Stage names:

Fujikawa Hachizô I
Fujikawa Hachitarô I

Guild: Ôzakaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Happo

Existence: 1730 ~ 29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1777 ^[1]

Connection:

Great-grandfather: Fujikawa Buzaemon I

Grandfather: Bandô Matakurô II

Father: Fujikawa Heikurô

Brothers: Fujikawa Tôkurô, Fujikawa Kamenoi

Adopted son: Fujikawa Hachizô II

Disciples: Fujikawa Tomokichi I, Fujikawa Tokizô, Fujikawa Otomatsu, Fujikawa Santoku, Fujikawa Kumazô

Career:

1730~1752: he started to do his training at an early age, performing in minor theaters under the name of Fujikawa Hachitarô I.

19th day of the 6th lunar month of 1734 ^[2]: his grandfather Bandô Matakurô II died.

11th lunar month of 1752: he made his first appearance on ôshibai stage, taking the name of Fujikawa Hachizô I and performing as a katakiyaku at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Nagoya Ori Hinatsuru no Nishiki", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

Fall 1757: Hachizô went with his father to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1757: Hachizô performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Sakurato Bunsaku's kaomise drama "Tsunomoji Keman no Yurai".

1st lunar month of 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts 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; Hachizô played in the latter theater the role of Matsunaga Daizen.

4th day of the 7th lunar month of 1761 ^[3]: his father Fujikawa Heikurô died.

6th lunar month of 1761: Hachizô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Tsuribune Sabu were played by his father Fujikawa Heikurô and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I. He had to replace his father, who fell ill.

4th day of the 7th lunar month of 1761 ^[3]: his father Fujikawa Heikurô died.

11th lunar month of 1761: Hachizô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Miyo no Hana Yunzei Kagami", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

12th lunar month of 1761: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Takeda Haruzô's ni-no-kawari drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi". It was the first drama in Kabuki history using gandô-gaeshi on stage; Hachizô played the role of the wakatô Gohei [casting].

4th lunar month of 1762: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act puppet theater drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi", which was staged at the Naka no Shibai; Hachizô played the roles of Genhachibê-jô Hirotsuna, Jijû Tarô Morikuni and Iso no Tôyata Yoshiharu [casting].

12th lunar month of 1762: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; the role of Nuregami Chôgorô was played by Nakayama Bunshichi I.

7th lunar month of 1763: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Takebe Genzô and Sukune Tarô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I; his stage partners were Nakayama Bunshichi I (Matsuômaru, Terukuni), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Kakuju, Shihei), Arashi Hinasuke I (Haru), Anegawa Daikichi I (Tonami, Yae), Asao Tamejûrô I (Hyôei, Shundô Genba), Nakayama Raisuke I (Umeômaru), Bandô Toyosaburô I (Shiratayû), Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II (Sakuramaru), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II (Chiyo, Tatsuta) and Nakamura Kichiemon I (Kan Shôjô).

9th lunar month of 1764: première in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki", based on the puppet drama "Katakiuchi Tsuzure no Nishiki", which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I and celebrated the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of the star Anegawa Shinshirô I. A similar play was staged one day later under a different title, "Hare Kosode Tsuzure no Nishiki", at the Naka no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up was open between the 2 theaters. The performance at the Kado no Shibai was more successful than the one at the Naka no Shibai; Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the wakatô Sahê [casting].

12th lunar month of 1766: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the boatman Matsuemon, in reality the warrior Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu, in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was produced by Arashi Hinasuke I; his stage partners were Arashi Hinasuke I (Umegae), Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II (Kajiwara Genta Kagesue), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Gonshirô), Arashi Koroku I (Enju), Yoshizawa Ayame III (Oyoshi, Tomoe Gozen), Nakayama Raisuke I (Shigetada) and Arashi Shichigorô II (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka).

7th lunar month of 1767: Hachizô played the role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", which was staged at the Kado no Shibai to commemorate the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of Fujikawa Heikurô [casting]; the roles of Issun Tokubê and Tsuribune Sabu were played by Nakayama Raisuke I and Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II.

12th lunar month of 1768: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; the role of Nuregami Chôgorô was played by Arashi Hinasuke I.

5th lunar month of 1770: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's gidayû kyôgen "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Hachizô played the role of Wada no Hyôe Hidemori [casting].

6th lunar month of 1770: Hachizô achieved a great success at the Naka no Shibai by playing the role of the sumô wrestler Ikazuchi Tomiemon in the drama "Isagiyoshi Sumô Bangumi".

4th lunar month of 1773: Hachizô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Danshichi Kurobê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" ^[4]; the roles of Issun Tokubê and Tsuribune Sabu were played by Arashi Kichisaburô I and Nakamura Utaemon I.

1st lunar month of 1774: Hachizô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1775: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari"; Hachizô played the role of Kujaku Saburô [more details].

12th lunar month of 1775: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; the role of Nuregami Chôgorô was played by Nakayama Bunshichi I.

2nd lunar month of 1776: Hachizô appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he played in the drama "Gunjutsu Deguchi no Yanagi". He suddenly fell ill and had to retire, being replaced by his adopted son Fujikawa Ryûzô.

29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1777 ^[1]: Hachizô died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Fujikawa Hachizô I was a popular tachiyaku actor, who made a successful career in Ôsaka from the Hôreki to the An'ei eras. At ease in either sewamono or jidaimono, he excelled in otokodate or sumôtori roles. His most notable role was the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

[1] The 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the 6th year of the An'ei era was the 27th of January 1778 in the western calendar.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] This drama was staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Fujikawa Heikurô.

The actors Yoshizawa Ayame III and Fujikawa Hachizô I playing the roles of Chôjirô's wife and Shio no Chôjirô in the drama "Ôsaka Nikki Shio no Chôjirô", which was staged in the 8th lunar month of 1767 at the Kado no Shibai

Prints & Illustrations

The Fujikawa Happo line of actors

The Fujikawa Hachizô line of actors