Stage names:

Fujikawa Hachizô III
Fujikawa Hachitarô II

Guild: Ôzakaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Happo

Existence: 1778 ~ 28th day of the 5th lunar month of 1805 ^[1]

Connection:

Great-grandfather: Ichinokawa Hikoshirô I

Grandfather: Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II

Father: Fujikawa Hachizô II

Disciples: Fujikawa Kunizô, Fujikawa Happo IV

Career:

1778~1795: born in Ôsaka. His first stage name was Fujikawa Hachitarô II and he started his career in kodomo shibai, where he became quite popular.

9th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1787 ^[2]: his father Fujikawa Hachizô II died.

11th lunar month of 1795: he became zamoto and took the name of Fujikawa Hachizô III at the Kado no Shibai, producing Chikamatsu Tokuzô's kaomise drama "Ichiban Yari Tôkai Suzuri", in which he played the role of the yakko Yatsuhei; his stage partners were Nakayama Bunshichi II, Sawamura Kunitarô I, Arashi Hinasuke II, Arashi Koroku III, Nakayama Bungorô I, Yoshizawa Iroha I, Mimasu Matsugorô I, Yamamura Giemon II, Yamamura Tomoemon I and Asao Sennosuke.

1st lunar month of 1796: Hachizô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-(shiro)jô (superior - (white) superior) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Asao Okujirô I.

4th lunar month of 1796: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Hade Kurabe Ishikawa-zome", produced by Hachizô and written by Chikamatsu Tokuzô, Tatsuoka Mansaku and Namiki Shôzô II; Hachizô played the role of Sengoku Gonbê [more details].

7th lunar month of 1796: premiere of Chikamatsu Tokuzô's play "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba", which was produced by Hachizô in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting].

12th lunar month of 1796: Hachizô produced at the Kado no Shibai the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", in which he played the role of Nan Yohê; the same play was staged with the same casting in the 4th lunar month of 1797 in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

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

9th lunar month of 1804: final performance in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai for the Edo star Segawa Rokô III, who played the prestigious role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; Hachizô was his stage partner for the role of Yokanpei [illustration].

1st lunar month of 1805: Hachizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Nakamura Utaemon III.

4th lunar month of 1805: Hachizô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Wada no Hyôe Hidemori in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata", which was produced by Arashi Torasaburô in Ôsaka; his stage partners were Arashi Kichisaburô II (Sasaki Moritsuna and Miuranosuke), Kanô Minshi I (Kagaribi), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Mimyô) and Morita Kan'ya IX (Hôjô Tokimasa). The same play was performed with the same casting in the 5th lunar month in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai. Hachizô suddenly fell ill while he was on stage. He stopped acting.

28th day of the 5th lunar month of 1805 ^[1]: Hachizô died.

Comments:

Fujikawa Hachizô III was popular and promising Ôsaka actor, who made all his career in Kamigata from the beginning of the 1780s to the middle of the 1800s. He excelled in yakko and otokodate roles. He was said to be more at ease in sewamono than in jidaimono. He unfortunately died too young.

[1] The 28th day of the 5th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Bunka era was the 25th of June 1805 in the western calendar.

[1] The 9th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 7th year of the Tenmei era was the 26th of April 1787 in the western calendar.

Fujikawa Hachizô III

Prints & Illustrations

The Fujikawa Happo line of actors

The Fujikawa Hachizô line of actors