twentieth century, often sharing the top of the bill with the other one, Nakamura Ganjirô I. From 1935 to 1950, he was the undisputed leader of Kabuki in Kamigata. His fame was not limited to Ôsaka or Kyôto and he did many successful stays in Tôkyô. His field of excellence was wagoto, as the worthy heir of his father Jitsukawa Enjaku I. He was also outstanding in jitsugotoshi or budôgoto roles in maruhonmono dramas. His extravagant offstage life as a womanizer was very well-known.

Jitsukawa Enjaku II's best roles: Ishikawa Goemon ("Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"), Sanni no goroshichi ("Kari no Tayori"), Danshichi Kurobê ("Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"), Kanô Shirojirô ("Chichi Morai"), Rokusuke ("Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"), Heisaku ("Numazu"), Shundô Jirôemon ("Daianji Zutsumi"), Nikki Danjô ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") and Yokozô ("Honchô Nijûshikô").

[1] March 1886 at the Ebisuza in Nojima Jusaburô's book "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten".

[2] A kamigata kyôgen similar to "Unagidani"

[3] The roles of Jihê's wife Osan and Kinokuniya Koharu were played by Nakamura Tomijûrô IV and Jitsukawa Enjirô II.

[4] The roles of Princess Tachibana and Omiwa were played by Nakamura Tomijûrô IV and Nakamura Baigyoku III.

[5] The roles of Nuregami Chôgorô, Ohaya and Okô were played by Kataoka Gatô IV, Nakamura Tomijûrô IV and Nakamura Kasen II.

[6] The roles of Kameya Chûbê and Umegawa were played by Ichikawa Sumizô VI and Nakamura Tomijûrô IV.

[7] The roles of Kashiwaya Osaga and Hitotsuya Kaheiji were played by Nakamura Ganjirô II and Nakamura Baigyoku III.

[8] The roles of Nuregami Chôgorô, Ohaya and Okô were played by Bandô Jusaburô III, Nakamura Ganjirô II and Nakamura Kasen II.

[9] The role of Hisayoshi was played by Nakamura Baigyoku III.

[10] The role of Konoshita Tôkichi was played by Bandô Jusaburô III.

[11] The roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Issun Tokubê were played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Sawamura Tosshi VIII.

[12] The roles of Takaichi Buemon and Kamura Utaemon were played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Kataoka Gatô IV.

[13] The roles of Takebe Genzô, Chiyo and Tonami were played by Ichikawa Sumizô VI, Nakamura Tomijûrô IV and Nakamura Naritarô II.

[14] The roles of Takaichi Buemon and Kamura Utaemon were played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Arashi San'emon XI.

[15] The roles of En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Rikiya, Ishidô Umanojô/Teraoka Heiemon, Okaru/Oishi, Kakogawa Honzô and Tonase were played by Ichikawa Sumizô VI, Jitsukawa Enjirô II, Kataoka Gatô IV, Nakamura Tomijûrô IV, Arashi San'emon XI and Nakamura Ganjirô II.

[16] The roles of the yakko Chienai (in reality Yoshioka Kisanta), the yakko Torazô (in reality Ushiwakamaru), Princess Minazuru and Kasahara Tankai were played by Bandô Jusaburô III, Ichikawa Sumizô VI, Nakamura Tomijûrô IV and Nakamura Fukusuke V.

[17] The role of Mashiba Hisayoshi was played by Bandô Jusaburô III.

Jitsukawa Enjaku II playing the role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1926)

The Jitsukawa Enjirô line of actors

The Jitsukawa Enjaku line of actors