Pen names:

Segawa Jokô II
Kawatake Bunji	|

Others names:

Misono Bunji
Tsuguri Minoo

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Bunsha

Existence: 1757 ~ 4th day of the 11th lunar month of 1833 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Kawatake Shinshichi I

Career:

1781: he started his career in Edo as a disciple of Kawatake Shinshichi I. His first pen name was Kawatake Bunji.

Fall 1786: Bunji went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1786: Bunji worked at the Ônishi no Shibai, along with Namiki Jusuke and Chikamatsu Tokusô, on the drama "Osanago no Katakiuchi".

12th lunar month of 1787: Bunji worked at the Kado no Shibai, along with Namiki Gohei I, on the kaomise drama "Sanga no Tsumidori Soga".

Fall 1790: Bunji went back to Edo.

23rd day of the 1st lunar month of 1794 ^[2]: Segawa Jokô I died in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1801: he became tatesakusha, took the name of Segawa Jokô II and worked with Katsu Hyôzô I at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Date Dôgutsui no Ôtori", which celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Hikozaemon I and Yamashita Mansaku.

1st lunar month of 1802: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Hatsu Butai Wakayagi Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Onoe Matsusuke II, Ichikawa Yaozô III and Bandô Hikosaburô III.

Fall 1802: Jokô went to Ôsaka with Segawa Rokô III.

11th lunar month of 1802: Jokô worked for Nagawa Shimesuke I on the kaomise drama "Azuma Giku Naniwa no Kisewata", which was produced by Anegawa Kumajirô at the Naka no Shibai. The troupe moved in the 12th lunar month from the Naka no Shibai to the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai to perform a similar program.

11th lunar month of 1803: Jokô worked at the Kado no Shibai, along with Chikamatsu Tokuzô, Nagawa Tokusuke I and Namiki Shôzô II, on the kaomise drama "Hatsu Yagura Kogane no Manmaku", which was produced by Nakamura Noshio III. The troupe moved to the Kita no Shinchi Shibai in the 12th lunar month to perform the same program for 10 days.

Fall 1806: Jokô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1806: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Nagawa Shimesuke I (tatesakusha), Fukumori Kyûsuke I, Tajima Konosuke I, Hon'ya Sôshichi and Matsushima Hanji I, on the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Yuki no Michinoku". The 13th of this month, a fire broke out from the shop of the hair-dresser Tomokurô in the district of Nihonbashi Fukiya-chô. It burnt both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza, killing many spectators.

11th lunar month of 1807: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Kaikei Yuki no Konoshita", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Senjo and Segawa Rokô IV.

5th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance-drama "Yoshinoyama", written by Jokô and Tobaya Richô, within the production of "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; it starred Nakamura Utaemon III and Segawa Rokô IV in the roles of the fox Genkurô disguised as Satô Tadanobu and Shizuka Gozen; it used a Tomimoto musical accompaniment.

7th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Jokô's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi" [casting].

11th lunar month of 1808: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Tajima Konosuke I and Hon'ya Sôshichi, on the kaomise drama "Gohiiki Onga no Shimadai".

4th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 7-role Nagauta-based dance-drama "Kantan Sono no Kikuchô", which was staged to commemorate the 36th anniversary (37th memorial service) of the passing away of Segawa Kikunojô II; one of the roles, "Onna Date" was still part of the Kabuki repertoire [more details]. The lyrics were written by Jokô.

11th lunar month of 1809: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Matsui Kôzô I, Shinoda Kinji I and Tajima Konosuke I, on the kaomise drama "Ôshû Dachiyuki no Kurogoma", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara" world.

1st lunar month of 1810: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Edo no Haru Gohiiki Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Bandô Hikosaburô III, Ichikawa Omezô I and Sawamura Gennosuke I.

11th lunar month of 1810: Jokô worked at the Moritaza, on the kaomise drama "Monomi Guruma Yuki no Takadono", which welcomed back in Edo the actor Nakayama Tomisaburô I, Onoe Shinshichi II and Nakayama Kamesaburô.

11th lunar month of 1812: Jokô worked for the tatesakusha Fukumori Kyûsuke I at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Edo Zakura Megumi no Takanori" (last stage appearance of Segawa Rokô IV).

3rd lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 12-role hengemono "Shiki no Nagame Yosete Mitsudaiji", made up of twelve dances, one for each month of the lunar calendar. All the roles were played by Bandô Mitsugorô III, including the Bonito seller, which was still part of the current Kabuki repertoire under the title "Katsuo Uri". The lyrics were written by Jokô.

11th lunar month of 1813: Jokô worked for the tatesakusha Nagawa Issen (who came from Kamigata), along with Fukumori Kyûsuke I, at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Okudôsha Bandô Junrei", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakamura Matsue III and in which Bandô Mitsugorô III was zagashira for the first time.

1st lunar month of 1814: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Gohiiki Ennen Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Ichizô I, Onoe Matsusuke II and Bandô Mitsugorô III.

11th lunar month of 1814: Jokô worked at the Moritaza on the kaomise drama "Fuyu Botan Yuki no Jinmaku". The theater went baknrupt and the performances stopped.

11th lunar month of 1815: Jokô worked at the Kawarasakiza, along with Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II, on the kaomise drama "Yamato Meisho Senbon Zakura", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Kikunojô V.

1st lunar month of 1816: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Nazoraete Fujigane Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Suketakaya Takasuke II, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Asao Yûjirô I.

11th lunar month of 1816: Jokô worked with Tsuruya Nanboku IV, Sakurada Jisuke II and Katsu Hyôsuke at the Kawarasakiza on the kaomise drama "Kiyomori Eiga no Utena", which celebrated the shûmei of Sôryô Jinroku II, Ôtani Bajû II, Sakata Hanjûrô, Bandô Matajûrô III, Ichikawa Momotarô I, Tsuuchi Monzaburô III and Ichikawa Kodanji III.

1st lunar month of 1817: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Kobiki-chô Soga no Tamamono"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, Iwai Matsunosuke I and Segawa Kikunojô V.

3rd lunar month of 1817: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Sakurada Jisuke II and Jokô worked on this drama [casting].

11th lunar month of 1817: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Sakurada Jisuke II (tatesakusha) and Fukumori Kiusuke, on the kaomise drama "Hana to Yuki Wagô Taiheiki", which celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Mitsuemon I, Matsumoto Goroichi and Bandô Hidesuke.

1st lunar month of 1818: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Nennen Soga Kuruwa Nikki"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Bandô Mitsugorô III.

11th lunar month of 1818: the Miyakoza went bankrupt and transferred the Ichimuraza license to the Tamagawaza, where Jokô worked for the tatesakusha Tsuruya Nanboku IV on the kaomise drama "Shitennô Ubuyu no Tamagawa" which starred Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, Iwai Hanshirô V, Segawa Kikunojô V, Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Sôryô Jinroku II, Ichikawa Sôzaburô IV, Ôtani Bajû II, Yamashina Jinkichi III and Matsumoto Yonesaburô II.

11th lunar month of 1819: Jokô worked as a tatesakusha at the Kawarasakiza, along with Mimasuya Nisôji, Hon'ya Sôshichi and Katsu Hyôsuke, on the kaomise drama "Yakko Yakko Edo no Hanayari". Premiere at the Kawarasakiza of the Nagauta-based dance "Shikakubashira Saru no Kusemai", which was written by Jokô. The role of Konoshita Tôkichi was played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.

1st lunar month of 1820: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Tama no Haru Soga no Kadomatsu", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Ichikawa Ebijûrô I and Ichikawa Ichizô II.

11th lunar month of 1820: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Nagawa Issen I (tatesakusha) and Sakurada Jisuke II, on the drama "Saruwaka Hisago no Gunbai", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Arashi Tokusaburô II, Nakamura Gennosuke I and Arashi Ryûgorô.

11th lunar month of 1821: Jokô worked at the reopening Ichimuraza on the kaomise drama "Nani o Tanete Ukiki no Kaobure", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichimura Uzaemon XII, Sawamura Shirogorô II and Ichikawa Raizô IV.

11th lunar month of 1822: Jokô worked at the Ichimuraza, along with Tsuruya Nanboku IV, on the drama "Gohiiki Tsuwamono no Majiwari", which welcomed back Iwai Hanshirô V in Edo and celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Kikujirô I and Nakayama Kinsha.

11th lunar month of 1823: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Matsui Kôzô II and Katsui Genpachi, on the kaomise drama "Kaeri Giso Kiku no Hitomure".

1st lunar month of 1824: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Kadoreisha Soga no Toshidama"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Mimasu Gennosuke I and Onoe Kikugorô III.

11th lunar month of 1824: Jokô worked at the Ichimuraza, along with Sakurada Jisuke II and Tajima Konosuke I, on the kaomise drama "Yamatogana Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1825: Jokô worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Satsuki no Fuji Soga Hatsuyume"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Bandô Mitsugorô III, Bandô Hikosaburô IV and Bandô Mitsugorô III ^[3].

11th lunar month of 1825: no record in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1826: no record in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1827: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Katsui Genpachi, Matsuchi Shôkichi and Katsu Hyôsuke, on the drama "Kinbusen Yosooi Genji", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Yaozô V.

1st lunar month of 1828: revival at the Nakamuraza of the dance-drama "Oshidori" by Jokô [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1828: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 7-role hengemono "Nijirigaki Nanatsu Iroha", which was performed by Nakamura Shikan II. Two of the roles, "Keisei" and "Tomo Yakko", were still part of the current Kabuki repertoire. The lyrics were written by Jokô.

11th lunar month of 1828: Jokô worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Tajima Konosuke I, on the kaomise drama "Motomishi Hana Otogi Heike"; Jokô's yearly salary was 45 ryô ^[4].

11th lunar month of 1829: Jokô worked at the Kawarasakiza, along with Mimasuya Nisôji (tatesakusha) and Shinoda Kinji II, on the kaomise drama "Yamatomoji Iroha Kagami".

27th day of the 11th lunar month of 1829 ^[5]: Tsuruya Nanboku IV died in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1830: Jokô worked at the Kawarasakiza on the kaomise drama "Ichiyô Raifuku Shibuya Tsuwamono".

11th lunar month of 1831: Jokô worked at the Kawarasakiza on the drama "Matsu o Chikara Tomoe no Fujinami", which celebrated the shûmei of Sawamura Tosshô I.

1st lunar month of 1832: Jokô moved to the Nakamuraza.

3rd lunar month of 1832: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 3-part Kiyomoto/Tokiwazu/Nagauta-based dance "Yayoi no Hana Asakusa Matsuri", starring Bandô Mitsugorô IV and Nakamura Shikan II in the leading roles. This dance was still sometimes performed in its entirety but the first part, "Sanja Matsuri" was frequently staged independently. The lyrics were written by Jokô.

11th lunar month of 1832: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza for the Iwai clan; Iwai Hanshirô V, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Iwai Hisajirô II respectively took the names of Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Hanshirô VI and Iwai Kumesaburô III. They performed together in Jokô's drama "Goban Tadanobu Yuki no Kuroshiro".

4th day of the 11th lunar month of 1833 ^[1]: Jokô died in Edo.

Comments:

Segawa Jokô II was an Edo sakusha, who was active from 1781 to 1832. He worked on more than 120 original dramas and more than 25 dance-dramas. He was expert in creating hengemono. Some his dances were still in the Kabuki repertoire and were often staged: "Yoshinoyama", "Onna Date", "Sanja Matsuri" and "Tomo Yakko".

[1] The 4th day of the 11th lunar month of the 4th year of the Tenpô era was the 14th of December 1833 in the western calendar.

[2] The 23rd day of the 1st lunar month of the 6th year of the Kansei era was the 22nd of February 1794 in the western calendar.

[3] Not a mistake, Bandô Mitsugorô III indeed played the two roles, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari. This was a rare event in a sogamono.

[4] Tsuruya Nanboku IV, the best Edo playwright, was paid 175 ryô. Matsumoto Kôshirô V, the zagashira at the Nakamuraza, was paid 600 ryô.

[5] The 27th day of the 11th lunar month of the 12th year of the Bunsei era was the 22nd of December 1829 in the western calendar.

The name of Segawa Jokô II in a 1828 Edo hyôbanki (the zone within the red box); all the names were the sakusha at the Nakamuraza; the most important ones were Katsui Genpachi (first from right) and Katsu Hyôsuke (second from left)

The Segawa Jokô line of playwrights