Stage names:

Yamamoto Kamon

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Guild: Ôzakaya

Existence: 1682 ~ ???

Connections:

Disciple: Yamamoto Koshikibu

Career:

11th lunar month of 1695: Kamon performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater as a wakashugata in the kaomise drama "Hime Kura Daikoku Bashira".

1697: Kamon became wakaonnagata.

1st lunar month of 1698: premiere at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater of the drama "Keisei Asama-ga-Dake", which was produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon I; Kamon played the role of Otowa-no-Mae [casting].

11th lunar month of 1710: Kamon played in Kyôto the role of the mekake Okuni in the kaomise drama "Gokoku Wagô Fumi Kotoba".

1st lunar month of 1711: Kamon played in the same theater the role of Umegawa in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Kuhonji Jôdo".

3rd lunar month of 1711: Kamon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1714: Kamon played the role of Princess Eawase in the kaomise drama "Azuma-zukuri Ôdaidokoro", which was produced at Kameya Kumenojô's theater by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

Fall 1716: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which was produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Kamon played the role of Kinshôjo [casting].

11th lunar month of 1717: Kamon played in Kyôto the role of the goke Okume in Sadoshima Saburôzaemon's kaomise drama "Iwao no Matsu Manbai no Midori", which was produced by Miyako Mandayû in his theater.

1st lunar month of 1719: Kamon played in Kyôto the role of the gejo Yoshi (later Princess Masa) in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chihaya no Toko", which was staged at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1720: Kamon played in Kyôto the role of the keisei Utamaki at Miyako Mandayû's theater in the kaomise drama "Gosha no Yonegura Fukki no Aimuko".

1st lunar month of 1721: Kamon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Kirinami Takie and Sodesaki Wakaura I. Kamon played in Kyôto the role of the keisei Matsuyama in the new year ni-no-kawari "Keisei Tôyama Matsu", which was staged at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1721: Kamon played in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of the keisei Kasane in the kaomise drama "Inari Fuku In'yô no Kanegura", which was produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1722: Kamon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Ogino Yaegiri I, Ichimura Tamagashiwa I and Kirinami Takie. Kamon played in the same theater the role of the keisei Takahashi in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chikai no Kôbai".

Spring 1722: Kamon played in the same theater the role of the keisei Naniwazu in the san-no-kawari drama "Keisei Inaba no Matsu". This was most likely his last performance in ôshibai.

2nd day of the 5th lunar month of 1723: a fire broke out in the 4th district of Miyagawa-chô in Kyôto. The name of Kamon was recorded in the list of Kabuki actors impacted by this fire (many actors used to live in this area). No record afterwards.

Comments:

Yamamoto Kamon was a Kyôto onnagata, who was active in the Imperial City from the second half of the 1690s to the first half of the 1720s. No record of any performance in Ôsaka or Edo. He excelled in keisei roles. He reached the prestigious jô-jô-kichi rank in 1721.

Yamamoto Kamon playing the role of the keisei Nagashima in the new year drama "Keisei Okusama Sugata Meshitaki Sugata", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1700 in Kyôto

Prints & Illustrations