Stage names:

Asao Kuzaemon II
Shibazaki Rinzaemon III
Ôtani Tomoji	|
Ichikawa Rikimatsu

Other name:

Ichikawa Kigan II

Guild: Kanedaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Kigan (2)

Existence: 1786 ~ 11th day of the 9th lunar month of 1845 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Ôtani Tomoemon II

Career:

1799: he started his career in minor theaters in Kamigata, playing under the name of Ichikawa Rikimatsu.

Fall 1805: he became disciple of the actor Ôtani Tomoemon II.

11th lunar months of 1805: he received the name of Ôtani Tomoji.

24th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1830 ^[2]: his master Ôtani Tomoemon II died.

1st lunar month of 1832: Ôtani Tomoji takes the long-forgotten name of Shibazaki Rinzaemon III.

3rd lunar month of 1832: Rinzaemon played at the Takeda no Shibai (Ôsaka) the roles of Yakushiji Jirozaemon, Yoichibê, Ono no Sadakurô, Horibe Yajibê, Kondô Genshirô and the servant Rin in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was produced by Asao Momonosuke.

8th lunar month of 1832: Shibazaki Rinzaemon III took the name of Asao Kuzaemon II.

4th ~ 6th lunar months of 1835: tour in Ise with Nakamura Utaemon III, Arashi Kichisaburô III and Nakayama Yoshio II.

6th lunar month of 1835: the play "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji", which was originally written for the puppet theater and staged in the 2nd lunar month of 1773, was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kuzaemon played the role of Gappô Dôshin [casting].

8th ~ 11th lunar months of 1836: tour in Nagoya with Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Mimasu Gennosuke I and Nakayama Nanshi II; Kuzaemon played the role of Motoemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-mura", which was staged in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple in the 9th lunar month.

1st lunar month of 1838: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Teraoka Heiemon, Yoichibê, Ono no Kudayû and Horibe Yajibê in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1st lunar month of 1839: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Keisei Hama no Masago"; Kuzaemon played the roles of Kishida Minbu, Ishiba no Gorozô and Tsujiura Jûnai [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1839: the play "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji" was staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Kuzaemon played the role of Gappô Dôshin [casting].

11th lunar month of 1839: Kuzaemon played at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Adachi Tomokurô, Hanazono Mondo, Hanbei's mother and Iwajibei in the drama "Katakiuchi An'eiroku".

3rd lunar month of 1840: Kuzaemon played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Amakawaya Gihei and Ono no Kudayû in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

5th lunar month of 1840: Kuzaemon played at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai the roles of Gonshirô and Gappô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji".

8th ~ 9th lunar months of 1840: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai 4 roles, including Yokoyama Daizen, in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

11th lunar month of 1840: Kuzaemon performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the dramas "Keisei Haru no Tori", "Gishinden Yomikiri Kôshaku", "Ishikiri Kajiwara" (Kuzaemon played the old man Rokurôdayû) and "Heike Nyogo no Shima".

1st lunar month of 1841: Kuzaemon played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the shôya Fujiemon, the tedai Sôbê, Danjô and the gatekeeper Kiheiji in the drama "Keisei Yanagi Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1841: Kuzaemon played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Gonshirô in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

1st lunar month of 1842: Kuzaemon's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1843 ~ Spring 1845: Kuzaemon settled in Edo and performed at the Ichimuraza.

Summer 1845: Kuzaemon went back to Ôsaka and fell ill.

11th day of the 9th lunar month of 1845 ^[1]: Kuzaemon died. According to some chronicles, he died the 18th of the 6th lunar month instead of the 11th of the 9th lunar month ^[1].

Comments:

Asao Kuzaemon II was a good actor specialized in katakiyaku, oyajigata and fukeoyama roles but he did not find the same fame as Asao Kuzaemon I. He spent most of his career in Kamigata theaters and his last years in Edo.

[1] The 11th day of the 9th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kôka era was the 11th of October 1845 in the western calendar. According to others sources, he died the 18th day of the 6th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kôka era, which was the 22nd of July 1845 in the western calendar

[2] The 24th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 13th year of the Bunsei era was the 16th of May 1830 in the western calendar.

Asao Kuzaemon II portraying the farmer Heisaku in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)

Print made by Asayama Toshikuni in 1832

The Asao Kuzaemon line of actors

The Shibazaki Rinzaemon line of actors

The Ichikawa Kigan line of actors