Stage name:

Suzuki Heizaemon I

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: ??? ~ 1701

Connection:

Son: Tsuuchi Han'emon (Suzuki Heizaemon II)

Grandson: Suzuki Heizaemon III

Disciples: Suzuki Heikurô, Suzuki Heihachi, Suzuki Heishichi, Suzuki Heikichi, Suzuki Matsunosuke

Career:

1660s: he performed in Edo.

Beginning of the 1680s: he settled in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1682 ~ 10th lunar month of 1683: Heizaemon and Arashi San'emon I produced several plays together in Ôsaka. They were the first zamoto in Kabuki history to produce a play narrating a couple of lovers double suicide (shinjûmono), based on a real incident that happened in Ôsaka; Heizaemon performed as a wakaonnagata actor.

1st lunar month of 1687: Heizaemon's rank in "Yarô Tachiyaku Butai Ôkagami" was jô (superior) [visual]. He shared this ranking with Araki Yojibê I, Uemura Kichiya II, Takeshima Kôzaemon I, Yamashita Hanzaemon I, Nakamura Kazuma II, Takenaka Kichisaburô I, Fujita Koheiji I and Karamatsu Kasen.

Fall 1698: Heizaemon went back to Edo after 20 years spent in Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1698: Heizaemon played at the Yamamuraza the role of Gotô Saemon in the kaomise drama "Genji Daikoku Bashira".

11th lunar month of 1699: Heizaemon performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Taira no Kiyomori Bijin Zoroi".

11th lunar month of 1700: Heizaemon played at the Yamamuraza the role of Watanabe Takiguchi in the kaomise drama "Yorimasa Mannen Goyomi".

3rd lunar month of 1701: Heizaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1701: Heizaemon played in the same theater the role of Yamagami Gennai Saemon in the drama "Taishokan Nido no Tamatori". This was most likely his last stage appearance. He died in 1701.

Comments:

Suzuki Heizaemon I, the founder of the Suzuki clan of Kabuki actors, played an important role in the transition between the Yarô Kabuki ('Adult Kabuki') of the Kanbun/Enpô eras and the golden age of Kabuki of the Genroku era. He was a great performer in the tanzen style and excelled in nuregoto and yatsushigoto. He was influential with many actors, even after his death. He was also an outstanding shamisen player and some chroniclers went even further by saying that he was the best player that ever lived.

Suzuki Heizaemon I playing the role of Minamoto no Yoshichika in the new year drama "Mannen Goyomi Inariyama", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1700 at the Nakamuraza

Prints & Illustrations

The Suzuki Heizaemon line of actors