KAGAYA KASHICHI I

1730: he became disciple of Nakamura Genjûrô - the adopted son of the Kamigata actor Nakamura Genzaemon I, who was a disciple of Nakamura Shichisaburô I's disciple Nakamura Sen'ya I and later on became a playwright named Takagi Richû - who gave him the name of Nakamura Utanosuke I.

1741: he took the name of Nakamura Utaemon I in Ise.

1742: Utaemon achieved a great success in Ise at the Furuichi Shibai by performing in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

Fall 1742: Utaemon went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1742: Utaemon performed in the kaomise drama "Ômi Genji Taihei no Kachidoki", which was produced by Hanakawa Ichinojô at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

1st lunar month of 1743: Utaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the ni-no-kawari new year drama "Harukoma Ikioi Soga"^[2]; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Tsuuchi Monzaburô I and Takenaka Heikichi.

3rd lunar month of 1743: Utaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1743: Utaemon played in Kyôto the role of Manzei Ôkura in the kaomise drama "Wakamidori Hatsumenbako", which was produced by Arashi Matsunojô at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater.

12th lunar month of 1743: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Ishikawa Akuemon in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1744: no kaomise record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

1st lunar month of 1745: no new year record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

11th lunar month of 1745: Utaemon played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of the rônin Kasahara Tanpei (in reality Hideemon^[4]) in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Manzairaku".

1st lunar month of 1746: Utaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the ni-no-kawari new year drama "Keisei Senri-ga-Kane".

11th lunar month of 1746: Utaemon played the roles of Ôwada Genba and Takaemon's kerai Kumahei in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Ômu Kotoba", which was produced at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater by Nakamura Kumetarô I; his stage partners were Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Sanogawa Jûkichi (final performance before his death), Nakamura Shingorô I (final performance before his death), Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Tamiya Jûzaburô I (final performance before his death), Yamatoyama Rinzaemon I (who celebrated his shûmei) and Nakamura Kiyosaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1747: no kaomise record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

1st lunar month of 1748: no new year record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

8th lunar month of 1748: première in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; Utaemon played the roles of Igami no Gonta and Benkei [casting].

11th lunar month of 1748: Utaemon performed in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Fuyugomori Tsumagoi Ikusa", which was produced by Bandô Toyosaburô I at the Naka no Shibai.

12th lunar month of 1748: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of the Yamagaya tedai Den'emon in the ni-no-kawari drama "Koi no Fuchi Chishio no Shiborizome".

1st lunar month of 1749: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was two black strokes above jô-(shiro)jô (superior - (white) superior) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1749: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1749: Utaemon performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in Izumiya Shôzô's kaomise drama "Kotobuki Kogane no Kachi Ikusa", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I, welcomed back in Ôsaka Iwai Hanshirô III and celebrated the shûmei of Murayama Heijûrô IV.

1st lunar month of 1750: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was two black strokes above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1750: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of the yakko Kajibê in the kaomise drama "Yasa Heike Sakiwake Musha", which was produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

12th lunar month of 1750: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the drama "Keisei Tôyama Zakura" (similar to Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonkô"), which was produced by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I for the nadai Shioya Kuroemon [casting].

1st lunar month of 1751: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1751: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1751: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Sode Nikki Futatsu Domoe", which was produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

1st lunar month of 1752: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was two black strokes above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Tashiro Magoemon and Fukakusa Gosaku in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Miyako no Fuji".

3rd lunar month of 1752: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1752: the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, as a kaomise drama, at the Naka no Shibai; Utaemon played the role of the yakko Tagohei [casting]. It was produced as a kaomise drama by Nakamura Jûzô I.

12th lunar month of 1752: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Nunobiki Zenjibê and the yakko Yogoji in the ni-no-kawari drama "Tsu-no-Kuni Jûsô no Watashi".

1st & 3rd lunar month of 1753: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was three black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1753: Utaemon played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Date no Tarô in the kaomise drama "Taihei Kiso Monogatari".

12th lunar month of 1753: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Akamatsu Shirô and Yamana Sôzen in the drama "Keisei Ama no Hagoromo".

1st lunar month of 1754: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was two black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1754: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1754: Utaemon played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Yuge Okuzaemon in the kaomise drama "Uda Genji Asahi no Menbako", which was produced by Wakayama Bunshichi; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danzô III, Wakayama Shinkurô, Wakayama Bunshichi, Arashi Sangorô II, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II, Anegawa Daikichi I, Ôtani Hirohachi I and Someyama Sôjûrô.

12th lunar month of 1754: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Imagawa Kazusanosuke and the ahô kannushi Tarosaku in the ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Imagawajô".

1st & 3rd lunar month of 1755: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1755: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Jidai Sewa Kogane no Hanazoroe", which was produced by Bandô Toyosaburô I.

1st & 3rd lunar month of 1756: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1756: no kaomise record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

1st lunar month of 1757: no new year record in Kyôto, Ôsaka or Edo^[3].

3rd lunar month of 1757: Utaemon went to Edo and played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Shunkan and Osada no Tarô in the drama "Keisei Kikaigashimabara".

11th lunar month of 1757: Utaemon performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Matsuhata Suma no Wakezato", which starred Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Segawa Kikunojô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Nakamura Sukegorô I and Bandô Hikosaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1758: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Kameya Hachiemon in the new year sogamono drama "Kujûsanki Ôyose Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1758: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1758: Utaemon played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôwada Minbu Saemon (in reality Asahara Hachirô) and the nyûdô Akaboshi Tarô in the kaomise drama "Kigoto no Hana Aioi Hachinoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Mizuki Tatsunosuke III.

1st lunar month of 1759: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Nakamura Sukegorô I. Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Tsurugizawa Danjôzaemon and the otokodate Teppeki Buhê (in reality Mionoya Shirô) in the new year drama "Hatsugai Wada no Sakamori".

3rd lunar month of 1759: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1759: Utaemon played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Suruga Zenji Hisamatsu and Yamana Sôzen in the kaomise drama "Okunizome Shusse Butai", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Anegawa Daikichi I and Hanakawa Ichinojô.

1st lunar month of 1760: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Taira no Kiyomori in the new year drama "Furiwakegami Suehiro Genji".

11th lunar month of 1760: Utaemon performed at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Miyo no Butoku Yunzei Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1761: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

2nd lunar month of 1761: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Otoko Kagami Yosooi Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Takejûrô and Morita Kan'ya VI.

Fall 1761: Utaemon went back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1761: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Miyo no Hana Yunzei Kagami", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

12th lunar month of 1761: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Takeda Haruzô's ni-no-kawari drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi". It was the first drama in Kabuki history using gandô-gaeshi on stage; Utaemon played the roles of Nippon Daemon and Tsukimoto Yûmei [casting].

1st lunar month of 1762: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1762: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was three black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1762: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act puppet theater drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi", which was staged at the Naka no Shibai; Utaemon played the role of Benkei [casting].

5th lunar month of 1762: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Myôshô and An no Heibei in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane"; his stage partners were Fujikawa Hachizô I (Karigane Bunshichi), Yamashita Jirosa I (Hotei Ichiemon), Somekawa Konohê I (Gokuin Sen'emon, Gonzaemon) and Mimasu Daigorô I (Kaminari Shôkurô, Anbaiyoshi Rokubê).

7th lunar month of 1762: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of the evil priest Seigen and Ôtani Ittô in Takeda Haruzô's drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Rokudô Meguri".

9th lunar month of 1762: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Igami no Gonta and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1762: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of the yakko Yakanpei, in reality Abe no Yasunori, in the kaomise drama "Uchide no Kozuchi Tezuma Urakata", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

1st lunar month of 1763: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

7th lunar month of 1763: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Kakuju and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1763: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Gokumon Shôbê and Kurofune Chûemon in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato".

11th lunar month of 1763: Utaemon performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Aun no Ishizue", which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I and celebrated the shûmei of Sanogawa Hanazuma III.

1st lunar month of 1764: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1764: première in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki", based on the puppet drama "Katakiuchi Tsuzure no Nishiki", which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I and celebrated the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of the star Anegawa Shinshirô I. A similar play was staged one day later under a different title, "Hare Kosode Tsuzure no Nishiki", at the Naka no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up was open between the 2 theaters. The performance at the Kado no Shibai was more successful than the one at the Naka no Shibai; Utaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kamura Utaemon [casting].

11th lunar month of 1764: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Tatsu no Miya Yunzei Kotobuki", which was produced by Mimasu Daigorô I.

12th lunar month of 1764: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Akizuki Daizen and Gorobê Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1765: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1765: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Mikawaya Giheiji in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the role of Danshichi Kurobê was played by Mimasu Daigorô I.

11th lunar month of 1765: Utaemon became zamoto at the Naka no Shibai; he played the role of the bashi Sankichi, in reality Tametomo, in the kaomise drama "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki"^[5], which was coproduced by Mimasu Daigorô I and Utaemon. He also performed in the kaomise drama "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki"^[5], which was produced by Utaemon.

1st lunar month of 1766: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of the hinin Yaemon in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Shimabara Kochô Natane no Monbi", which was coproduced by Mimasu Daigorô I and Utaemon.

5th lunar month of 1766: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Honchô Nijûshikô", which was performed in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Utaemon played the role of Sekibê [casting].

11th lunar month of 1766: Utaemon produced at the Naka no Shibai Namiki Jûsuke's kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Hikime no Yaguruma".

1st lunar month of 1767: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Utaemon produced in the same theater the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Mutsu no Tamagawa"^[6], in which he played the roles of Saibara Kageyu, in reality Akechi Samagorô, and the tôfuya Gonbê.

5th lunar month of 1767: Utaemon produced in the same theater the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", in which he played the role of the yakko Edohei.

8th lunar month of 1767: Utaemon produced in the same theater the drama "Kindai Onna Katakiuchi", in which he played the role of the hinin Kuwana no Jirô.

Fall 1767: Utaemon went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1767: Utaemon performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Daikokuten", which was produced by Onoe Montarô and Onoe Kumesuke and celebrated the shûmei of Bandô Yasuke and Bandô Sukesaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1768: Utaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1768: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Matsuemon, in reality Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu, in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

6th lunar month of 1768: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Ganryûjima".

Fall 1768: Utaemon went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1768: Utaemon played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Anbaiyoshi no Chôshichi (in reality Kumasaka Chôhan) and Taira no Kiyomori in the kaomise drama "Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji", which celebrated the shûmei of Osagawa Tsuneyo II.

1st lunar month of 1769: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1769: Utaemon performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1770: Utaemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1770: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Hangaku Gozen in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Chûkô Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1770: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of An no Heibei in the drama "Otokodate Itsutsu Karigane". It was Utaemon's onagori kyôgen.

Fall 1770: Utaemon went back to Ôsaka after 2 seasons in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1770: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ma'ichimonjiya Sakigake Hyôban", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I.

12th lunar month of 1770: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari"; Utaemon played the role of Kuwanaya Tokuzô [casting].

1st lunar month of 1771: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, zagashira misuji^[7] section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1771: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of the evil priest Seigen in the drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Gyôriki Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1771: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" [casting].

11th lunar month of 1771: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Temomutsumajiya Ryûgû no Shimadai", which was produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô I and celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Otojûrô, Arashi Bungorô I and Arashi Shichisaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1772: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

7th lunar month of 1772: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Shunkan and Kajiwara in the drama "Kachidoki Heike Monogatari" (similar to Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima"); his stage partners were Ichiyama Tomisaburô (Chidori), Fujikawa Hachizô I (Tanzaemon) and Nakamura Shirogorô IV (Senoo Tarô).

11th lunar month of 1772: Utaemon became zamoto and produced at the Naka no Shibai Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Onoe Kikugorô no Baranu Banashi".

12th lunar month of 1772: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Sonobe Hyôe, Jizô no Goheiji and Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1773: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1773: Utaemon produced in the same theater the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"^[8], in which he played the role of Tsuribune Sabu; the roles of Danshichi Kurobê and Issun Tokubê were played by Fujikawa Hachizô I and Arashi Kichisaburô I.

7th lunar month of 1773: Utaemon produced in the same theater the drama "Gokusaishiki Musume Ôgi", in which he played the roles of Shimura Hayato and Asaina Tôbê.

11th lunar month of 1773: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Itari Yaitari Mukadeyama", which was produced by Arashi Matsujirô I.

12th lunar month of 1773: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke was played by Onoe Kikugorô I.

1st & 3rd lunar month of 1774: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

5th lunar month of 1774: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Shitobê and Hôjô Tokimasa in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

8th lunar month of 1774: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Nejigane Kichibê and Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima".

9th lunar month of 1774: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Kakuju and Shiratayû in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1774: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Musashibô Benkei in the kaomise drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

12th lunar month of 1774: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Nippon Daemon in the ni-no-kawari drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi".

1st lunar month of 1775: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Sumiyoshiya Chûemon the drama "Kumetono Aiaigasa".

4th lunar month of 1775: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari"; Utaemon played the roles of Ki no Aritsune and Natora's ghost [more details].

12th lunar month of 1775: Hikoshirô played at the Higashi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ono no Judayû, Ono no Sadakurô and Ôta Ryôchiku in the drama "Suki Utsushi Iroha Butai", whose plot and characters were similar to "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1776: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1776: Utaemon performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Genji Saikô Uchide no Kozuchi", which was produced by Arashi Shichisaburô II.

12th lunar month of 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Utaemon played the roles of Sawai Jôgorô and Daihachi [casting].

1st lunar month of 1777: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; Utaemon played the role of Kajiwara Kagetoki [casting].

11th lunar month of 1777: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Dazaifuya Zôhachi, in reality Hata no Mantake, in the kaomise drama "Daijizai Kaminari no Kodakara", which was produced by Ichiyama Tajirô, celebrated the shûmei of Yamashita Kamenojô IV and welcomed back in Ôsaka the star Arashi Sangorô II after 3 and 7 seasons spent in Kyôto and Edo.

12th lunar month of 1777: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Amako Haruhisa in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Suô no Dairi".

1st lunar month of 1778: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

9th lunar month of 1778: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was produced by the zamoto Ichiyama Tajirô; his stage partners were Arashi Kichisaburô I (Shiratayû, Genzô, Terukuni), Yamashita Kamenojô IV (Tatsuta, Haru), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Tonami, Kakuju, Yae), Arashi Shichisaburô II (Umeômaru), Bandô Iwagorô (Shihei, Shundô Genba), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Kan Shôjô, Chiyo), Arashi Sangorô II (Sakuramaru) and Nakamura Jiroza II (Hyôe, Mareyo).

11th lunar month of 1778: not recorded in any Ôsaka kaomise program.

1st lunar month of 1779: Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Hida no Sukune in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Tôdo Nippon Ôgo no Zu", which was produced by Yamashita Kamenojô IV.

3rd lunar month of 1779: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

2nd~3rd lunar month of 1780: tour in Ise; he played at the Naka-no-Jizô Shibai the roles of Sonobe Hyôe, Jizô no Goheiji and Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari" (2nd lunar month of 1780). He also played the roles of Nippon Daemon and Tsukimoto Yûmei in the drama "Nihon Saemon Kaisen Banashi" (3rd lunar month of 1780).

11th lunar month of 1780: Utaemon performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ujigami Sairai Sukedono no Kachidoki", which was produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I.

1st lunar month of 1781: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the kanjiku for jitsuaku/katakiyaku actors.

3rd lunar month of 1781: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Saitô Tarôzaemon Toshiyuki in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".

5th lunar month of 1781: Utaemon played in the same theater the roles of Enju and Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

9th lunar month of 1781: Utaemon played in the same theater the role of Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

12th lunar month of 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Tengajaya-mura" [casting]. A similar play was staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up was open between the 2 theaters; Utaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kakogawa Kyûbê and Kataoka Miki-no-Kami [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1782: Utaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku/jitsuaku section, was shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors.

11th lunar month of 1782: Nakamura Utaemon I and his disciple Nakamura Tôzô I respectively took the names of Kagaya Kashichi I and Nakamura Utaemon II; the former Utaemon celebrated his shûmei in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai and the latter in Kyôto. Kashichi played the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the kaomise drama "Zu ni Notta Bankoku Tokai".

1st lunar month of 1783: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Kashichi played in the same theater the role of Ono no Sadakurô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1783: Kashichi played in the same theater the roles of Natora's ghost and Koyoshi in Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari".

5th lunar month of 1783: Kashichi played in the same theater the role of Torakichi in the drama "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki".

7th lunar month of 1783: Kashichi played in the same theater the role of Senoo Jûrô Kaneuji in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

9th lunar month of 1783: the play "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Kashichi played the roles of Sawai Jôgorô, Heisaku and the doctor Takenaka Zeitaku [casting].

1st lunar month of 1784: Kashichi played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura in the kaomise drama "Hôraisan Gyôkei no Kaomise", which was produced by Fujikawa Kikumatsu.

3rd lunar month of 1784: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors. Kashichi played in the same theater the roles of Ôtomo Sôrin, a female daijin and Shibata Katsuie in the ni-no-kawari drama "Ono no Ozû Shichidan Keizu".

5th lunar month of 1784: première in ôshibai, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, of the gidayû kyôgen "Yura no Minato Sengen Chôja"; Kashichi played the role of the tayû Sanshô [casting].

11th lunar month of 1784: Kashichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Naka ni Môketa Otogo Kaomise", which was produced by Nakamura Kumetarô II and welcomed the Edo stars Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV.

1st lunar month of 1785: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1785: Kashichi played in Ôsaka at the Nishi no Shibai the role of Hôjô no Tokimasa in the kaomise drama "Nanshi no Hana o Ehô no Saiwai", which was produced by Nakamura Noshio II. The troupe moved to the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai to perfom from the 23rd day of the 11th lunar month in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato".

1st lunar month of 1786: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors.

2nd lunar month of 1786: Kashichi played in Kyôto the role of Kurofune Chûemon in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato".

3rd lunar month of 1786: Kashichi played in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the role of Ôe no Hiromoto in the drama "Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru".

8th lunar month of 1786: Kashichi played in the same theater the role of Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1786: Kashichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Neko Shakkyô Fûki no Hanabusa", which was produced by Bandô Iwagorô and celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Bungorô I.

12th lunar month of 1786: Kashichi played in the same theater the role of Sawai Jôgorô in the dramz "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

1st lunar month of 1787: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the kanjiku for jitsuaku actors, was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors.

3rd lunar month of 1787: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", a play similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; Kashichi played the role of Mokusokan [casting].

11th lunar month of 1787: Kashichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Masaru Medetaki Toshi no Kaomise", which was produced by Nakayama Fukuzô.

1st lunar month of 1788: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors.

11th lunar month of 1788: Kashichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in Nagawa Shimesuke I's kaomise drama "Toshi-ni Kanô Tori-ga-Saikô".

12th lunar month of 1788: Kashichi made his isse ichidai performance in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, playing the roles of Akizuki Daizen and Gorobê Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which was produced by Ichiyama Tajirô; his stage partners were Kanô Hinasuke I (Dankurô), Seki Sanjûrô I (Tsumahei), Yamashita Kinsaku II (Magaki), Ichiyama Tajirô (Princess Usuyuki), Nakamura Kumenosuke (Saemon), Bandô Iwagorô (Shibukawa Tôma), Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Kunikurô), Yamashita Yaozô I (Oren) and Yamamura Giemon II (Rai Kuniyuki).

1st lunar month of 1789: Kashichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki was kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the sôkanjiku for Ôsaka actors.

Fall 1789: Kashichi appeared on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater, where he played the role of Tatara Shindôzaemon in the drama "Mannengusa Imose no Furisode".

29th day of the 10th lunar month of 1791^[1]: Kashichi died.

Comments:

Kagaya Kashichi I was a Kamigata stage giant, who was active from the 1730s to the end of the 1780s. He excelled in jitsuaku roles.

"This first Utaemon was the son of a physician, who had led a life of dissipation and finally took to the stage. He kept steadfastly to one specialty, that of katakiyaku, or villain rôles. When he played in Edo he was well received, but on a visit to Ôsaka, he said something on the stage which offended his audience, and they returned the compliment by giving him the cold shoulder for some time. The famous bad characters of the doll-dramas he made his own, particularly the heavy villain Iruka, the formidable tyrant in "Imoseyama", and the evil-doing but loyal Gonta of "Senbon Zakura", two characters that modern audiences are never tired of seeing portrayed." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 29th day of the 10th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Kansei era was the 24th of November 1791 in the western calendar.

[2] A sogamono as a ni-no-kawari was a rare treat in Kamigata!

[3] Was he on tour ? Was he sick ? Was he back to Kaga Province?

[4] Hideemon or Shûemon? Two possible readings.

[5] There were two zamoto at the Naka no Shibai, Mimasu Daigorô I and Utaemon, and there were two kaomise dramas produced in this theater. Utaemon produced the two dramas and Mimasu Daigorô I produced only the second drama. The two dramas had a different casting but used the same title "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki".

[6] This date sôdô drama was the "ancestor" of "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

[7] Literally the 3 strings of zagashira. The three main actors in the hyôbanki. The two others were Nakamura Kumetarô I ((shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi) and Mimasu Daigorô I (jô-jô-kichi).

[8] This drama was staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Fujikawa Heikurô.

Kagaya Kashichi I in an illustration from the book "Yakusha Mono Iwai" (1784)
Copyright © The Trustees of the British Museum

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Kashichi line of actors

The Nakamura Utanosuke line of actors

The Nakamura Utaemon line of actors