BANDÔ HIKOSABURÔ V

Stage names:

Bandô Hikosaburô V In Japanese
Bandô Takesaburô I In Japanese
Bandô Tsurunosuke I In Japanese

Other name:

Bandô Shinsui V In Japanese

Nicknames: Meijin Hikosaburô [1], Hiko Danna [2]

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry names: Shinsui (5), Shinshi

Existence: 1832 ~ 13 October 1877

Connection:

Adoptive father: Bandô Kamezô I

Father-in-law: Ichimura Uzaemon XII (Ichimura Takenojô V)

Brother-in-laws: Onoe Kikugorô V, Bandô Kakitsu I

Disciples: Bandô Fudenosuke, Bandô Takejirô, Bandô Utasaku

Career:

1832: born in Edo in the district of Asakusa. His father, a carpenter called Tamezô, gave him the name of Tetsuzô.

Spring 1840: Tetsuzô was adopted by the actor Bandô Hikosaburô IV.

11th lunar month of 1842: he made his first appearance on stage at the Nakamuraza, receiving the name of Bandô Tsurunosuke I and performing in the drama "Kinryûzan Chikai no Ishizue".

1st lunar month of 1846: Bandô Tsurunosuke I took the name of Bandô Takesaburô I at the Kawarasakiza, performing in the drama "Sato Moyô Hiyoku no Inazuma".

1846 ~ 1847: Takesaburô became zamoto at the Yûkiza, leading a troupe of children-actors (kodomo shibai).

4th lunar month of 1849: Takesaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Senzaki Yagorô and Ôboshi Rikiya in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the Tokiwazu-based dance "Kioi Jishi Kabuki no Hanakago", commonly called "Kioi Jishi", starring Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Onoe Kikujirô II, Iwai Kumesaburô III and Takesaburô.

8th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi" (commonly called "Sakura Giminden"); Takesaburô played the roles of Ashikaga Yoshihisa, Ishidô Unemenosuke and Ogata Nagatonosuke [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1852: Takesaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of En'ya Hangan, Hayano Kanpei and Yazama Jûtarô in the drama "Yayoi no Hana Iroha no Honsetsu" (similar to the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"); the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Okaru were played by Bandô Hikosaburô IV and Onoe Baikô IV.

2nd lunar month of 1853: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Shiranui Monogatari", which was based on Ryûkatei Tanekazu's long novel of the same title [more details]; Takesaburô played the roles of Yukioka Tadayû's son Yukioka Fuyujirô, Fuyujirô's younger sister Teruha, Tadasaku's son Tadashichi, the chadôguya Tsurusaku and Washizu Shichirô.

4th lunar month of 1854: Takesaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Tadanobu were played by Bandô Shûka I and Arashi Rikaku II.

6th lunar month of 1854: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Shinoda Sasuke's drama "Kumo no Uwasa Onna Narukami"; Takesaburô played the role of Kumo no Taemanosuke [casting].

11th lunar month of 1854: Takesaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of En'ya Hangan and Hayano Kanpei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Yuranosuke and Okaru were played by Arashi Rikan III and Bandô Shûka I.

3rd lunar month of 1856: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Bandô branch of the Otowaya guild; Bandô Hikosaburô IV and Bandô Takesaburô I respectively took the names of Bandô Kamezô I and Bandô Hikosaburô V. The two actors performed together in the dramas "Tsuruhachi to Suehiro Soga", "Hikinuide Kasumi no Midomise" and "Yume Musubu Chô ni Torioi".

7th lunar month of 1856: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Yasuke and Taira no Koremori in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the role of Shizuka Gozen was played by Onoe Kikugorô IV.

11th lunar month of 1856: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Shôchikubai Yuki no Akebono"; Hikosaburô played the role of Kichisaburô [casting]. Premiere at the Ichimuraza of the dance "Joro no Makoto Osada no Chûkô"; Hikosaburô played the role of Kisanta [casting].

1st lunar month of 1857: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Nezumi Komon Haru no Shingata" (commonly called "Nezumi Kozô"); Hikosaburô played the roles of Iwami Shinzaburô, the katanaya Shinsuke, the kamiyui Inosuke and Hôjô Yoshitoki [casting].

7th lunar month of 1857: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ami Moyô Tôro no Kikukiri" (commonly called "Kozaru Shichinosuke"); Hikosaburô played the roles of the sakaya tedai Yoshirô, the sendô Misao no Take and Inagi Shinnojô [casting].

5th lunar month of 1858: tour in Ise with Bandô Kamezô I; Hikosaburô played the roles of Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu, the fox Genkurô and Osato in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged at the Furuichi Shibai.

6th lunar month of 1858: tour in Miyajima with Bandô Kamezô I and Nakamura Jakuemon I; Hikosaburô played the roles of Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1858: Hikosaburô played the roles of Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu, the fox Genkurô and Osato in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1859: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Sakuramaru and Sukune Tarô in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

3rd lunar month of 1860: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Rikiya, Hayano Kanpei, Odaka, Oran no Kata, Ishidô Nuinosuke and Ôwashi Bungo in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Yuranosuke and Okaru were played by Arashi Kichisaburô III and Onoe Kikujirô II.

4th lunar month of 1860: tour in Shikoku with Bandô Kamezô I; Hikosaburô plays several roles, including Masaoka, in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

June ~ 7th lunar month of 1860: tour in Miyajima with Bandô Kamezô I, Fujikawa Tomokichi III, Nakamura Jakuemon I and Ôtani Tomomatsu; Hikosaburô played the roles of En'ya Hangan and Hayano Kanpei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also played the role of Ashikaga Yorikane in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

11th lunar month of 1860: Hikosaburô played the roles of Kokingo, Yasuke and Taira no Koremori in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged in Ôsaka at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1861: Hikosaburô was back in Edo; he played at Nakamuraza in the drama "Okuni no Matsu Soga Nakamura".

1861: he got married with the daughter of Ichimura Uzaemon XII.

4th lunar month of 1861: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane, Masaoka and Nikki Danjô in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

3rd lunar month of 1862: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ashikaga Tadayoshi, Hayano Kanpei, Ono Sadakurô, Teraoka Heiemon and Tonase in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô and Okaru were played by Sawamura Tosshô II, Kataoka Gadô II, Bandô Kamezô I and Sawamura Tanosuke III.

11th lunar month of 1863: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Yasuke and Taira no Koremori ("Sushiya") in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; the role of Osato was played by Sawamura Tanosuke III. Hikosaburô also played the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ichimonjiya Saibê and Amagawaya Gihei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of En'ya Hangan, Hayano Kanpei and Teraoka Heiemon were played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1865: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô, the yakko Otohei, Sagisaka Bannai and Teraoka Heiemon in the dance-drama "Chûshingura Sugata no Eawase" (a 7-role hengemono based on the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura").

7th lunar month of 1866: Hikosaburô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Senzaki Yagorô, Honzô's wife Tonase, Takehei, Sudô Rokurobê and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1867: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Chikai no Sukedachi" (similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"); the roles of Osono and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Onoe Kikujirô II and Ichikawa Kuzô III.

7th lunar month of 1867: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the roles of Kawagoe Shigeyori, Suke-no-Tsubone and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Ichi no Mori Kujira no Ôyose" (similar to the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura").

11th lunar month of 1868: Hikosaburô played the roles of En'ya Hangan, Ichimonjiya Saibê, Kakogawa Honzô and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Azuma no Miyako Chûshin no Yurai" (similar to the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura"), coproduced by both the Moritaza and the Nakamuraza.

1st lunar month of 1869: Hikosaburô went to Ôsaka and played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Keisei Tsui no Kagamon" (similar to "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"), which was produced by Jitsukawa Enkichi; the roles of Ohatsu and Onoe were played by Arashi Rikan IV and Nakamura Komanosuke V.

8th lunar month of 1869: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Hôkaibô in the drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

10th lunar month of 1869: Hikosaburô played at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Matsuômaru in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru were played by Arashi Rikan IV and Jitsukawa Enjaku I.

11th lunar month of 1869: Hikosaburô played at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai the roles of Sekibê (in reality Ôtomo no Kuronushi) and Matsuemon (in reality Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu) in the dramas "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To" and "Hirakana Seisuiki".

1st lunar month of 1870: Hikosaburô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of the king of thieves Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Keisei Koi no Ishikawa"; he also performed in duo with Arashi Rikan IV in the dance "Iro Kurabe Ninin Dôjôji" (a version with 2 leading dancers of the famous "Musume Dôjôji").

3rd lunar month of 1870: Hikosaburô played in the same theater the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Hiyokumon Chôchô no Irozashi" (similar to "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"); his stage partner in the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi was Arashi Rikan IV.

5th lunar month of 1870: Hikosaburô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Matsuômaru in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru were played by Nakamura Kanjaku III and Jitsukawa Enzaburô II. Hikosaburô also played the role of Rokusuke in "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the roles of Osono and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Jitsukawa Enzaburô II and Nakamura Jakuemon I.

10th lunar month of 1870: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Matsuômaru in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru were played by Kawarasaki Gonnosuke VII and Onoe Kikugorô V.

11th lunar month of 1870: Hikosaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"; his stage partner in the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi was Onoe Kikugorô V.

11th lunar month of 1871: Hikosaburô played the roles of Satô Shirobyôe Tadanobu, the fox Genkurô, Irie Tanzô, Yasuke and Taira no Koremori in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", coproduced by both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

3rd lunar month of 1872: Hikosaburô played at the Murayamaza the roles of Nikki Danjô and Masaoka in the drama "Date Zensei Kuruwa Kagami", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

7th lunar month of 1872: premiere at the Murayamaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's dance "Renjishi", which starred Hikosaburô and Sawamura Tosshô II in the roles of the spirits of Lions (parent and cub).

14 September 1873: Hikosaburô played at the Moritaza the role of Osono in the drama "Katakiuchi Chikai no Hikosan" (similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"); the roles of Rokusuke and Kyôgoku no Takumi were played by Nakamura Shikan IV and Ichikawa Sadanji I.

November 1873: his adoptive father Bandô Kamezô I died.

January 1875: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ôgi Byôshi Ôoka Seidan" (commonly called "Ten'ichibô"); Hikosaburô played the roles of the farmer Hirano Jin'emon and Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke [casting].

June 1876: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Hototogisu Date no Kikigaki"; Hikosaburô played the roles of Taishu Yoshimune, Serada Kai, the fish merchant Goheiji and Dairyô Kômon [casting].

December 1876: tour in Nagoya with Onoe Kikugorô V and Bandô Kakitsu I; Hikosaburô played the role of Ashikaga Takauji, Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Yuranosuke, Tonase and Amagawaya Gihei in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged at the Shinmoriza.

March 1877: Hikosaburô went to Ôsaka and played at the Ebisuza the role of Ôoka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke in the drama "Oto-ni Kiku Ôokakô Sabaki no Jitsuroku". He also performed in duo with Jitsukawa Enzaburô III in the dance "Rokkasen".

May 1877: Hikosaburô appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, performing in the drama "Shôgi Seikai Hana no Yozakura".

13 October 1877: Hikosaburô died.

Comments:

Bandô Hikosaburô V was an outstanding actor, able to play tachiyaku, onnagata or katakiyaku roles, in both jidaimono and sewamono. His forte were the great gidayû kyôgen roles.

Bandô Hikosaburô V, star of the first half of the Meiji era, had a strong artistic influence on Onoe Kikugorô V, the future star of the second half of the Meiji era. He unfortunately died too early, at the age of 45.

Bandô Hikosaburô V's best roles: Yuranosuke/Tonase/Kô no Moronô/Hayano Kanpei Kanpei ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Tadanobu/the fox Genkurô/Yasuke ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"), Nuregami Chôgorô ("Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"), Nikki Danjô/Masaoka ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi").

His rivalry with Nakamura Shikan IV was one of the hottest in Kabuki history: "So nearly matched in ability were Shikan and Hikosaburô, with but two years' difference in their ages, that they were pitted against each other, and their patrons often indulged in fights over them. During a performance, when these actors were playing together, they came through the audience by way of the two hanamichi, the one to the right of the stage a mere footpath, that to the left a platform that was in reality a continuation of the stage proper. They quarrelled as to who should take the main hanamichi, and the dispute waxed so hot that they finally drew lots to settle the matter." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] Literally Hikosaburô the Expert.

[2] Literally Master Hiko.

Bandô Hikosaburô V playing the role of Takechi Mitsuhide (print made by Toyohara Kunichika)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1860

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861

Print made by Meirindô Kakushijo in 1862

Print made by Utagawa Kuniteru in 1867

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1871

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1874

The Bandô Tsurunosuke line of actors

The Bandô Takesaburô line of actors

The Bandô Shinsui line of actors

The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors

 
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