Stage names:

Ichikawa Komazô X
Bandô Keizô I

Real name: Hike Keizô

Guilds: Kôraiya, Yamatoya

Line number: JÛDAIME (X)

Existence: 27 November 1925 ~ 19 March 1981

Connections:

Grandfather: Bandô Shûchô II

Father: Bandô Shûchô III

Master: Matsumoto Hakuô

Brothers: Bandô Matatarô VII, Bandô Mitsugorô IX

Son: Bandô Shûchô V

Career:

27 November 1925: born in Tôkyô.

1927: first stage appearance on tour in the island of Kyûshû; he played the role of Kantarô in the drama "Shigure no Kotatsu".

April 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mayama Seika's ninjômono drama "Edoe Ryôgoku Hakkei" (commonly called "Arakawa no Sakichi"); Keizô played the role of Oshin's son Unokichi [casting].

22 September 1935: his father Bandô Shûchô III died.

May 1938: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Mayama Seika's drama "Katsu Awa no Chichi"; Keizô played the role of Katsu Rintarô [more details].

December 1946: Keizô was a member of the Kabuki troupe which celebrated the reopening of the rebuilt Mitsukoshi Gekijô [more details].

July 1954: Keizô played in alternance with Sawamura Tosshô V the roles of Omiwa or Princess Tachibana in the dance-drama "Negai no Ito Enishi no Odamaki", which was staged at the Kabukiza; the role of Motome was played by Nakamura Shibajaku VI. He received the prize of President Ótani (Shôchiku Company) as a reward for his performance in this dance.

Fall 1954: he became disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII.

September 1954: Bandô Keizô I took the name of Ichikawa Komazô X at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the shishi cud in the dance "Renjishi"; the role of the shishi parent was played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII.

February 1955: second edition at the Kabukiza from the 24th to the 27th of February of the Tsubomikai, a study group led by Nakamura Utaemon VI [more details]. It included the revival of Sakurada Jisuke I's dance-drama "Kumo no Hyôshimai" (entitled "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi") [casting] and the premiere of Mishima Yukio's dance-drama "Yuya" [casting]; Komazô played the roles of the jijo Sawarabi and the catfish priest Raiun in "Yuya" and "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi".

March 1955: Hasegawa Shin's drama "Ori" was staged with a full Kabuki casting for the first time, in Tôkyô at the Meijiza; Komazô played the role of the yaneya Sukeshichi [more details].

July 1956: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", commonly called "Onna Seigen"; Komazô played the role of Princess Sakura [more details].

April 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Onizoroi Momijigari"; Komazô played the role of a female retainer, in reality a female demon [casting].

March 1961: the actors Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and Nakamura Shikaku II signed exclusive contracts with the Tôhô Company and left the Shôchiku Company; Komazô followed his master.

December 1966: second month of the opening ceremony of the National Theater with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" in which Komazô played the role of Haru [casting].

February 1967: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Dattan"; Komazô played the role of a rengyôshû [casting].

August 1979: Komazô appeared on a Kabuki stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the National Theatre, where he played the role of Sasagawa Gunzô in the drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri".

19 March 1981: Komazô died in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Ichikawa Komazô X was a 20th century promising actor, who was able to perform as a tachiyaku or an onnagata. His most notable performance was not on Kabuki stages but in Television, as he was the first actor to play the leading role of the mythical Television series "Kurama Tengu".

The mon of Ichikawa Komazô X

The Bandô Keizô line of actors

The Ichikawa Komazô line of actors