| ONOE KIKUGORÔ I |
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Stage names:
Others names:
Guild: Otowaya Line number: SHODAI (I) Poetry name: Baikô (1) Existence: 1717 ~ 29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1783 [1] Connections: Master: Onoe Samon (a disciple of Onoe Taganojô I's disciple Onoe Ukon I) Fathers-in-law: Ôtani Hiroji I, Bandô Hikosaburô I Son: Onoe Kikugorô II Disciples: Onoe Shôroku I, Bandô Hikosaburô III, Onoe Tamizô I, Onoe Koisaburô I, Onoe Montarô, Onoe Kumesuke, Onoe Kikusaburô II Career: 1717 ~ 1730: born in Kyôto. His father Otowaya Hanbê worked as a dekata in Miyako Mandayû's theater. He started his career as a disciple of the onnagata actor Onoe Samon, who gave him the name of Onoe Taketarô at an unknown date. 11th lunar month of 1730: he took the name of Onoe Kikugorô I and made his first stage appearance, in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater, playing a wakashugata iroko role in the kaomise drama "Eiraku Shiki no Kogane", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I. 11th lunar month of 1735: Kikugorô became wakaonnagata and performed in the kaomise drama "Shin-yakata Banzei no Ishizue", which was produced in Kyôto by Arashi Koroku I. 11th lunar month of 1737: Kikugorô performed at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater in the kaomise drama "Hachiman Tarô Denju no Tsuzumi", which celebrated the shûmei of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II. 1st lunar month of 1738: Kikugorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual]. 11th lunar month of 1739: Kikugorô played at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Enju in the drama "Muromachi-dono Chôhô Denki", which was produced by Sanogawa Ichimatsu I; his stage partners were Yamanaka Heijûrô I (Nikki Danjô), Ôtani Hiroji I (Ise no Saburô) and Sawamura Otoemon I (Ôuchi Kamon). Fall 1740: Kikugorô went to Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1741: Kikugorô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Okyô and Sammi no Tsubone in the kaomise drama "Bankoku Taiheiki", which was produced by Sadoshima Chôgorô I and celebrated the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo actors Ichikawa Ebizô II and Ichikawa Danjûrô III. 12th lunar month of 1741: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover) in the drama "Yamato Ikioi Soga"; the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune was played by Ichikawa Ebizô II. The performance, which started the 11th day, was not a success and stopped the 22nd day. 1st lunar month of 1742: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura" [casting]. The performance was a triumphant success and was extended up to the beginning of the 7th lunar month of 1742. 7th lunar month of 1742: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Princess Kinugasa in the drama "Nanatsu Men", which was staged under the title "Hoshiai Sakae Kagekiyo". Fall 1742: Kikugorô received the patronage of Ichikawa Ebizô II to perform in Edo. they travelled together to the Eastern city. Kikugorô joined the Ichimuraza and Ichikawa Ebizô II went to the Kawarasakiza. 11th lunar month of 1742: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of the shirabyôshi Naniwazu and Kuzu-no-Ha in the kaomise program "Furisode Shinoda no Zuma"; his stage partners were Bandô Hikosaburô I, Segawa Kikunojô I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Bandô Matatarô III, Nakajima Mihoemon I, Tomizawa Tatsujûrô, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Sanogawa Senzô, Tamazawa Saijirô I, Sawamura Utagiku and Ichimura Manzô. 1st lunar month of 1744: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. 1st lunar month of 1748: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Soga Gorô in the new year sogamono drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga". 5th lunar month of 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" was performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Kikugorô played the role of Suke-no-Tsubone [casting]. 11th lunar month of 1752: following Ichimura Uzaemon VIII's pieces of advice, Kikugorô became tachiyaku and performed at the Ichimuraza in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Ume Sakura Ninin Semimaru". 7th lunar month of 1753: the play "Hirakana Seisuiki" was staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Kikugorô played the role of Shigetada [casting]. Fall 1762: Onoe Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; his stage partner in the role of Okaru was Segawa Kikunojô II. 29th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1766 [2]: a fire broke out in the district of Sakai-chô, in the cosmetics shop owned and managed by Kikugorô. It destroyed both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza. This fire was nicknamed "Kikugorô Aburamise Kaji" ('Kikugorô's cosmetics shop fire'). 9th lunar month of 1766: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". Fall 1766: Kikugorô went back to Kamigata after 25 seasons spent in Edo. 11th lunar month of 1766: Kikugorô played in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Tawara Mushanosuke 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: Kikugorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 8th lunar month of 1768: Kikugorô played in Kyôto the roles of the fox Genkurô, Tadabobu and Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was produced by Onoe Montarô and Onoe Kumesuke. 9th lunar month of 1769: Kikugorô played in Kyôto the role of Motome in the drama "Migawari Hana no Bugaku", his farewell performance (onagori kyôgen) before going to Edo. Fall 1769: Kikugorô went to Edo, travelling with the actors Ôtani Tomoemon I, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I and Onoe Tamizô I. 11th lunar month of 1769: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Izumi no Saburô and Satô Shirô Tadanobu in the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Ume no Kaomise". 9th lunar month of 1773: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kanpei and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", his farewell performance (onagori kyôgen) before going to Kamigata in Fall; the role of Okaru was played by Nakamura Rikô I. Fall 1773: Kikugorô went to Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1773: Kikugorô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Itari Yaitari Mukadeyama", which was produced by Arashi Matsujirô I. 1st lunar month of 1774: Kikugorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 5th lunar month of 1774: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". 8th lunar month of 1774: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Suganuma Yoemon and Tsukimoto Mushanosuke in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". 9th lunar month of 1774: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Kan Shôjô and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". Fall 1774: Kikugorô went to Kyôto. 11th lunar month of 1774: Kikugorô performed in the kaomise program "Akanesasu Kogane no Maruyama", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango at Hayagumo Chôdayû and Hoteiya Umenojô theater; his stage partners were Arashi Hinasuke I, Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Onoe Matsusuke I (who arrived from Edo), Onoe Shinshichi I, Arashi Shichigorô II and Yoshizawa Iroha I. 1st lunar month of 1775: Kikugorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 3rd lunar month of 1775: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Nan Yohê and Oseki in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". 1Fall 1776: Kikugorô went to Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1776: Kikugorô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ehôgura Sankai Meisho", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I. 12th lunar month of 1776: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Rai Kuniyuki, Sonobe Hyôe and Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari". 4th lunar month of 1777: premiere of Namiki Gohachi's drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû", co-written with Nakamura Akei and Tatsuoka Mansaku, which was staged at the Kado no Shibai; Kikugorô played the roles of Takebe Genzô and Sugawara no Michizane [casting]. 9th lunar month of 1777: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". 11th lunar month of 1777: Kikugorô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Gorosaku, in reality Onchi Sakon, in the kaomise drama "Ôiri Kabuki no Tsuitachi", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I and celebrated the shûmei of Shibazaki Rinzaemon II. 4th lunar month of 1778: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's play "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Kikugorô played the roles of Konomura Ôinosuke (in reality Sô Sokei) and Mashiba Hisayoshi [casting]. 9th lunar month of 1778: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, the deity Fudô Myôô and Kumedera Danjô in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura". Fall 1778: Kikugorô went to Edo 11th lunar month of 1778: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Adachi Saemon and Noto-no-Kami Noritsune in Masuyama Kinpachi I's kaomise drama "Sakimasuya Ume no Kachidoki". 1st lunar month of 1779: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)goku-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 8th lunar month of 1779: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Sonobe Hyôe and Masamune in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari". 5th lunar month of 1780: Kikugorô left the Ichimuraza after a terrible quarrel with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and some serious management troubles at the Ichimuraza (the theater could not pay the actors). He took the decision to leave Edo. 9th lunar month of 1780: last performance in Edo, at the Nakamuraza, where he joined Ichikawa Danjûrô V, an enemy of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, and played the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". Fall 1780: Kikugorô went back to Kamigata. 11th lunar month of 1780: Kikugorô performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Sono Uwasa Kiku no Hataage", which was produced by Yamashita Yaozô I. 1st lunar month of 1781: Kikugorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 9th lunar month of 1781: Kikugorô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles Enju and Shigetada in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki"; his stage partners were Arashi Hinasuke I (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon, Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu), Arashi Sangorô II (Kajiwara Genta Kagesue), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Chidori), Shibazaki Rinzaemon II (Takatsuna, Gonshirô), Arashi San'emon VI (Ofude) and Anegawa Minato II (Oyoshi). 1st lunar month of 1782: the play "Tengajaya-mura" was staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kikugorô played the role of Kôemon [casting]. Fall 1782: Kikugorô went to Ôsaka. 11th lunar month of 1782: Kikugorô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Zu ni Notta Bankoku Tokai", which celebrated the shûmei of Kagaya Kashichi. 1st lunar month of 1783: Kikugorô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. 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; Kikugorô played the roles of the dry goods merchant Jûbê and Yamada Kôbê [casting]. 12th lunar month of 1783: Kikugorô appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; he played the roles of Enju and Shigetada in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". He suddenly fell ill. 29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1783 [1]: Kikugorô died in Ôsaka. Comments: Onoe Kikugorô I was an outstanding actor, a goku-jô-jô-kichi star and the founder of one of the most prestigious lines of actors in Kabuki history. He started his career as a wakaonnagata but became an amazing tachiyaku. He was trained in Kamigata but spent two thirds of his 54 years long career in the Edo theaters, becoming one of the most popular actor this city. Onoe Kikugorô I's best roles: Ôboshi Yuranosuke/Hayano Kanpei/Tonase ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Kan Shôjô/Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Sonobe Hyôe ("Shin Usuyuki Monogatari"), Enju/Shigetada ("Hirakana Seisuiki"). Onoe Kikugorô I was the owner of a cosmetics shop located in the district of Sakai-chô. He managed it under the name of Onoe Kichiemon. After the destruction of the shop in the 1766 fire, he rebuilt it in the district of Setomono-chô. [1] The 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Tenmei era was the 21st of January 1784 in the western calendar. [2] The 29th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 3rd year of the Meiwa era was the 8th of April 1766 in the western calendar. |
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The actor Onoe Kikugorô I as Watanabe no Tsuna The Onoe Baikô line of actors The Onoe Kikugorô line of actors |
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