Pen names:

Masuyama Kinpachi I
Masuyama Taroshichi
Masuyama Kinpachi I
Kanai Kinpachi

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Gozan

Existence: ??? ~ 1798

Connection:

Master: Kanai Sanshô

Disciples: Yanagawa Chûzô, Hon'ya Sôshichi, Geki Shinsen I, Masuyama Chûji

Career:

11th lunar month of 1762: Kinpachi worked for the tatesakusha Kanai Sanshô at the Nakamuraza, along with Okuno Sasuke, Kanai Sanpei II and Kanai Kinji, on the kaomise drama "Nagi no Ha Izu no Sugatami", which celebrated the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroemon III, Ichikawa Somegorô I and Nakajima Kanzaemon III.

11th lunar month of 1763: he took the name of Masuyama Kinpachi I and worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Kanai Sanshô, Sei Hidesuke, Nakamura Tôkitsu, Hata Bunsuke, Kanai Sanpei II and Kawai Kinji, on the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II.

11th lunar month of 1765: Kinpachi worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Nakamura Jûsuke II, Ida Sorobê, Dontsû Yosabê I and Nakamura Sadasuke, on the kaomise drama "Kagura Uta Amagoi Komachi", which celebrated the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô IV.

11th lunar month of 1766: Kinpachi worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Kadota Sorobê, Dontsû Yosabê I, Nakamura Jûsuke II, Kawatake Shinshichi I and Sei Hidesuke, on the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Kirishima Gizaemon I.

1st lunar month of 1767: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year drama "Hatsu Akinai Ômise Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Kirishima Gizaemon I, Ichikawa Benzô I and Ichikawa Komazô II.

11th lunar month of 1768: Kinpachi worked, along with the sakusha Dontsû Yosabê I, Okuno Sasuke, Kawatake Shinshichi I and Hirata Bunji, at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon I and the shûmei of Osagawa Tsuneyo II.

11th lunar month of 1769: Kinpachi worked, along with the tatesakusha Kanai Sanshô and the sakusha Kawai Kinji, Naka Kiichi and Umeda Toshisuke, at the Ichimuraza on the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Ume no Kaomise", which welcomed in Edo the actors Onoe Kikugorô I, Ôtani Tomoemon I, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I and Onoe Tamizô I.

11th lunar month of 1772: Kinpachi worked at the Moritaza, along with Horikoshi Saiyô, Sei Basetsu, Nakamura Torahachi, Kasanui Sensuke I and Sei Hidezô, on the kaomise drama "Izu Goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu", which celebrated the shûmei of Sawamura Chôjûrô IV, Sawamura Kijûrô II and Mikuni Fujigorô.

11th lunar month of 1773: Kinpachi worked at the Moritaza, along with the tatesakusha Horikoshi Saiyô and the sakusha Kasanui Sensuke I, Yamada Heizô, Sawai Chûzô and Hasegawa Zenkichi, on the kaomise drama "Onna Aruji Hatsuyuki no Sekai".

11th lunar month of 1774: Kinpachi worked at the Moritaza, along with Sei Basetsu, Kasanui Sensuke I and Taguchi Kinzô, on the kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Tsuki no Kaomise", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakamura Shingorô II.

11th lunar month of 1775: Kinpachi worked at the Moritaza, along with Nakamura Jûsuke II and Hirota Basetsu, on the kaomise drama "Kikujidô Shuen no Iwaya".

11th lunar month of 1776: Kinpachi worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Horikoshi Nisôji I, Okuno Sasuke, Namiki Risuke and Horikoshi Kikuji, on the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise".

11th lunar month of 1778: Kinpachi worked at the Ichimuraza on the kaomise drama "Sakimasuya Ume no Kachidoki", which welcomed in Edo the actor Onoe Kikugorô I.

11th lunar month of 1779: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Eiyû Taiheiki", which celebrated the shûmei of Yamashita Mangiku I.

Fall 1780: Kinpachi went to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1780: Kinpachi worked, along with Nagawa Kamesuke I and Chikamatsu Tokuzô, at the Naka no Shibai on the kaomise drama "Mô Mô Yokaro Ushi no Tamamono", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango and welcomed back in Ôsaka the actor Yamashita Kinsaku II after 11 seasons spent in Edo.

12th lunar month of 1781: Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura" was staged for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. A similar play was written by Nagawa Shimesuke I and Kinpachi, and staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai [casting], opening a competition between the two theaters for the best performance and the best line-up. The performance at the Kado no Shibai was a huge success and a long run. Unfortunately for Kinpachi, the performance at the Naka no Shibai was a commercial failure.

11th lunar month of 1782: he took the name of Masuyama Taroshichi and worked at the Kado no Shibai on the kaomise drama "Yamato Moji Sansai Zue", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango.

1st lunar month of 1784: Taroshichi worked at the Kado no Shibai on the kaomise drama "Hôraisan Gyôkei no Kaomise", which was produced by Fujikawa Kikumatsu.

Fall 1784: he went back to Edo and took back the name of Masuyama Kinpachi I.

11th lunar month of 1784: Kinpachi worked, along with Sakurada Jisuke I, at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Ôakinai Hiru-ga-Kojima", which celebrated the shûmei of Sanogawa Ichimatsu III and the return in Edo of Ôtani Hiroemon III.

1st lunar month of 1785: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Hatsuhana Mimasu Soga"; the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Yaozô II and Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1785: Kinpachi worked at the Nakamuraza, along with Nakamura Jûsuke II and Takarada Jurai, on the kaomise drama "Yuki Motsu Take Furisode Genji".

11th lunar month of 1786: Kinpachi worked at the Kiriza on the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Izu no Hataage", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Kojûrô VI who took back the name of Nakamura Nakazô I.

11th lunar month of 1788: Kinpachi worked with the tatesakusha Segawa Jokô I at the Ichimuraza, which reopened after a few years of business interruption, on the kaomise drama "Genji Saikô Kogane no Tachibana", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Asao Tamejûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1789: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Koi no Yosuga Kanagaki Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1789: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha, along with Sone Shôji, Tamamaki Keisuke and Kasanui Sensuke I, at the Ichimuraza on the kaomise drama "Hana no Oedo Masakado Matsuri".

11th lunar month of 1790: Kinpachi worked with the tatesakusha Sakurada Jisuke I at the Nakamuraza on the kaomise drama "Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane", which welcomed back in Edo the actor Ichikawa Yaozô III and welcomed the Kamigata actors Tanimura Torazô and Nakamura Kumetarô II.

1st lunar month of 1791: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the Nagauta-based dance "Taimen Hana no Harukoma", which was staged at the end of the new year sogamono drama "Haru no Sekai Nigiwai Soga"; the lyrics were written by Kinpachi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1791: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha at the Kawarasakiza on the kaomise drama "Mieikô Nori no Hachinoki". The main role of the "Onna Shibaraku" part ("Lady wait for a moment", a parody of the bombastic play "Shibaraku") was played by Iwai Hanshirô IV; "Hanshirô IV made the normal entry down the walkway through the audience (hanamichi), wearing the "Shibaraku" costume decorated with the large square crests of the Ichikawa family. Just as he was about to accost evil Prince Munetaka on the main stage, his fellow actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II climbed up from the front row of the audience and interrupted, calling out, "Aren't you my younger sister Onaka?" Piece by piece, the "Shibaraku" costume was removed and the makeup was washed off, to reveal a precocious young girl wearing a long hanging-sleeved kimono (furisode) beneath! This unexpected development in the hackneyed "Shibaraku" was well received" (from "The Actor's Image").

1st lunar month of 1792: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year drama "Keisei Kogane no Hakarime".

4th lunar month of 1792: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of the dance "Tenaraiko", which was performed by the star Iwai Hanshirô IV as part of a seven-role hengemono entitled "Kakitsubata Nanae no Someginu"; the lyrics were written by Kinpachi.

5th lunar month of 1792: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the drama "Chûshinden Shikata Kôshaku", a chûshinguramono; the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Teraoka Heiemon, Kinai, Kô no Moronô, Amakawaya Gihei, Manzai and Tokumata were played by Ôtani Hiroji III.

11th lunar month of 1792: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha at the Kawarasakiza on the kaomise drama "Ôfuna Moriebi no Kaomise". This drama was considered as Kinpachi's masterpiece and it was a great vehicle for the star Iwai Hanshirô IV who played the famous role of Mikazuki Osen.

1st lunar month of 1793: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Gozen Gakari Sumô Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Ebizô, Ichikawa Omezô I and Bandô Mitsugorô II.

11th lunar month of 1793: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha at the Kawarasakiza on the kaomise drama "Nigiwai Genji Hana Saku Mon".

11th lunar month of 1794: Kinpachi did not take part in any kaomise in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1795: Kinpachi worked with the tatesakusha Sakurada Jisuke I at the Miyakoza on the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Yuki no Yoshitsune".

1st lunar month of 1796: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Furiwakegami Aoyagi Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Nakamura Nakazô I, Ichikawa Yaozô III and Bandô Hikosaburô III.

11th lunar month of 1796: Kinpachi worked as a tatesakusha at the Miyakoza on the kaomise drama "Seiwa Nidai Ôyose Genji", which celebrated the isse ichidai performance of Ichikawa Ebizô, the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô V and which welcomed back in Edo the actor Iwai Hanshirô IV.

1st lunar month of 1797: Kinpachi worked in the same theater on the new year sogamono drama "Edo no Haru Kichirei Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Ichikawa Yaozô III.

16th day of the 6th lunar month of 1797 ^[1]: his master Kanai Sanshô died.

11th lunar month of 1797: Kinpachi did not take part in any kaomise in Edo.

1798: Kinpachi died in Edo.

Comments:

Masuyama Kinpachi I was an Edo sakusha, who was active from the beginning of the 1760s to the end of the 1790s. Two of his creations are still in the Kabuki repertoire: "Harukoma" and "Tenaraiko".

[1] The 16th day of the 6th lunar month of the 9th year of the Kansei era was the 10th of July 1797 in the western calendar.

The name of Masuyama Kinpachi I in a 1793 Edo hyôbanki (the name within the red box); all the names were the sakusha at the Ichimuraza (right block) or the Kawarasakiza (left block)

The Masuyama Kinpachi line of playwrights