Stage name:

Segawa Kikujirô I

Guild: Hamamuraya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Sengyo

Blazon: the spray of tied cotton (yui wata)

Existence: 1715 ~ 13th day of the 11th lunar month of 1756 ^[1]

Connections:

Master: Segawa Takenojô I

Elder brother: Segawa Kikunojô I

Father-in-law: Iwai Hanshirô III

Disciples: Segawa Kikusaburô I, Segawa Somematsu

Career:

1715 ~ 1722: born in Unshû according to some sources. He started his career at a very young age, along with his elder brother, as disciples of the actor Segawa Takenojô I who gave them the names of Segawa Kikujirô and Segawa Kikunojô. It was said that Kikujirô appeared on stage for the very first time in 1720 in Kyôto but there was no reference to his name in the chronicles.

11th lunar month of 1722: Kikujirô played the wakashugata role of Tsurumatsu in the kaomise drama "Ôbashira Kogane no Sazare Ishi", which was produced in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater by his elder brother Segawa Kikunojô I.

1st lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Oshioyama".

8th lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the drama "Kawarayabashi no Naniwa Kadomatsu".

11th lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô played in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Kamejirô, a wakashugata iroko role, in the drama "Teono Hajime Kogane no Ishizue".

1st lunar month of 1724: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Princess Sakuragi, a wakaonnagata iroko role, in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Futakamiyama".

11th lunar month of 1724: Kikujirô performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater as a wakashugata in the kaomise drama "Ôjigawa Kogane no Mizuguruma".

11th lunar month of 1726: Kikujirô started to work as a zamoto in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater but the kaomise drama was not staged.

9th lunar month of 1727: Kikujirô produced the play "Ise Heiji Nennen Kagami" in Kyôto, starring Sakakiyama Koshirô I.

11th lunar month of 1727: Kikujirô reverted to wakaonnagata role, playing the role of Princess Kameyo in the kaomise drama "Masu Kagami Eitai Gura", which was produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

1st lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Sandaijin".

2nd lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Okura's daughter Otaka in Sawamura Bunji's drama "Keisei Makura Kagami"; his stage partners in the roles of Mori Saibê and his wife Okura were Fujikawa Heikurô and Asao Jûjirô I.

11th lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô played in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Kasane in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Kogane no Uroko", which was produced by Sanogawa Mangiku; his stage partners were Arashi San'emon III, Segawa Kikunojô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô I, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Arashi Sangorô I and Nakamura Shingorô I.

11th lunar month of 1729: Kikujirô moved to Kameya Kumenojô's theater and performed in the kaomise drama "Fukuju Yakata Wagô no Futabashira", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

1st lunar month of 1730: Kikujirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. He played in the same theater the role of Okume in Sakakiyama Tamon's new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Kinukakeyama".

11th lunar month of 1730: Kikujirô performed in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater in the kaomise drama "Eiraku Shiki no Kogane".

1st lunar month of 1731: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Komatsu in the new year ni-no-kawari "Keisei Mikasayama".

1Fall 1731: Kikujirô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1731: Kikujirô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Dono Eiga Butai". Kikujirô's performance was a triumphant success; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Yamamoto Hikogorô, Ichimura Takenojô IV, Sodesaki Iseno I, Hayakawa Shinkatsu, Sakata Hangorô I, Sanjô Kantarô II and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1732: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. Kikujirô played the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the new year sogamono drama "Shôchikubai Kongen Soga". This performance, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the fire set by the real Oshichi, was a triumphant success.

11th lunar month of 1732: Kikujirô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Tsuwamono Kongen Hiru-ga-Kojima".

1st lunar month of 1733: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the play "Sukeroku"; his partner in the role of Sukeroku was Ichimura Takenojô IV.

11th lunar month of 1733: Kikujirô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Senju no Mae in the kaomise drama "Shôhon Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1734: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Nanakusa Nigiwai Soga"; his partner in the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô was the Kamigata star Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1734: Kikujirô played at the Ichimuraza the role of the rebel Abe no Munetô's wife Kisakata in the kaomise drama "Michinoku Yunzei Genji"; his stage partner in the role of Abe no Munetô was Ôtani Hiroji I. Kikujirô's performance was a huge success.

1st lunar month of 1735: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Furiwakegami Hatsugai Soga".

11th lunar month of 1735: Kikujirô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Kongen Nana Komachi".

1st lunar month of 1736: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the new year drama "Takarabune Bangaku no Gosho".

4th lunar month of 1736: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Kageyu's wife in the drama "Hobashira Taiheiki"; his stage partner in the role of Kageyu Saemon was Ôtani Hiroji I.

Summer 1736: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Onikage in the drama "Tôkaidô Yukumi Guruma"; his stage partners were Ôtani Hiroji I (the thief Mokuzu no Sanpei), Segawa Kikunojô I (Sanpei's wife), Ichikawa Ebizô II (Gotô Saemon), Ichimura Takenojô IV (Oguri Hangan) and Ichikawa Danjûrô III (Ike no Shôji).

Fall 1736: Ôtani Hiroji I and the Segawa brothers, Kikunojô and Kikujirô, moved to the Nakamuraza.

11th lunar month of 1736: Kikujirô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Tomi Sesshôseki".

1st lunar month of 1737: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Tegoshi no Shôshô in the new year sogamono drama "Hatsuhikage Maizuru Soga".

9th lunar month of 1737: onagori kyôgen at the Nakamuraza; Kikujirô played the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

Fall 1737: Ôtani Hiroji I, Segawa Kikunojô I and Kikujirô went together to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1737: Kikujirô performed in Kyôto with his brother Kikunojô in the kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Kamiyo no Kagami", which was produced by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II (who celebrated his shûmei) at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; their stage partners were Anegawa Shinshirô I, Shinozuka Kazaemon, Yamanaka Heijûrô I, Arashi Sanshirô III and Somenoi Utamatsu.

2nd lunar month of 1738: the Segawa brothers performed in the same theater in the play "Shimada Kagekiyo", which was a big audience failure.

2nd lunar month of 1738: premiere in Kyôto of Matsuda Bunkôdô's drama "Yukihira Isonare Matsu"; Kikujirô played the role of the ama Murasame [more details].

11th lunar month of 1738: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Neko no Ko no Koneko".

5th lunar month of 1739: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was produced in Kyôto by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II for the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô at the Minamigawa no Shibai; Kikujirô played the role of Chidori [casting].

Fall 1739: Kikujirô went to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1739: Kikujirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Shinzaemon's daughter Okiku in the kaomise drama "Miyakozome Kaoru Hachinoki"; his stage partners were Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô II and Sawamura Sôjûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1740: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Ise no Oishi in the drama "Jokun'ô Mukaeshi".

11th lunar month of 1740: Kikujirô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of the courtesan Katsuragi (Nagoya Sanza's lover) in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Moheiji; Kikujirô's stage partners in the roles of Nagoya Sanza and Fuwa Banzaemon were Sawamura Sôjûrô I and Bandô Hikosaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga"; his stage partner in the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô was Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Kikujirô, in duo with Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, achieved a great success in the same theater in a "Musume Dôjôji" dance.

8th lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô played in the same theater the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ('The Revenge of the Outcast Woman'). His performance was a great success.

11th lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of the double of Ono no Komachi and Funawaka Gorô's wife in the kaomise drama "Sugatae Onna Narihira".

1st lunar month of 1742: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Hata Emon's wife in the new year sogamono drama "Fuji Miru Sato Sakae Soga"; the role of Hata Emon was played by Ôtani Hiroji I.

Fall 1742: Kikujirô went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1742: Kikujirô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Murasame in the kaomise drama "Sangoku Denrai no Ishi", which was produced by Iwai Hanshirô III; his stage partners were Mimasu Daigorô I, Yamashita Kinsaku I and Mihogi Gizaemon I.

1st lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

2nd lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the drama "Renri no Higan Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô performed one more time, in the same theater, the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ('The Revenge of the Outcast Woman').

7th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô played in the same theater the great role of Onna Narukami in the drama "Onna Narukami Furiwake Soga". He also played one more time the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ('The Revenge of the Outcast Woman').

Fall 1743: Kikujirô and his disciple Segawa Somematsu went together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Ishizue Taiheiki", which also celebrated the arrival in Edo of the actor Tamiya Jûzaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô played in the same theater the roles of Akoya, the courtesan Miura no Takao and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year sogamono drama "Nanakusa Wakayagi Soga".

7th lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Okuni, the legendary woman who created Kabuki, in the drama "Kaibyaku Imagawajô".

11th lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô moved to the Nakamuraza, where his brother was the leading onnagata, and performed in the kaomise drama "Kachô Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Kudô Suketsune's daughter Shiragiku in the new year sogamono drama "Hagoromo Kotobuki Soga"; the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune was played by Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

9th lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Osome in the drama "Higashiyama Dono Takara no Ishizue"; his stage partner in the role of Hisamatsu, Osome's lover, was Sanogawa Ichimatsu I.

11th lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Suehiro Izu Nikki", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Fujikawa Heikurô and the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroemon II and Nakamura Denkurô II.

1st lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Danshichi's wife Kiku in the new year sogamono drama "Fuji no Yuki Mitsugi Soga".

6th lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Goheiji's wife in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

11th lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Daizen's daughter Oyuki in the kaomise drama "Aioi Izu Nikki", which celebrated the arrival at the Ichimuraza the Kamigata actors Iwai Hanshirô III and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Yatsuhashi in the new year sogamono drama "Tamakushige Yosooi Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1747: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was performed for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Kikujirô played the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo [casting]; his stage partner in the role of Matsuômaru was Nakamura Sukegorô I.

5th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Onna Kan Shôjô Utsutsu no Narukami", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" world. His stage partner in the role of Matsuômaru (Chiyo's husband) was Nakamura Sukegorô I.

8th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Inu no Tsubone in the drama "Mangetsu Oguri Yakata".

11th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô played at the Ichimuraza the role of Hasebe Chôbê's wife in the kaomise drama "Shusse Momijigari"; his stage partner in the role of Hasebe Chôbê was Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1748: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Katsuragi in the new year sogamono drama "Mon-zukushi Nagoya Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and Nagoya Sanza were Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

Spring 1748: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partner in the role of Matsuômarsu (Chiyo's wife) was Nakamura Sukegorô I.

11th lunar month of 1748: Kikujirô moved to the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Shunkan's sister in the kaomise drama "Onna Moji Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was kantô-dai-jô-jô-kichi (leadoff - grand - superior - superior - excellent). Kikujirô played in the same theater the roles of Shigetada's wife and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year sogamono drama "Otoko Moji Soga Monogatari".

3rd lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Ie Zakura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Ebizô II (Sukeroku), Nakamura Shichisaburô II (the sake-seller) and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I (Ikyû).

6th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Kikujirô played the role of Osono [casting].

2nd day of the 9th lunar month of 1749 ^[2]: his elder brother Segawa Kikunojô I died.

11th lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Hikoshichi's sister Shirotae in the kaomise drama "Onnô Taiheiki"; his stage partner in the role of Ômori Hikoshichi was Nakamura Denkurô II.

1st lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Koume in the new year sogamono drama "Ôkazari Saiwai Soga".

4th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô's wife Karaito in the drama "Shigetada Kariba Nikki"; his stage partner in the role of Kyô no Jirô was Ichikawa Ebizô II.

5th lunar month of 1750: Kôshirô played in the same theater the role of Ran-no-Kata in the drama "Shio Mitsutama Kazaori Komachi".

9th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô took part in the special program "Kanadehon Shijûshichiji" commemorating the first anniversary of the passing away of Segawa Kikunojô I.

11th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Hotoke Gozen in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Wakaki no Ume Taira no Kiyomori".

1st lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô played in the same theater the roles of Mankô and Osugi in the new year sogamono drama "Izu Kosode Shôbai Kagami".

7th lunar month of 1751: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna"; Kikujirô played the role of Shigenoi [casting].

9th lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô achieved in the same theater a great success by playing the role of the courtesan Katsuragi in the drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya"; his stage partner in the role of Nagoya Sanza, Katsuragi's lover, was Sawamura Chôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Jônosuke's wife Asaoka in the kaomise drama "Honryô Hachinoki-zome"; his stage partner in the role of Akita Jônosuke was Matsumoto Kôshirô II.

1st lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô played the role of Oniô Shinzaemon's sister in the new year sogamono drama "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga". He also performed at the end of the program the leading role of "Onna Narukami".

4th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô played in the same theater the roles of Sagami, Iwa and Sugawaradayû in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; his stage partner in the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane was Matsumoto Kôshirô II.

7th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Adachiya no Kurozuka in the drama "Moro Tazuna Ôshû Kuro"; his stage partners were Matsumoto Kôshirô II (Abe no Sadatô), Nakamura Sukegorô I (Abe no Munetô) and Fujikawa Heikurô (Toriumi Gengorô).

11th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Akazawayama Sumô Nikki".

1st lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Otokodate Hatsugai Soga".

9th lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Katakiuchi Iwao no Kikusui".

11th lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Oguruma in the kaomise drama "Kamuri Kurabe Yatsushi Kuronushi", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the actor Kasaya Matakurô I.

1st lunar month of 1754: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Ofusa in the new year sogamono drama "Satsuki Matsu Soga no Tachibana".

3rd lunar month of 1754: the play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" was staged at the Ichimuraza but it was a commercial failure. Kikujirô performed the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ('The Revenge of the Outcast Woman') and it was a success.

5th lunar month of 1754: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Fujitsubo no Naishi in the drama "San no Tomi Genji Rokujô Gayoi".

11th lunar month of 1754: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza; Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Matsumoto Kôzô respectively took the names of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô III. Kikujirô played the role of Mankô in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki".

1st lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Watônai's wife and the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô in the new year sogamono drama "Waka Midori Nishiki Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Watônai and Soga Gorô (Shôshô's lover) were Nakamura Sukegorô I and Ichikawa Yaozô I.

3rd lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Narukami Shônin Kitayama Zakura" [print]; the role of the wicked priest Narukami was played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV.

8th lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Matsubaya Somenosuke in the drama "Shida Chôja Bashira".

11th lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the role of Mankô in the kaomise drama "Kashiwa-ga-Tôge Kichirei Sumô".

3rd lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô performed in the same theater in the drama "Gonin Otoko Toshidama Monzukushi Kakeai".

7th lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô played in the same theater the role of Chiyo in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Shinjû Yoi Gôshin"; his stage partner in the role of Hanbê was Ichimura Kamezô I.

11th lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he performed in the drama "Kaeribana Kon'ô Zakura", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Kikunojô II. Kikujirô suddenly fell ill.

13th day of the 11th lunar month of 1756 ^[1]: Kikujirô died in Edo ^[3].

Comments:

Segawa Kikujirô I was an outstanding onnagata actor, who started his career in Kamigata and won fame for himself in Edo. Although he did not surpass his amazing brother Segawa Kikunojô I, he was excellent in courtesan, lover, chivalrous woman and onna karô roles and he was appreciated by the audience in both Jidaimono and Sewamono, especially in tragic or woman jealousy scenes. His elocution was impeccable.

Best roles: Yaoya Oshichi, the courtesan Agemaki ("Sukeroku"), Shigenoi, Ôiso no Tora, Kuzu-no-Ha, Onna Narukami, Onna Shunkan, the leading role of "Mugen no Kane".

[1] The 13th day of the 11th lunar month of the 6th year of the Hôreki era was the 4th of December 1756 in the western calendar.

[2] The 2nd day of the 9th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kan'en era was the 12th of October 1749 in the western calendar.

[3] Segawa Kikujirô I's tombstone was located in the precinct of the Daiunji Temple in the district of Oshiage.

The Actor Segawa Kikujirô I as Oshichi in the play “Shôchikubai Kongen Soga”, performed at the Ichimura Theater in the third month, 1732
Artist: Nishimura Shigenobu
Date: 1732
The Art Institute of Chicago (print in the public domain)

Prints & Illustrations