Stage names:

Sawamura Kunitarô I
Sawamura Chôkichi

Other name:

Shinrokan Ebimaro

Guilds: Tenmaya, Mikasaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kitô

Existence: 1739 ~ 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of 1818 ^[1]

Connections:

Father: Sawamura Chôshirô I

Disciples: Sawamura Takegorô, Sawamura Kunizô, Sawamura Tôkichi, Sawamura Chidori, Sawamura Hinadori, Sawamura Kichimatsu, Sawamura Takichi (??)

Career:

1739 ~ 1748: born in Kamigata. His father Sawamura Chôshirô I was a disciple of the star Sawamura Sôjûrô I. He started his career playing under the name of Sawamura Chôkichi. Later on, he took the name of Sawamura Kunitarô I at an unknown date. Sadoshima Chôgorô I taught him his dancing techniques.

11th lunar month of 1748: Kunitarô performed in Kyôto in the drama "Mitsu Uroko Asahi no Ume", which was produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô I. He also achieved a great success by performing a sanbasô dance.

11th lunar month of 1750: Kunitarô became wakashugata and performed in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Wagô Hanayakata", which was produced in Kyôto by Hayagumo Handayû. He achieved one more time a great success by performing a sanbasô dance.

11th lunar month of 1751: Kunitarô achieved a great success at the Minamigawa no Shibai by playing the role of the fox spirit of the Inari Shrine and dancing in the style of Sadoshima Chôgorô I in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Asahi no Nishiki", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.

11th lunar month of 1753: Kunitarô became zamoto in Kyôto, working with the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô. He produced the kaomise drama "Futaba no Nishiki Midori no Onikage"; his stage partners were the actors Somematsu Shichisaburô I, Sakata Tôjûrô III, Fujioka Daikichi, Imamura Shichisaburô II, Arashi Tominosuke I, Onoe Montarô, Tatsuoka Hisagiku and Bandô Sukesaburô I; Kunitarô played the role of the courtesan Shiragiku.

2nd lunar month of 1755: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts puppet theater drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri", which was produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai as a kaomise drama; Kunitarô played the role of Daroku's sister Onui [casting].

12th lunar month of 1755: Kunitarô played the role of Honzô's daughter Konami in the drama "Homare Otoko Mandai Gura", which was produced in Kyôto by Naniwa Matsunosuke.

11th lunar month of 1756: Kunitarô became zamoto in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, working for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû; he produced the kaomise drama "Daimyô Bimandai Kuniiri Kamakura Kagami". He also produced from the 15th day the drama "Kai Genji Sakura Gunbai".

11th lunar month of 1757: Kunitarô and Somematsu Matsujirô produced together the kaomise drama "Ôyashiro Musubu no Sanban Tsuzuki", which was staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû. They also produced the drama "Kitano no Goengi Senbon Ume".

1st lunar month of 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", which was simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]. It used its real title at the former theater but it was entitled "Keisei Niwatoriyama" at the latter theater; Kunitarô played in the former theater the role of Kichô-no-Mae.

11th lunar month of 1758: Kunitarô and Somematsu Shichisaburô I coproduced at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Homare Musha Senri no Kachidoki".

11th lunar month of 1759: Kunitarô produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise program "Hônen no Miyako Mutsuki no Kotobuki", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Jûzô II and Matsuya Shinjûrô.

5th lunar month of 1760: Kunitarô produced Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû" at the Minamigawa no Shibai, working with the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô. The roles of Hiranoya Tokubê and the courtesan Ohatsu were played by Arashi Sangorô II and Nakamura Kiyosaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1760: Kunitarô produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ôshimadai Kitsune no Mukoiri".

11th lunar month of 1761: Kunitarô produced at Kameya Kumenojô's theater Amano Kyûshichi's kaomise drama "Mineiri Futaba Genji".

11th lunar month of 1762: Kunitarô coproduced with Onoe Montarô at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Tenka Taihei Kogane no Kurairi".

11th lunar month of 1763: Kunitarô produced in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Shôchikubai Ôshimadai".

1764: Kunitarô and the playwright Sakurada Jisuke I went together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1764: Kunitarô achieved a great success at the Moritaza by performing in the kaomise drama "Gyosei Kanatami no Megumi"; his stage partners were Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroemon III, Morita Kan'ya VI and Osagawa Tsuneyo I.

Fall 1765: Kunitarô went back to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1765: Kunitarô played the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Hanayagura Kikigaki Taiheiki", which was produced by Anegawa Kikuhachi at the Wakadayû no Shibai.

12th lunar month of 1767: Kunitarô played the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged for the first time at the Kado no Shibai [casting].

5th lunar month of 1770: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's gidayû kyôgen "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The play was staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Kunitarô played the role of Kagaribi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1770: Kunitarô settled in Kyôto and played the role of Chigusa in the kaomise drama "Sakae Genji Gojin no Kachidoki", which was produced at the Kitagawa no Shibai by Mimasu Tokujirô I.

3rd ~ 5th lunar months of 1771: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kunitarô played the roles of Hinadori and Okiji [casting].

11th lunar month of 1773: Kunitarô went back to Ôsaka and played the role of Kyô no Tsukasa in the kaomise drama "Medetai Uchimashô", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I at the Kado no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1774: Kunitarô played 3 roles at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi".

1st lunar month of 1775: Kunitarô was kanjiku for the wakaonnagata actors in the Ôsaka hyôbanki.

8th lunar month of 1775: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Kunitarô played the role of Iwagawa's wife Otowa [more details].

Fall 1776: Kunitarô fell sick.

12th lunar month of 1776: Kunitarô played the role of the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû", which was produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I at the Kado no Shibai for the nadai Ôsaka Tazaemon; the role of Hiranoya Tokubê was played by Ogawa Kichitarô I.

1st lunar month of 1777: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

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; Kunitarô played the roles of Matsugae, Shôgetsuin, Izayoi and Tonami [casting].

11th lunar month of 1777: Kunitarô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Daijizai Kaminari no Kodakara", which was produced by Ichiyama Tajirô, celebrated the shûmei of Yamashita Kamenojô IV and welcomed back in Ôsaka the star Arashi Sangorô II after 3 and 7 seasons spent in Kyôto and Edo.

12th lunar month of 1777: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of the keisei Meigetsu in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Suô no Dairi".

9th lunar month of 1778: Kunitarô played the roles of Tonami, Kakuju and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was produced by Ichiyama Tajirô at the Naka no Shibai; his stage partners were Nakamura Utaemon I (Matsuômaru), Arashi Kichisaburô I (Shiratayû, Genzô, Terukuni), Yamashita Kamenojô IV (Tatsuta, Haru), Nakamura Jiroza II (Hyôei, Mareyo), Arashi Shichisaburô II (Umeômaru), Bandô Iwagorô (Shihei, Shundô Genba), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Kan Shôjô, Chiyo) and Arashi Sangorô II (Sakuramaru).

11th lunar month of 1778: Kunitarô went to Kyôto and played the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Etari Kashikoshi Hangan Biiki", which was produced by Mimasu Jirokichi at the Minamigawa no Shiba.

1st lunar month of 1779: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1779: Kunitarô played in the kaomise drama "Miyako Han'ei Nanshi no Hiraki Hajime", which was produced in Kyôto by Nakayama Ihachi I at the theater of Kameya Kumenojô and Hayagumo Chôdayû.

1st lunar month of 1780: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Oyoshi and the courtesan Meigetsu in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Ôuchi no Hinagata".

5th lunar month of 1780: Kunitarô went to Edo to play at the Ichimuraza but the theater was in trouble and the performances were cancelled.

6th lunar month of 1780: Kunitarô went on tour in the Sahara area ^[2].

Fall 1780: Kunitarô went back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1780: Kunitarô played the role of Yatsuhashi in the kaomise drama "Sono Uwasa Kiku no Hataage", which was produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1781: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Otane and Princess Otozuru in the new year drama "Miyako no Hama Ogi".

3rd lunar month of 1781: tour in Ise with Arashi Sangorô II.

6th lunar month of 1781: Kunitarô played the roles of Osato, Shizuka Gozen and Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; his main stage partner was Arashi Sangorô II, who played the roles of Yasuke, Tokaiya Ginpei, Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô.

9th lunar month of 1781: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugorô I (Enju, Shigetada), Arashi Hinasuke I (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon, Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu), Arashi Sangorô II (Kajiwara Genta Kagesue), Shibazaki Rinzaemon II (Takatsuna, Gonshirô), Arashi San'emon VI (Ofude) and Anegawa Minato II (Oyoshi).

11th lunar month of 1781: Kunitarô played 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû", which was produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1782: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He played in the same theater the role of the courtesan Okaji in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chikugo-ga-Fuchi". He also played at the end of the program the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri, in duo with Arashi Sangorô II, who played the role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon.

3rd lunar month of 1782: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Okaru and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

Summer 1782: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1782: Kunitarô went to Ôsaka and performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Yamato Moji Sansai Zue", which was produced by Fujikawa Sango.

12th lunar month of 1782: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko"; Kunitarô played the roles of the Ashikaga koshimoto Sekiya (in reality Princess Uesugi Hisakata) and the keisei Azumaji [more details].

1st lunar month of 1783: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

7th lunar month of 1783: the play "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Kunitarô played the role of Onoe [casting].

12th lunar month of 1783: Kunitarô played the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was produced by Arashi Tanin at the Naka no Shibai. The sudden passing away of the star Onoe Kikugorô I casted a pall over the performance.

1st lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Kunitarô played the roles of Princess Yayoi, Kanzaemon's sister Komaki and Osai [casting].

4th lunar month of 1784: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

5th lunar month of 1784: Kunitarô and Arashi Sangorô II went together to Kyôto.

Fall 1784: Kunitarô and Arashi Sangorô II performed together in the dance "Chô no Michiyuki", which was produced in Kyôto by Nakayama Raisuke II.

11th lunar month of 1784: Kunitarô played in Kyôto at the Nishi no Shibai the role of the dancing girl Tamagiku in Tatsuoka Mansaku's kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ôshimadai", which was produced by Nakayama Ihachi II.

1st lunar month of 1785: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

Fall 1785: tour in the Bicchû province (western part of the current Okayama Prefecture).

11th lunar month of 1785: Kunitarô performed in the drama "Hôjô Jiraiki", which was produced in Kyôto by Arashi Hidenosuke I. He suddenly fell ill and could not perform in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1786: short stay in Ôsaka; Kunitarô played the roles of Kureba and Hanazono in the new year drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi", which was produced by Arashi Umanosuke at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1786: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Misao Gozen in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi". He also played the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in the drama "Yûgiri no Tsuki", in duo with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, who played the role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon.

8th lunar month of 1787: Namiki Gohê's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", which was premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1787 at the Naka no Shibai [casting], was staged for the first time in Kyôto; Kunitarô played the role of Ichimisai's elder daughter Osono [casting].

2nd lunar month of 1788: premiere at the Ônishi no Shibai of the drama "Gishinden Yomikiri Kôshaku"; Kunitarô played the roles of the koshimoto Otaka and Oran-no-Kata [more details]. It was supposed to be staged first in Kyôto at the beginning of the month at the Nishi no Shibai but the theater was destroyed by fire the 29th day of the 1st lunar month. The troupe went to Ôsaka to perform at the Ônishi no Shibai and to celebrate the shûmei of Kataoka Nizaemon VII.

1st lunar month of 1789: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

5th lunar month of 1789: Kunitarô played 3 roles in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen", which was produced by Kameya Kikunojô in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.

Summer 1789: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Sodehagi in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".

Fall 1789: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Princess Tatsuta and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1790: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

1st lunar month of 1791: Kunitarô went to Edo and played at the Ichimuraza the role of Maizuru in the drama "Shunshoku Edoe Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1791: Kunitarô went back to Ôsaka and played 3 roles in the drama "Katakiuchi Hinin no Jitsuroku", which was produced by Asao Sennosuke at the Naka no Shibai.

7th lunar month of 1791: Kunitarô played the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was staged at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka).

8th lunar month of 1791: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Tonami and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1791: Kunitarô performed in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shuten Dôji", which was produced by Hanagiri Tomimatsu II at the Naka no Shibai and celebrated the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III. He also played the roles of Tonase and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1792: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

2nd lunar month of 1792: Kunitarô performed in the same theater in the drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû".

4th lunar month of 1794: Kunitarô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Chiyo and Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

9th lunar month of 1794: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Hanazono in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".

11th lunar month of 1794: Kunitarô played 2 roles in Nagawa Shimesuke I's kaomise drama "Kana Utsushi Azuchi Mondô" ^[3], which was produced by Nakayama Yosaburô II at the Naka no Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Tokiwa in the drama "Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki".

3rd lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane was played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

4th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô and Ichikawa Danzô IV went together to Kyôto; Kunitarô played the roles of Okaru, Osono and Oishi in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was produced at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater.

7th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô went back to Ôsaka and played at the Kado no Shibai 2 roles in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".

8th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Kaoyo, Orei, Orie and Otaka in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

9th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Tokubê's wife in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Kikigaki Ôrai"; the role of Tenjiku Tokubê was played by Arashi Koroku III.

10th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

11th lunar month of 1795: Kunitarô played the role of Akashi no Ohama in Chikamatsu Tokuzô's kaomise drama "Ichiban Yari Tôkai Suzuri", which was produced by Fujikawa Hachizô III in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1796: Kunitarô played in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Hana no Ôminato", which was a revised version of the 1789 drama "Tôjin Goroshi".

4th lunar month of 1796: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Hade Kurabe Ishikawa-zome", written by Chikamatsu Tokuzô, Tatsuoka Mansaku and Namiki Shôzô II; Kunitarô played the roles of Yodomachi Gozen and Goemon's nyôbô Oritsu [more details].

Summer 1796: Kunitarô played in Kyôto the role of Kosan in the drama "Sugata Kurabe Deiri no Minato". He also played the roles of Kiku-no-Mae and Fuji-no-Kata in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also played the difficult role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki".

11th lunar month of 1796: common kaomise program for the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto) and the Kado no Shibai (Ôsaka); Kunitarô played the roles of the fox Okiku and Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Yama Katsura Asahi no Menbako", which was staged in Kyôto from the 5th day and in Ôsaka from the 18th day and celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Koisaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

2nd lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played in the same theater the roles of Chidori no Mae and the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in the drama "Momo Chidori Naruto no Shiranami"; The role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon was played by Arashi Sangorô II.

3rd lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played in the same theater 2 roles in the drama "Hana-ha Sakura Akô no Shiogama", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Kanadehon Chûshingura" world. After this production, the troupe moved to Kyôto.

4th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

5th lunar month of 1797: the troupe was back to Ôsaka and Kunitarô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Asakusa Reigenki".

6th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie".

7th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". He also played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Koman in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

8th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Okatsu in the drama "Chikagoro Kawara no Tatehiki".

9th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the drama "Asakusa Reigenki".

10th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô performed in the same theater in the drama "Tsuma Gasane Kansukejima".

11th lunar month of 1797: Kunitarô performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Nanboku Yuki no Miyako".

1st lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô performed in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Hana no Daimonbi".

2nd lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô played in the same theater 3 roles in the drama "Zôho Hôjô Jiraiki".

3rd lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô played the roles of Umegae and Otaka in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku", which were staged in the precinct of the Tenjin Shrine in the district of Tenma (Ôsaka). He also played the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri, in duo with Arashi Sangorô III, who played the role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon.

8th lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kinshôjo and Komutsu in the drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen". He also played the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba".

9th lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Oen in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai".

10th lunar month of 1798: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Onami in the drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari". He also played the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba".

11th ~ 12th lunar months of 1798: Kunitarô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Tokiwa Gozen in the kaomise drama "Tsuki Yuki Hana no Kaomise". He also played the role of Yojirô's mother in the drama "Chikagoro Kawara no Tatehiki". The troupe moved to Ôsaka to perform the same kaomise program at the Kado no Shibai. Kunitarô also played the roles of Kanpei's mother and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1799: Kunitarô played at the Kado no Shibai 3 roles in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Yuki Miru Yama".

4th lunar month of 1799: Kunitarô played in the same theater in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". The troupe moved to the Horie no Shibai to perform in the same play.

5th lunar month of 1799: Kunitarô played at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba". From the 21st day, he played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kakuju and Tonami in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

6th lunar month of 1799: the troupe moved to Kyôto and performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".

9th lunar month of 1799: Kunitarô was back at the Kado no Shibai and played 3 roles in the drama "Karanishiki Akiba Monogatari".

11th lunar month of 1799: Kunitarô played at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Otaka in the kaomise drama "Tatetôsu Gishi no Ishizue", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Kanadehon Chûshingura" world. He also played the role of Oishi in the drama "Medetai Uchimashô".

3rd lunar month of 1800: Kunitarô played the role of Umegae in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which was staged in the precinct of the Inaba Yakushiji Temple in Kyôto.

4th lunar month of 1800: Kunitarô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Oishi, Owai and Okita in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

8th lunar month of 1800: Kunitarô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Hanazono in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".

10th lunar month of 1800: Kunitarô performed in the same theater in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen".

11th lunar month of 1800: Kunitarô played at the Naka no Shibai the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu were played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Matsumoto Yonesaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1801: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Onoe in the drama "Tsugiawase Koshiji no Meiboku", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Kagamiyama" world.

4th lunar month of 1801: Kunitarô performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the drama "Ehon Chûshingura".

10th lunar month of 1801: Kunitarô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa". The troupe moved to the Minamigawa no Shibai without Kunitarô (who needed to rest) to perform the same play.

3rd lunar month of 1802: Kunitarô played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

9th lunar month of 1802: Kunitarô played at the Naka no Shibai 2 roles in the drama "Ehon Taikôki". He also played the role of Oran in the drama "Gishinden Yomikiri Kôshaku".

12th lunar month of 1802: Kunitarô played at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Tokiwa in the drama "Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki".

3rd lunar month of 1803: Kunitarô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kôbê's wife in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku"; the role of Kôbê was played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

5th lunar month of 1803: Kunitarô played in the same theater the role of Shunkan's wife Azumaya in the drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima"; the role of Shunkan was played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

7th lunar month of 1803: Kunitarô performed at the Ônishi no Shibai in the drama "Ehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1803: Kunitarô played the role of Onami in the kaomise drama "Hatsu Yagura Kogane no Manmaku", which was produced by Nakamura Noshio III at the Kado no Shibai. The troupe moved to the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) in the 12th lunar month to perform in the same program for 10 days.

1st lunar month of 1804: Kunitarô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Hako Denju".

10th lunar month of 1804: Kunitarô played the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamanba", which was produced by Anegawa Kamesaburô at the Naka no Shibai; the role of Tabakoya Genshichi (in reality Sakata Tokiyuki) was played by Arashi Sangorô III.

4th lunar month of 1805: Kunitarô appeared on stage for the last time, celebrating his isse ichidai performance by playing the role of Ono no Komachi in the drama "Kotobuki Sekidera Komachi", which was produced by Arashi Torasaburô at the Kado no Shibai.

5th lunar month of 1805: Kunitarô shaved his head and retired from the world. As a monk, he took the name of Shinrokan Ebimaro.

2nd day of the 7th lunar month of 1818 ^[1]: Shinrokan Ebimaro died in Ôsaka ^[4].

Comments:

Sawamura Kunitarô I was an outstanding onnagata actor, who spent most of his career (second half of the eighteenth century) in Kamigata, reaching the jô-jô-kichi and goku-jô-jô-kichi ranks in 1777 and 1790.

Sawamura Kunitarô I's best roles: Oginoya Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamanba"), Osono ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Kakuju ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Onoe ("Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie), Otaka ("Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku"), the courtesan Yûgiri, Hanazono ("Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi"), Chidori/Umegae ("Hirakana Seisuiki").

[1] The 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of the 1st year of the Bunsei era was the 3rd of August 1818 in the western calendar.

[2] The eastern part of the current prefecture of Chiba, not the African desert!.

[3] This kaomise program was divided into two dramas, an afternoon drama entitled like the program and an evening program which was entitled "Atarimasu Yuki-mo Hikikata".

[4] His tombstone was located in the cemetery of the En'yûji temple.

Sawamura Kunitarô I as depicted in an illustration from the book "Santo Yakusha Omokage Zukushi" (1784)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Shunko in 1794

The Sawamura Kunitarô line of actors