Stage name:

Ogawa Kichitarô I

Guild: Sakaiya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Eishi

Existence: 1737 ~ 19th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1781 ^[1]

Connection:

Father: Ogawa Goroshirô (a disciple of Ogawa Zengorô I)

Disciples: Ogawa Kichitarô II, Ogawa Fusamatsu, Ogawa Otojirô, Ogawa Sengiku, Ogawa Shozô

Career:

1737 ~ 1748: born in Kamigata as the son of Ogawa Goroshirô, a disciple of Ogawa Zengorô I.

1748: Kichitarô performed at the Takeda no Shibai, a hama shibai venue.

11th lunar month of 1754: Kichitarô became wakashugata at the Naka no Shibai, performing in the kaomise drama "Amaterasu Ômikami Iwado no Akebono", which was produced by Arashi San'emon IV.

12th lunar month of 1758: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's ni-no-kawari drama "Sanjikkoku Yofune no Hajimari"; for the very first time in Kabuki history, a mawari-butai, invented by Namiki Shôzô I, was built and used on the stage of a theater [more details]; Kichitarô played the role of Hanamitsu Kenpô's koshô Shiga Sakon.

11th lunar month of 1760: Kichitarô became tachiyaku.

Fall 1761: Kichitarô went to Kyôto to perform at the Kitano no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1763: Kichitarô played in Kyôto the role of Ariwara no Narihira in the kaomise drama "Shôchikubai Ôshimadai", which was produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I.

1st lunar month of 1764: Kichitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. He shared the same ranking with Nakamura Jûzô II.

11th lunar month of 1764: Kichitarô performed in Kyôto in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Genpei Tsûrikimaru", which celebrated the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô.

1st lunar month of 1765: Kichitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual]. He shared the same ranking with Fujimatsu Sanjûrô I and Onoe Montarô.

11th lunar month of 1765: Kichitarô became zamoto and produced in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Takara-Kita-Yama Kogane no Ishizue".

11th lunar month of 1766: Kichitarô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Komurasaki Tôji, in reality Ibukiyama Tôjirô, in the kaomise drama "Yuki no Asa Daimonjitsu Miyako no Fuku", which was produced by Yamashita Kyônosuke and Ichiyama Sukegorô.

1st lunar month of 1767: Kichitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He shared the same ranking with Edosaka Kyôemon.

11th lunar month of 1767: Kichitarô played in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Hanayama Iorinosuke in the kaomise drama "Shinchoku Fukki no Kanatoko", which was produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô III and celebrated the shûmei of Sakakiyama Koshirô IV and Sakakiyama Shirotarô IV.

11th lunar month of 1768: Kichitarô performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Misao Taiheiki", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Noshio I, Nakamura Tsutaemon and Arashi Kasen; Kichitarô's stage partners were Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Onoe Kikugorô I, Nakamura Jûzô II, Onoe Shinshichi I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Kirishima Gizaemon I and Matsuya Shinjûrô.

Fall 1769: Kichitarô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1769: Kichitarô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Tora no Itten Sanryaku no Maki", which was produced by Nakayama Yosaburô II; Kichitarô's stage partners were Nakayama Bunshichi I, Fujikawa Hachizô I, Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II, Mimasu Daigorô I, Bandô Iwagorô, Yoshizawa Ayame III, Sawamura Kunitarô I and Hanagiri Toyomatsu III.

1st lunar month of 1770: Kichitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He shared the same ranking with Arashi Kichisaburô I and Fujimatsu Sanjûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1770: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's gidayû kyôgen "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The play was staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Kichitarô played the roles of Minamoto no Yoriie, Miuranosuke and Bonta [casting].

9th lunar month of 1770: Kichitarô played in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; the role of Kuzu-no-Ha was played by Sawamura Kunitarô I.

11th lunar month of 1770: Kichitarô became zamoto and produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ma'ichimonjiya Sakigake Hyôban".

1st lunar month of 1771: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari"; Kichitarô produced it and played the role of Takamaru Kamejirô [casting].

8th lunar month of 1771: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", in which he played the roles of Makura no Kiyoku and Fujiwara no Tankai.

11th lunar month of 1771: Kichitarô produced in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ganjitsu Eiga no Toshikoshi".

12th lunar month of 1771: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Sanjikkoku Yofune no Hajimari", in which he played the roles of Nuinosuke and Yokurô.

3rd lunar month of 1772: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", in which he played the role of Date no Yosaku.

7th lunar month of 1772: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", in which he played the roles of Yoshitsune and Yasuke.

9th lunar month of 1772: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Monogusa Tarô", which celebrated the isse ichidai performance of Nakayama Shinkurô I.

11th lunar month of 1772: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Hi-no-Moto Banzei no Hôrai", in which he played the roles of Wakiya Gisuke and Saheiji. From the 25th day of 11th lunar month, he produced the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", in which he played the role of Sakuramaru; the roles of Matsuômaru and Sakuramaru's spouse Yae were played by Nakayama Raisuke I and Arashi Hinasuke I.

9th lunar month of 1773: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Keisei Hangonkô", in which he played the role of Shirojirô.

11th lunar month of 1773: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Medetai Uchimashô".

12th lunar month of 1773: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", in which he played the roles of Yoshitsune and the fortune-teller ("Tsuji Hôin").

9th lunar month of 1774: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Kume no Sennin Yoshino Zakura", in which he played the role of Hata no Kanjirô and Atsumibô; this was also the last stage performances of the star Yoshizawa Ayame III.

11th lunar month of 1774: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi".

12th lunar month of 1774: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku", in which he played the roles of Nuinosuke and Okumi.

8th lunar month of 1775: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, produced at the Kado no Shibai by Kichitarô; he played the role of Tsuruya Reizaburô [more details].

11th lunar month of 1775: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Hachitanashi Hyaku Monogatari", which welcomed in Ôsaka the onnagata Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III (coming back from Edo).

12th lunar month of 1775: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", in which he played the role of Yamazaki Yogorô.

3rd lunar month of 1776: Kichitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same ranking with Arashi Hinasuke I.

4th lunar month of 1776: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", in which he played the role of Kanônosuke Naonobu.

7th lunar month of 1776: premiere of Iso Isosuke's drama "Yamato Kotoba Suikoden", which was produced at the Kado no Shibai by Kichitarô; he played the role of Sôshichi [casting].

10th lunar month of 1776: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the play "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which was the onagori kyôgen of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III, who was about to go to Edo; Kichitarô played the role of Abe no Yasuna.

11th lunar month of 1776: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ehôgura Sankai Meisho", which welcomed in Ôsaka the star Onoe Kikugorô I (coming from Kyôto).

12th lunar month of 1776: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", in which he played the roles of Saemon and Rai Tarô Kunitoshi.

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere of Namiki Gohachi's drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû", co-written with Nakamura Akei and Tatsuoka Mansaku and produced by Kichitarô, which was staged at the Kado no Shibai; Kichitarô played the roles of Sukune Tarô and the toneri Takuramaru [casting].

9th lunar month of 1777: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", in which he played the roles of Kokingo and Yasuke.

11th lunar month of 1777: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ôiri Kabuki no Tsuitachi", in which he played the role of the Smallpox Deity Hôsôshin, in reality Watari Shinroku.

4th lunar month of 1778: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's play "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri", which was produced by Kichitarô; he played the role of Segawa Uneme [casting].

9th lunar month of 1778: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the play "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which was the onagori kyôgen of the actor Onoe Kikugorô I, who was about to go to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1778: Kichitarô produced at the Kado no Shibai the kaomise drama "Genpei Tatoezukushi", which welcomed in Ôsaka the star Nakamura Tomijûrô I (coming back from Edo); Kichitarô played the role of Mannô Kyûhei.

1st lunar month of 1779: Kichitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, sôkanjiku section ("all kanjiku"), was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1779: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; it was produced by Kichitarô and he played the roles of Momonoi Mutsujirô and Yumiya Tarô (in reality Tajimi Juntarô) [casting].

7th lunar month of 1779: Kichitarô produced in the same theater the play "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", in which he played the role of Izuminosuke.

11th lunar month of 1779: Kichitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Urashima Tarô in the kaomise drama "Senshû Banzei Chibako no Tamamono", which was produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I and celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Noshio II.

End of the 11th lunar month of 1779 ~ 1st lunar month of 1780: Kichitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the roles of Kô no Moronô and Ôboshi Yuranosuke were played by Yamamoto Giemon and Mihogi Gizaemon II.

11th lunar month of 1780: Kichitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Wakushichi, in reality Tôkurô Morinaga, in the kaomise drama "Ujigami Sairai Sukedono no Kachidoki".

1st lunar month of 1781: Kichitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

19th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1781 ^[1]: Kichitarô died in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Ogawa Kichitarô I was an outstanding 18th century tachiyaku, who achieved in Kyôto and Ôsaka a reputation as an expert on wagoto. This amazing yatsushigata was compared by connoisseurs to the great actor Somematsu Shichisaburô I and was considered as his equal.

[1] The 19th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 10th year of the An'ei era was the 13th of March 1781 in the western calendar.

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

The Ogawa Kichitarô line of actors