Stage names:

Morita Kan'ya I
Morita Tashichi
Bandô Matashichi

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: ??? ~ 25th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1679 ^[1]

Connections:

Father: Bandô Matakurô I

Adoptive father: Morita Tarobê I

Brother: Bandô Matajirô I (Bandô Matazaemon I)

Nephews: Bandô Matatarô I, Bandô Matakurô II (Morita Kan'ya II), Bandô Matakurô III (Morita Kan'ya III)

Disciple: Morita Kan'ya II

Career:

1st lunar month of 1660: Morita Tarobê and his adopted son Morita Tashichi opened the Moritaza, a new theater in the district of Kobiki-chô.

14th day of the 1st lunar month of 1660 ^[2]: a fire broke out in the district of Yushima, which destroyed the newly-constructed Moritaza.

5th lunar month of 1660: opening of the rebuilt Moritaza in the district of Kobiki-chô.

27th day of the 1st lunar month of 1661 ^[3]: a fire broke out in the residence of Kusakabe Gonzaemon in the district of Takajô-chô, which burnt the Moritaza to ashes.

3rd lunar month of 1668: Morita Tarobê I retired.

5th lunar month of 1668: Morita Tashichi took the name of Morita Kan'ya I.

9th lunar month of 1668: Kan'ya and Kawarasaki Gonnosuke I joined forces to open a new common theater in the district of Kobiki-chô.

25th day of the 6th lunar month of 1677 ^[4]: his adoptive father Morita Tarobê I died.

25th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1679 ^[1]: Kan'ya died in Edo.

Comments:

Morita Kan'ya I was the second zamoto of the Moritaza and the founder of an important line of theater managers and actors. He unfortunately died too young.

[1] The 25th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 7th year of the Enpô era was the 5th of April 1679 in the western calendar.

[2] The 14th day of the 1st lunar month of the 3rd year of the Manji era was the 24th of February 1660 in the western calendar.

[3] The 27th day of the 1st lunar month of the 4th year of the Manji era was the 26th of February 1661 in the western calendar.

[4] The 25th day of the 6th lunar month of the 5th year of the Enpô era was the 24th of July 1677 in the western calendar.

Morita Kan'ya I (left) and Kawarasaki Gonnosuke I (right) in the 11th lunar month of 1675

The Morita Kan'ya line of actors and theater managers