Stage names:

Fujikawa Heikurô
Fujikawa Daikichi 0.1

Poetry names: Ippû, Shôki

Existence: 1698 ~ 4th day of the 7th lunar month of 1761 ^[1]

Connection:

Grandfathers: Fujikawa Buzaemon I, Bandô Matajirô I

Father: Bandô Matakurô II (Morita Kan'ya II)

Brother: Morita Kan'ya IV

Sons: Fujikawa Hachizô I, Fujikawa Tôkurô, Fujikawa Kamenoi

Brother-in-law: Bandô Kunigorô I

Disciples: Fujikawa Jûrôbê, Fujikawa Iwamatsu, Fujikawa Otoemon

Career:

1698: born in Edo in the family of Morita Kan'ya II.

1701: he moved to Kyôto, settling in his grandfather Fujikawa Buzaemon I's home who gave him the name of Fujikawa Daikichi and taught him the art of acting. He was called Fujikawa Daikichi.

11th lunar month of 1719: he appeared on stage for the first time, receiving the name of Fujikawa Heikurô and performing as a katakiyaku in the kaomise drama "Chiyo no Ume Naniwa Kagami", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirojûrô at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1722: Heikurô played in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the role of Ude no Yohê in Yoshida Rôfu's kaomise drama "Aioi Ôshimadai", which was produced by Ogino Yaegiri I and welcomed in Kyôto the actor Kirinoya Gonjûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1723: Heikurô played in Kyôto the role of Hamada Buemon in Fukuoka Yagoshirô's kaomise drama "Teono Hajime Kogane no Ishizue", which was produced by Segawa Kikunojô I.

3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of 1729 ^[2]: his grandfather Fujikawa Buzaemon I died.

Fall 1730: Heikurô went to Ôsaka, after 11 seasons spent in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1730: Heikurô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Sekiguchi Manzô in the kaomise drama "Matsukane Fukki no Ishizue".

1st lunar month of 1731: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1733: the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki" was performed for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Heikurô played the roles of Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura and Ôgiya Toheiji [casting].

1st lunar month of 1734: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

19th day of the 6th lunar month of 1734 ^[3]: his father Bandô Matakurô II died.

Fall 1737: Heikurô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1737: Heikurô played the role of Fukushima Sagoemon in the kaomise drama "Hachiman Tarô Denju no Tsuzumi", which was staged at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater and celebrated the shûmei of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II.

1st lunar month of 1738: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Mihogi Gizaemon I, Arashi Shichigorô I and Yashio Ikuemon.

Fall 1738: Heikurô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1738: Heikurô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Todoroki Daihachi in the kaomise drama "Sanpukutsui Kogane no Ichigura", which was produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

1st lunar month of 1739: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1740: Heikurô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Murakami Yoshiharu in the kaomise drama "Shinra Genji Shimada Gunpô"; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Arashi Sanjûrô II, Iwai Hanshirô III, Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II, Kamakura Heikurô I, Tomizawa Montarô I, Yoshizawa Ayame II, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II and Sanogawa Hanazuma II (zamoto).

1st lunar month of 1741: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Sawamura Otoemon I and Arashi Shichigorô I.

11th lunar month of 1741: Heikurô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kikusui Kageyu in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Yakata Bandai no Kame", which was produced by his son Fujikawa Kamenoi.

1st lunar month of 1742: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Nakamura Sôjûrô and Arashi Shichigorô I.

Fall 1742: Heikurô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1742: Heikurô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Todoroki Daihachi in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Konrei Nagoya", which was produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I.

1st lunar month of 1743: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

17th day of the 9th lunar month of 1743 ^[4]: his brother Morita Kan'ya IV died.

Fall 1745: Heikurô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1745: Heikurô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Matano Gorô in the kaomise drama "Suehiro Izu Nikki", which celebrated the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroemon II and Nakamura Denkurô II.

1st lunar month of 1746: Heikurô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

6th lunar month of 1746: Heikurô played in the same theater the roles of Sonobe Hyôe, Goheiji and Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

Fall 1746: Heikurô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1746: Heikurô played at Miyako Handayû's theater the role of Shinozuka Imakurô in the kaomise drama "Fukki no Ôshimadai", which was produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1747: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1747: Heikurô played at Miyako Handayû's theater the role of Watônai in Chikamatsu Monaemon's drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen"; the roles of Kanki and Kinshôjo were played by Nakamura Jûzô I and Tatsuoka Hisagiku.

11th lunar month of 1747: Heikurô performed in the kaomise drama "Teikin Ôrai Manzoku Kagami", which was produced by Nakamura Matsubê I at the Kitagawa no Shibai and celebrated the shûmei of Sakakiyama Kôshirô II and his son Sakakiyama Shirotarô II. Others stage partners were Yamashita Matatarô I, Takenaka Heikichi, Fujioka Daikichi, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I, Nakamura Shirogorô III, Kasaya Matakurô I, Asao Motogorô I and Sanogawa Hanazuma II.

1st lunar month of 1748: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, fell back to jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1748: Heikurô played at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the roles of Matano Gorô and the wrong Benkei in the kaomise drama "Sugomori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which was produced by Arashi San'emon IV; his stage partners were Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Yamashita Matatarô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Hanakawa Ichinojô, Sanogawa Hanazuma II and Imamura Shichisaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1749: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He also played in the same theater the role of the karô Makinoshima Ujiemon in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chikai no Fumizuka".

11th lunar month of 1749: Heikurô played at Miyako Handayû's theater the role of the yakko Tokizô in the kaomise drama "Imosegura Kogane no Ishizue"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danzô III, Yamatoya Jinbê IV, Asao Motogorô I, Anegawa Daikichi I, Arashi San'emon IV and Ôtani Hirohachi I.

1st lunar month of 1750: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was back to goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1750: Heikurô played at Miyako Handayû's theater in Matsuya Raisuke I's kaomise drama "Kaikei Wagô Hanayakata".

1st lunar month of 1751: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. First Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto", which was produced in Kyôto by Miyako Handayû at his theater; Heikurô played the roles of Washizuka Kintôji Hidekuni and Sansuke [casting].

6th lunar month of 1751: Heikurô played in the same theater the role of Mochizuki Danjô in the drama "Katakiuchi Deguchi no Yanagi".

Fall 1751: Heikurô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1751: Heikurô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Sano Gentôta in the kaomise drama "Honryô Hachinoki-zome".

1st lunar month of 1752: Heikurô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the role of the Naniwa otokodate Akaushi Yasubê in the drama "Hana Sugata Sanpukutsui" (the second part (nibanme) of "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga"), sharing the stage with Matsumoto Kôshirô II (the Azuma otokodate Banzuiin Chôbê) and Nakamura Sukegorô I (the Ôshû otokodate Teppeki Shôhei) [print].

4th lunar month of 1752: Heikurô played in the same theater the role of Midaroku in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

9th lunar month of 1752: Heikurô performed his onagori kyôgen at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Monogusa Tarô in the drama "Monogusa Monogatari". This was his final performance in his native town.

Fall 1752: Heikurô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1752: Heikurô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the play "Nagoya Ori Hinatsuru no Nishiki", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

1st lunar month of 1753: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1753: Heikurô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Fukushima Kakubê (in reality Arashiya Gensuke) [picture] in the kaomise drama "Nakatomi Sandaijin", which was produced by Ichimura Sanohachi.

1st lunar month of 1754: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He also played in the same theater the role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Mukashi Ezôshi Tsuzura Otoko".

11th lunar month of 1754: Heikurô played at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Amaterasu Ômikami Iwado no Akebono", which was produced by Arashi San'emon IV.

1st lunar month of 1755: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

12th lunar month of 1755: Heikurô became tachiyaku and played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the yakko Tsuihei, in reality Shinzaemon's son Shinzô, in the drama "Hyakumanki Tsuwamono Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1756: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1756: Heikurô switched back to jitsuaku roles and performed at the Kado no Shibai in Namiki Eisuke I's kaomise drama "Taihei Yamato Monogatari", which was produced by Anegawa Daikichi I.

1st lunar month of 1757: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

Fall 1757: Heikurô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1757: Heikurô became tachiyaku and performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Tsunomoji Keman no Yurai".

1st lunar month of 1758: Heikurô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. First Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", which was simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]. It used its real title at the former theater but it was entitled "Keisei Niwatoriyama" at the latter theater; Heikurô played in the latter theater the role of Konoshita Tôkichi.

11th lunar month of 1758: Heikurô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Gensuke and Wada Gorô in the kaomise drama "Homare Musha Senri no Kachidoki", which was coproduced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and Somematsu Shichisaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1759: Heikurô was sôkanjiku in the Kyôto hyôbanki; his rank was both ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual] and goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

Fall 1759: Heikurô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1759: Heikurô switched back to jitsuaku roles and performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Mibae Soga Azuma Tanzen".

1st lunar month of 1760: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

7th lunar month of 1760: Heikurô played in the same theater the role of the boatman Matsuemon, in reality the warrior Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu, in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

11th lunar month of 1760: Heikurô became tachiyaku and played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the priest Mongaku and Miura Jirô in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Toshitoku Môde".

1st lunar month of 1761: Heikurô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

6th lunar month of 1761: Heikurô appeared on stage for the last time, playing at the Naka no Shibai the role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the roles of Issun Tokubê and Tsuribune Sabu were played by his son Fujikawa Hachizô I and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I. Heikurô suddenly fell ill and had to be replaced by his son.

4th day of the 7th lunar month of 1761 ^[1]: Heikurô died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Fujikawa Heikurô was an outstanding 18th century jitsuaku and tachiyaku actor, who achieved fame for himself in the three capital cities. He was the worthy hair of his grandfather, the stage giant Fujikawa Buzaemon I, and he reached the goku-jô-jô-kichi outstanding level.

[1] The 4th day of the 7th lunar month of the 11th year of the Hôreki era was the 4th of August 1761 in the western calendar.

[2] 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.

[3] The 19th day of the 6th lunar month of the 19th year of the Kyôhô era was the 19th of July 1734 in the western calendar.

[4] The 17th day of the 9th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Kanpô era was the 2nd of November 1743 in the western calendar.

Fujikawa Heikurô playing the role of Matano Gorô

Prints & Illustrations