Stage names:

Azuma Ichinojô I
Azuma Tôzô V
Azuma Kitsunosuke

Guilds: Azumaya, Tachibanaya, Maruya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry names: Enshi ^[3], Kitsushi ^[4], Kitsushi, Shigan ^[4]

Existence: 1821 ~ 15th of the 10th lunar month of 1862 ^[1]

Connection:

Father: Bandô Kitsujûrô I

Brother: Bandô Sanpachi IV

Master: Ichimura Uzaemon XII (Ichimura Takenojô V)

Career:

1821: born in Edo. Son of Bandô Kitsujûrô I, he started his career as a disciple of Ichimura Uzaemon XII, performing as a wakashugata under the name of Azuma Kitsunosuke.

5th lunar month of 1834: first major stage appearance, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he played the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

7th lunar month of 1834: Kitsunosuke became wakaonnagata.

11th lunar month of 1843: he took the name of Azuma Tôzô V at the Ichimuraza, performing in the drama "Wakatonobara Sharin no Ôyose", which commemorated the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Bandô Mitsugorô III.

20th day of 8th lunar month of 1851 ^[2]: his master Ichimura Takenojô V died in Edo.

4th lunar month of 1851: he took the name of Azuma Ichinojô I at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the oguri-hanganmono drama "Sekai o Hana Oguri Gaiden".

1st lunar month of 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Sannin Kichisa Kuruwa no Hatsugai"; Ichinojô plays the roles of Kiya Oshizu and Chôjiya Kokonoe [casting].

10th lunar month of 1861: Ichinojô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Haru and Tonami in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1862: Ichinojô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1862: premiere at the Moritaza of the drama "Shinpan Ukina no Yomiuri"; Ichinojô played the role of Osome's aunt Otsune [more details].

8th lunar month of 1862: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Ichinojô played the role of Jûbê's wife Osoyo [casting]. This was his last stage appearance for he died ten days after senshûraku.

15th of the 10th lunar month of 1862 ^[1]: Ichinojô died in Edo.

Comments:

Azuma Ichinojô I was active as an onnagata in Edo from the middle of the 1830s to the beginning of the 1860s. He was said to be equally at home in jidaimono or sewamono dramas.

[1] The 15th day of the 10th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Bunkyû era was the 6th of December 1862 in the western calendar.

[2] The 20th day of the 8th lunar month of the 4th year of the Kaei era was the 15th of September 1851 in the western calendar.

[3] Used when he was Azuma Tôzô V.

[4] Used when he was Azuma Ichinojô I.

Azuma Ichinojô I playing the role of the koshimoto Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô", which was staged in the 9th lunar month of 1861 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III)

Prints & Illustrations

The Azuma Tôzô line of actors

The Azuma Ichinojô line of actors