Stage names:

Bandô Hikosaburô I
Bandô Kikumatsu I
Shinozuka Kikumatsu

Other name:

Bandô Shinsui I

Guild: Yorozuya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Shinsui (1)

Blazon: a crane spreading its wing in a circle

Existence: 1693 ~ 1st day of the 1st lunar month of 1751 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Bandô Matatarô I

Uncle: Shinozuka Jirozaemon I

Son(s): Bandô Hikosaburô II, Bandô Yasuke (?) ^[2]

Son-in-law: Onoe Kikugorô I

Disciples: Bandô Manzô, Bandô Toyosaburô I

Career:

1693 ~ 1706: according to some sources, he was the nephew of the tachiyaku Shinozuka Jirozaemon I. According to others, he was from a samurai family settled in Fushimi in the Yamashiro Province (southern part of the current Kyôto prefecture). There were also some who made the assumption that he was born in the Sagami province. His first stage name was Shinozuka Kikumatsu. He became disciple of Bandô Matatarô I and received the name of Bandô Kikumatsu I.

28th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1704 ^[3]: his master Bandô Matatarô I died.

Fall 1706: Kikumatsu, his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I and his uncle's son Shinozuka Shômatsu I went together to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1706: Kikumatsu played the eponymous role of the kaomise drama "Kantô Koroku", which was produced by his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I at Ôsaka Tazaemon's theater.

11th lunar month of 1707: Bandô Kikumatsu I took the name of Bandô Hikosaburô I, playing the role of Kanehira in Asada Kyûshirô's kaomise drama "Hyakuma Yamanba", which was staged in the same theater.

11th lunar month of 1711: Hikosaburô settled in Kyôto and played the role of Fukushima Naniwanosuke in the drama "Mannen Gura", which was produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I and Sodesaki Karyû at the nadai Kameya Kumenojô's theater.

11th lunar month of 1714: Hikosaburô was back in Ôsaka and played the role of Ôgiri Jinnojô in the drama "Bandai-ga-Ike no Tsurukame", which was produced by Arashi Sanjûrô I at the nadai Shioya Kuroemon's theater.

1st lunar month (spring?) of 1715: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi", which was entitled "Daikyôji" and was staged in Ôsaka; Hikosaburô played the role of Mohei [casting].

Fall 1715: Hikosaburô went back in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1715: Hikosaburô played in Kyôto the role of Noge Kisaburô in the kaomise drama "Manpô Chitose no Matsu", which was produced by Yamatoya Jinbê III at the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô's theater.

11th lunar month of 1716: Hikosaburô played in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the role of Takara Shôzô in the kaomise drama "Daikoku Tenjin Fukuju Musume", which was produced by Yamatoya Jinbê III.

11th lunar month of 1717: Hikosaburô played the role of Godai Saburô in Sakakiyama Kansuke I's kaomise drama "Ômu Gaeshi Momotose Gitsune", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; his stage partners were Shibazaki Rinzaemon I, Kirinami Takie, Yamada Jinpachi, Sawamura Otoemon I, Sakakiyama Koshirô I, Katayama Kozaemon, Matsushima Moheiji, Bandô Matajûrô I and Onoe Samon.

23rd day of the 1st lunar month of 1718 ^[4]: his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I died.

2nd lunar month of 1718: First Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Nihon Furisode Hajime", which was produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; Hikosaburô played the role of Somin Shôrai [casting].

11th lunar month of 1718: Hikosaburô played at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role Murase Mikinojô in Sadoshima Saburôzaemon's kaomise drama "Meoto Matsu Jufuku no Kodane"; his stage partners were Mihogi Gizaemon I, Kaneko Kichizaemon, Yamashita Kamenojô I, Miyazaki Giheita, Tamagawa Genzaburô, Yamamoto Kamon, Hyakunin'isshu Genzaburô and Otowa Jirosaburô I.

Fall 1719: Hikosaburô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1719: Hikosaburô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Tomihara Isenosuke in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Mitsu Gashiwa", which was produced by Kaneko Kichizaemon.

11th lunar month of 1720: Hikosaburô played in Ôsaka at the Higashi no Shibai the roles of Kushiro Wadanosuke [illustration] and Higashitsuji Emon in Kyôya Yagoshirô's kaomise drama "Kogane no Ikioi" and in the kiri kyôgen "Nanshoku Kamo Samurai Jûshichikinenki", which were produced by Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1722: Hikosaburô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of the mago Ishi-jizô Sansuke (in reality Taira no Kagekiyo) in the kaomise drama "Shingoten Aioi no Komatsu", which was produced by Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1723: great kaomise in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai to celebrate the arrival of the Edo star Ôtani Hiroji I. The zamoto Arashi San'emon III produced the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hanagata" in which Hikosaburô played the role of Gennai.

1st lunar month of 1724: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of "Edoe Ukiyo Soga", an Edo-flavored new year drama welcoming in Ôsaka the Edo actor Ôtani Hiroji I; Hikosaburô played the roles of Soga Gorô and Kokusen'ya [more details].

Fall 1724: Hikosaburô settled in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1724: Hikosaburô played the role of Naniwa Irienosuke in the kaomise drama "Sanmen Daikoku Mangoku Dawara", which was produced by the zamoto Mihogi Gizaemon I at the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1725: Hikosaburô performed in Azuma Sanpachi's kaomise drama "Senzai Gura Sangai Matsu", which was produced by the zamoto Arashi Jûjirô at the nadai Kameya Kumenojô's theater; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I and Segawa Kikunojô I.

1st lunar month of 1726: his rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Kirinoya Gonjûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Mihogi Gizaemon I, Nakamura Shingorô I and Ôtani Hiroji I.

11th lunar month of 1726: Hikosaburô played in the kaomise drama "Shinzô Kishi no Himematsu", which was produced by Sanogawa Mangiku at the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1727: Hikosaburô went back in Edo after 23 years spent in Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1727: Hikosaburô played the role of Naoe Yamatonosuke in the kaomise drama "Goshozome Kôyô Gunki", which was staged at the Ichimuraza.

1st lunar month of 1728: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Matsumoto Kôshirô I, Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Ichikawa Danzô I.

11th lunar month of 1729: great kaomise at the Nakamuraza starring the 4 tachiyaku Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Hikosaburô, who performed together in the kaomise drama "Ume Goyomi Konrei Nagoya".

Fall 1730: The actors Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ogino Izaburô I and Hikosaburô performed together in the drama "Meigetsu Gonin Otoko" ('Five men under the August moon'), which was staged in the same theater [casting].

11th lunar month of 1730: Hikosaburô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Aoto Saemon Fujitsuna in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Tokiwa Hachinoki".

Fall 1735: Hikosaburô settled in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1735: Hikosaburô played the role of Kasai Gonbê in the kaomise drama "Toyo no Asahi Eitaigura", which was produced by the zamoto Iwai Hanshirô III at the Naka no Shibai and celebrated the shûmei of Arashi Kiyosaburô III.

1st lunar month of 1736: his rank in Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Arashi Sangorô I, Ichiyama Sukegorô I and Tamiya Shirogorô.

11th lunar month of 1736: Hikosaburô played the role of Hirose Jûnai in the kaomise drama "Banshû Onna Narihira", which was produced by Yoshizawa Ayame II at the Ônishi no Shibai.

Fall 1737: Hikosaburô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1737: Hikosaburô played the role of Ashikaga Matatarô in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba", which was staged at the Ichimuraza; the line-up included Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Tsuruya Nanboku II and Tomizawa Montarô I.

Fall 1738: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Tsukimoto Mushanosuke in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". He went to Ôsaka in the company of the actor Tsuuchi Monzaburô I and the playwright Tsuuchi Jihê II.

11th lunar month of 1738: Hikosaburô performed with Segawa Kikunojô I in the kaomise drama "Kusunoki Yakata Sennen Gitsune", which was produced in Ôsaka by Yoshizawa Ayame II at the Ônishi no Shibai.

Fall 1740: Hikosaburô went back in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1740: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Moheiji; Hikosaburô confronted Sawamura Sôjûrô I in the role of Nagoya Sanza in a great "Sayaate" scene.

11th lunar month of 1741: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of the yakko Komahei, in reality Ban no Saemon, in the kaomise drama "Sugatae Onna Narihira", which celebrated the return in Edo of Ôtani Hiroji I and Segawa Kikunojô I; his others stage partners were Segawa Kikujirô I, Matsushima Moheiji, Bandô Matatarô III, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Nakajima Mihoemon I, Miyazaki Jûshirô II, Ichiyama Dengorô, Tamazawa Saijirô I and Ichimura Manzô.

1st lunar month of 1742: Hikosaburô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Fuji Miru Sato Sakae Soga".

11th lunar month of 1742: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Abe no Munetô in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shinoda no Zuma", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Onoe Kikugorô I; his stage partners were Segawa Kikunojô I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Bandô Matatarô III, Nakajima Mihoemon I, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Tomizawa Tatsujûrô, Sanogawa Senzô, Tamazawa Saijirô I, Sawamura Utagiku and Ichimura Manzô.

11th lunar month of 1743: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Bingo no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Ishizue Taiheiki", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the actors Segawa Kikujirô I, Tamiya Jûzaburô I and Segawa Somematsu.

11th lunar month of 1744: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Satô Tsuginobu in the kaomise drama "Tono Zukuri Genji Jûnidan".

11th lunar month of 1745: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ômori Hikoshichi in the kaomise drama "Onna Kusunoki Yosooi Kagami", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata onnagata Yoshizawa Ayame II.

11th lunar month of 1746: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the role of Kamakura Gonnodayû in the kaomise drama "Ôtorii Gojûshigun".

11th lunar month of 1747: Hikosaburô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Shusse Momijigari".

1st lunar month of 1748: his rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).

11th lunar month of 1748: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Sano Genzaemon in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Hôkasô Yunzei Hachinoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroji II.

5th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was performed for the first time at the Ichimuraza; Hikosaburô played the leading role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke.

11th lunar month of 1749: Hikosaburô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Soga Tarô in the kaomise drama "Yoritomo Gunbai Kagami".

1st day of the 1st lunar month of 1751 ^[1]: Hikosaburô died in Edo.

Comments:

[1] The 1st day of the 1st lunar month of the 4th year of the Kan'en era was the 27th of January 1751 in the western calendar.

[2] Bandô Yasuke was the nephew of the first wife of Bandô Hikosaburô I. He was also rumored to be the real son of Bandô Hikosaburô I.

[3] The 28th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 17th year of the Genroku era was the 2nd of April 1704 in the western calendar.

[4] The 23rd day of the 1st lunar month of the 3rd year of the Kyôhô era was the 22nd of February 1718 in the western calendar.

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni (1862~1863)

Prints & Illustrations

The Bandô Kikumatsu line of actors

The Bandô Shinsui line of actors

The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors