Stage name:

Bandô Kunigorô I

Guild: Awaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Blazon: Tachibana (the wood sorrel)

Existence: ???

Connection:

Master/father-in-law: Bandô Matakurô II

Brother: Bandô Iwagorô

Career:

Before 1743: dates of birth and death unknown. Born in Ôsaka, he was the brother of Bandô Iwagorô. He settled in Edo where he became the disciple of Bandô Matakurô II. He was a travelling actor for a while.

Fall 1743: Kunigorô settled in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1743: he he became katakiyaku, playing in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater two villains roles in the kaomise drama "Yomeiri Ôshimadai", which was produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I. This was his first-recorded stage performance in Kamigata ôshibai.

Summer 1749: successful tour in Ise.

11th lunar month of 1749: Kunigorô played the role of Banba no Chûta at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Fûryû Gosho Zakura", which was produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

1st lunar month of 1750: Kunigorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Nakamura Danzô.

11th lunar month of 1754: Kunigorô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Tezuka Satoemon in the kaomise drama "Uda Genji Asahi no Menbako", which was produced by Wakayama Bunshichi.

11th lunar month of 1755: Kunigorô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Chidori Hamaemon in the kaomise drama "Jidai Sewa Kogane no Hanazoroe", which was produced by Bandô Toyosaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1756: Kunigorô played at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Kugami Tanbê [picture] in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Daimatsu Kyokusuke Tanzen Roppô", which was produced by Daimatsu Kyokusuke.

1st lunar month of 1757: premiere at the Ônishi no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Kikigaki Ôrai"; Kunigorô played the role of the yakko Haruhei [casting].

11th lunar month of 1757: Kunigorô played the role of Ôba Saburô in the kaomise drama "Sakiwake Musha Kôbai no Tazuna", which was produced by Anegawa Shinshirô II at the Naka no Shibai and celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Raisuke I.

1st lunar month of 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act maruhonmono drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi" in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Kunigorô played the role of Taira no Kiyomori [casting].

Fall 1758: Kunigorô went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1758: Kunigorô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of the shichô Tokusuke, in reality Awadaguchi Tômanojô, in the kaomise drama "Inari Yakata Irifune no Arashi", which is produced by Arashi Sangorô II.

1st lunar month of 1759: Kunigorô played in the same theater the role of an evil oshô [picture] in Fujikawa Sanpachi's ni-no-kawari drama "Shima Gasane Keisei Zakura".

Fall 1759: Kunigorô went back to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1759: Kunigorô performed at the Kado no Shibai in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Saiwai Genji Chôkyû no Maki", which was produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I, celebrated the comeback in Kamigata of Nakamura Tomijûrô I and the shûmei of Arashi Koisa II.

1st lunar month of 1760: Kunigorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi [visual].

11th lunar month of 1760: Kunigorô became jitsuaku and played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Makinoshima Okuzaemon in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Toshitoku Môde", which was produced by Anegawa Shinshirô II.

1st lunar month of 1761: Kunigorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1761: Kunigorô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Sudô Kuhachirô in the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi". This was most likely his last-recorded stage performance in ôshibai. No record afterwards.

Comments:

Bandô Kunigorô I was a popular Ôsaka katakiyaku and jitsuaku actor, who was active in his native city from the end of the 1740s to the beginning of the 1760s. He was jitsuaku only for one season. He had a great stage presence and his kôseki was highly-praised.

Bandô Kunigorô I playing the role of Ôba Saburô in the kaomise drama "Sakiwake Musha Kôbai no Tazuna", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1757 at the Naka no Shibai

Prints & Illustrations

The Bandô Kunigorô line of actors