Stage names:

Bandô Hikosaburô III
Ichimura Kichigorô I

Others names:

Bandô Shinsui III
Hansôan Rakuzen

Guild: Otowaya, Yorozuya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Shinsui (3), Rakuzen, Kitsushi

Existence: 1754 ~ 18th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1828 ^[1]

Connection:

Father: Ichimura Uzaemon VIII

Brothers: Ichimura Uzaemon IX, Ichimura Zenzô

Master: Onoe Kikugorô I

Adopted son: Bandô Kamezô I (Bandô Hikosaburô IV)

Career:

1754: born in Edo. He was the third son of the actor and zamoto Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1759: he made his first stage appearance, at the Ichimuraza where he received the name of Ichimura Kichigorô I and performed as a koyaku in the drama in the drama "Hiru-ga-Kojima Buyû Mondô".

7th day of the 5th lunar month of 1762 ^[2]: his father Ichimura Uzaemon VIII died in Edo.

4th day of the 5th lunar month of 1768 ^[3]: the actor Bandô Hikosaburô II died in Edo.

8th lunar month of 1768: Kichigorô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Prince Tokiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1770: he became disciple of the actor Onoe Kikugorô I, who allowed him to take the name of Bandô Hikosaburô III and to use his yagô Otowaya; the new Hikosaburô achieved a great success at the Ichimuraza by performing in the kaomise drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata star Arashi Sangorô II and celebrated also the shûmei of Bandô Sanpachi II and Segawa Kichiji III.

1st lunar month of 1772: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakashugata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1773: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ôboshi Rikiya in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Rikiya's father Yuranosuke was played by Onoe Kikugorô I.

8th lunar month of 1774: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Ise no Saburô in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1777: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Ôboshi Mondo and Momonoi Wakasanosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

3rd lunar month of 1781: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the role of Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1782: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

Fall 1782: Hikosaburô and Ôtani Tokuji I went together to Kamigata.

29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1783 ^[4]: his master Onoe Kikugorô I died.

1st lunar month of 1788: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

8th lunar month of 1790: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1790: the play "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; it celebrated the onagori kyôgen of the Kamigata star Asao Tamejûrô I; Hikosaburô played the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune [more details].

6th lunar month of 1791: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1793: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Hayano Kanpei and Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Okaru was played by Nakayama Tomisaburô I.

Fall 1793: the Ichimuraza closed its business and gave its license to the Kiriza. Hikosaburô took this opportunity to move to the Kawarasakiza.

11th lunar month of 1793: Hikosaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Nakamitsu in the kaomise drama "Nigiwai Genji Hana Saku Mon".

1st lunar month of 1794: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune [illustration] and Mankô (the mother of the Soga brothers) in the new year sogamono drama "Gohiiki no Hana Aikyô Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Omezô I and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.

5th lunar month of 1794: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the "Shi-no-Kiri" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

9th lunar month of 1794: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke were played by Ichikawa Ebizô.

10th lunar month of 1794: due to some financial difficulties, the salaries of all the actors were drastically reduced. Hikosaburô's yearly salary for the coming season was set to 520 ryô after a reduction of 40 ryô.

11th lunar month of 1794: Hikosaburô moved to the Miyakoza and played the role of Godai Saburô in Namiki Gohei I's kaomise drama "Uruô Tosshi Meika no Homare", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Nakazô II and welcomed in Edo the actors Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Nakamura Noshio II and the Ôsaka playwright Namiki Gohei I.

4th lunar month of 1795: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of En'ya Hangan and Yuranosuke's wife Oishi were played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III and Segawa Kikunojô III.

11th lunar month of 1795: Hikosaburô played at the Miyakoza the role of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Yuki no Yoshitsune".

7th lunar month of 1796: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1796: Hikosaburô moved to the Kiriza and played 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Ginsekai Matsu ni Yukihira".

9th lunar month of 1797: Hikosaburô played at the Kiriza the roles of Kakuju and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Kan Shôjô and Matsuômaru were played by Segawa Kikunojô III and Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1797: Hikosaburô moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi".

1st lunar month of 1798: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1798: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Daihanji no Kiyosumi in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1798: Hikosaburô moved to the Moritaza and performed in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Mitsugi no Funauta", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Aragorô I.

5th lunar month of 1799: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the roles of Kan Shôjô and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Kakuju were played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

9th lunar month of 1799: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Okaru was played by Nakamura Noshio II.

11th lunar month of 1799: Hikosaburô moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Utsukushiki Yuki no Sekai", which celebrated the shûmei of Ogino Izaburô II and welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Arashi Hinasuke II.

2nd lunar month of 1800: Namiki Gohei's drama "Gosan no Kiri" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza in a somewhat different version entitled "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri" instead of "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Hikosaburô played the roles of Konomura Ôinosuke (in reality Sô Sokei) and Mashiba Hisayoshi [casting].

7th lunar month of 1800: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of En'ya Hangan and Okaru were played by Ogino Izaburô II and Segawa Kikusaburô II.

9th ~ 10th lunar months of 1800: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kan Shôjô and Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danzô IV (Shihei, Genzô, Shiratayû, Kakuju), Arashi Hinasuke II (Matsuômaru), Segawa Kikunojô III (Sakuramaru's wife Yae) and Ogino Izaburô II (Umeômaru)

11th lunar month of 1800: Hikosaburô moved to the reopening Kawarasakiza and performed in the kaomise drama "Modoribashi Tsuna-ga-Kaomise".

7th lunar month of 1801: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Kamatari and Fujiwara no Tankai in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

9th lunar month of 1801: Hikosaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of En'ya Hangan, Kakogawa Honzô and Horibe Yajibê in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1801: Hikosaburô moved to the Nakamuraza and plays several roles in the kaomise drama "Date Dôgutsui no Ôtori", which celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Hikozaemon I and Yamashita Mansaku.

3rd lunar month of 1802: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of Kan Shôjô, Shiratayû and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

6th lunar month of 1802: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of the yakko Ippei, Takemura Sadanoshin and Sanai in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

8th lunar month of 1802: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Sasaki Tan'emon, Ishidome Busuke and Honda Dainaiki in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

11th lunar month of 1802: Hikosaburô moved to the Kawarasakiza and played the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori, Tokaiya Ginpei, Taira no Tomomori, Taira no Koremori, Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan, the fox Genkurô, Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu and Minamoto no Yoritomo in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

2nd lunar month of 1803: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of Shunkan and Fukuoka Mitsugi in the dramas "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". Hikosaburô and Nakamura Daikichi I, who planned to go together to Kamigata, suddenly left the Kawarasakiza, which had to close its doors up to the 8th lunar month because of the lack of stars in its troupe.

9th lunar month of 1803: Hikosaburô moved temporarily to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Fall 1803: Hikosaburô and Nakamura Daikichi I went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1803: Hikosaburô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Sôzoku Ishibashiyama", which celebrated the shûmei of Asao Tamejûrô II. He also performed in duo with Nakamura Daikichi I in the shosagoto "Saiwai Narukana Iro no Yumitori".

12th lunar month of 1803: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1804: Hikosaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

6th lunar month of 1804: tour in Nagoya with Nakamura Daikichi I, Onoe Shinshichi II and Mimasu Daigorô III; Hikosaburô played the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged at the Miyawaka no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1804: Hikosaburô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

12th lunar month of 1804: Hikosaburô played the roles of the fox Genkurô and Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu in the "Yoshinoyama" and "Shi-no-Kiri" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Horie Shibai; the roles of Yoshitsune and Shizuka Gozen were played by Seki Sanjûrô I and Nakamura Daikichi I.

1st lunar month of 1805: Hikosaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1805: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the fox Genkurô and Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu in the "Yoshinoyama" and "Shi-no-Kiri" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was produced by Yoshizawa Enjirô I; the roles of Yoshitsune and Shizuka Gozen were played by Arashi Sangorô III and Nakamura Daikichi I. Hikosaburô also played the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1805: Hikosaburô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of the fox Genkurô and Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". He also played the role of Momonoi Wakasanosuke in "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1805: Hikosaburô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei and Taira no Tomomori in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

12th lunar month of 1805: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tokaiya Ginpei and Taira no Tomomori in the "Tokaiya" and "Daimotsu no Ura" scenes of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was produced by Yamashita Tokujirô.

3rd lunar month of 1806: Hikosaburô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kanki and Fukuoka Mitsugi in the dramas "Kokusen'ya Gassen" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba"; the roles of Watônai and Kinshôjo were played by Nakamura Utaemon III and Yoshizawa Iroha I. This was the last performance in Ôsaka for Hikosaburô, who planned to go back to Edo. He performed at the end of the program a great 7-roles hengemono entitled "Yuiyanagi Kumo no Ito Asobi".

4th lunar month of 1806: last performance in Kyôto; Hikosaburô played the role of Ishioka Sazen in the drama "Akatsuki Garasu Gion Bayashi". He also performed at the end of the program in the 7-role hengemono "Yuiyanagi Kumo no Ito Asobi".

Fall 1806: Hikosaburô went back to Edo after three successful seasons spent in Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1806: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue, Okazaki Akushirô and Taira no Shigemori in the kaomise drama "Wakazakari Heike Monogatari". The performance was interrupted the 13th day of the 11th lunar month by a sudden fire, which burned the theater to ashes and killed many members of the audience.

1st lunar month of 1807: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

10th lunar month of 1807: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Matahei's wife Otoku was played by Osagawa Tsuneyo II.

11th lunar month of 1807: Hikosaburô moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Yuki no Konoshita", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Senjo and Segawa Rokô IV.

1st lunar month of 1808: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Soga no Iruka and Fujiwara no Tankai in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

5th lunar month of 1808: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

7th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Hikosaburô played the role of Tsukumo Shinzaemon [casting].

8th lunar month of 1808: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" [print].

10th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; Hikosaburô played the role of Fujiya Izaemon [casting].

11th lunar month of 1808: Hikosaburô moved to the Ichimuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Irosoyuru Nidai Genji", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Sawamura Tanosuke II and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Rikô II.

1st day of the 1st lunar month of 1809 ^[5]: the Ichimuraza was destroyed by a fire.

4th lunar month of 1809: the theater was rebuilt and Hikosaburô played the role of Kobayashi no Asahina in the drama "Reigen Soga no Kamigaki".

5th lunar month of 1809: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Futami Jûzaemon in the drama "Kameyama no Adauchi"; the performance was a big success.

8th lunar month of 1809: Hikosaburô moved to the Moritaza and played the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Yazaemon ("Sushiya") in "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". He also played the role of Matahei in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"; the role of Otoku was played by Ichikawa Dannosuke III.

11th lunar month of 1809: Hikosaburô moved to the Nakamuraza and performed in the kaomise drama "Ôshû Dachiyuki no Kurogoma".

1st lunar month of 1810: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Edo no Haru Gohiiki Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Omezô I and Sawamura Gennosuke I.

3rd lunar month of 1810: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Mashiba Hisayoshi in the drama "Sanmon Gosan no Kiri"; the role of Ishikawa Goemon was played by Nakamura Utaemon III.

7th lunar month of 1811: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei's mother in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of En'ya Hangan, Okaru, Heiemon and Kanpei were played by Sawamura Gennosuke II, Sawamura Tanosuke II,Nakamura Utaemon III and Onoe Eizaburô I. Hikosaburô also played the roles of Kan Shôjô and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1812: Hikosaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).

Fall 1812: Hikosaburô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1812: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Sekihara Yoichi in the drama "Hirugaesu Nishiki no Tamoto". He also played the roles of En'ya Hangan and Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke was played by Nakamura Utaemon III.

1st lunar month of 1813: Hikosaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).

9th ~ 10th lunar months of 1813: Hikosaburô played for the last time (isse ichidai) the roles of Kan Shôjô, Takebe Genzô and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1813: Hikosaburô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto, playing the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1813 ~ 1816: he retired and took the tonsure in Kyôto in a Temple located in Kurodani. He went back to Edo and lives a hermit life in a small hut called Hansôan or Rakuzenbô and located in Mukôjima.

11th lunar month of 1816: his adopted son Ichimura Kamesaburô took the name of Bandô Hikosaburô IV at the Nakamuraza.

18th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1828 ^[1]: he died in Mukôjima.

Comments:

Bandô Hikosaburô III was an outstanding tachiyaku and dancer, who excelled in wajitsu and budôgoto roles. He was one of the first actors to promote realism in Kabuki.

Bandô Hikosaburô III's 2 best roles were Ôboshi Yuranosuke ("Kanadehon Chûshingura") and Kan Shôjô ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").

"the star of Yedo during the corresponding period of Bunka and Bunsei was the third Bandô Hikosaburô, youngest son of the eighth Ichimura Uzaemon. In later years he shaved his head, retired from the world, and lived in Honjo, a Yedo ward, where he posted up a notice on the gate to the effect that waste-paper dealers and actors were not allowed in. He was handsome and gifted, and died at the age of 75." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 18th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 11th year of the Bunsei era was the 2nd of April 1828 in the western calendar.

[2] The 7th day of the 5th lunar month of the 12th year of the Hôreki era was the 28th of June 1762 in the western calendar.

[3] The 4th day of the 5th lunar month of the 5th year of the Meiwa era was the 18th of June 1768 in the western calendar.

[4] The 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Tenmei era was the 21st of January 1784 in the western calendar.

[5] The 1st day of the 1st lunar lunar month of the 6th year of the Bunka era was the 14th of February 1809 in the western calendar.

Bandô Hikosaburô III in a print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku

Prints & Illustrations

The Bandô Shinsui line of actors

The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors