Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kinshi

Existence: ??? ~ Summer 1743

Connection:

Master(s): Tomizawa Samanosuke II (?), Tomizawa Hanzaburô I (?)

Son (?): Kirinoya Gonjûrô III

Adopted son: Tomizawa Kiyosaki

Disciples: Tomizawa Montarô II, Tomizawa Tsuneyo, Tomizawa Chônosuke

Career:

Before 1717: he starts his career in Ôsaka as a disciple of Tomizawa Hanzaburô I (according to most of the books we've checked but we doubt it as this actor is in Edo since 1684!). We do think that his real master is Tomizawa Samanosuke II, a disciple of Tomizawa Hanzaburô I's master Tomizawa Samanosuke I (the founder of the Tomizawa clan).

11th lunar month of 1717: Montarô performs as a wakaonnagata in Ôsaka in the kaomise drama "Inari Yashiki Daikoku Bashira", which is produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1723: Montarô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Ikuta Sanzaburô in the kaomise drama "Fukujukai Kogane no Minato", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

Fall 1729: Montarô goes to Kyôto for the first time.

11th lunar month of 1729: Montarô plays the role of Ofumi in Azuma Sanpachi's kaomise drama "Yomeiri Shichigosan", which is produced by the nadai Daikokuya Takenojô and the zamoto Arashi Koroku I.

1st lunar month of 1730: Montarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. He shares the same rank with Segawa Kikujirô I.

11th lunar month of 1731: Montarô plays the role of Gengobê's wife Okatsu in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Imagawajô", which is produced in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; his stage partners are Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakamura Shingorô I (who plays the role of Gengobê), Sanogawa Mangiku, Somenoi Hanshirô, Yashio Ikuemon, Anegawa Chiyosaburô I and Arashi San'emon III.

1st lunar month of 1732: Montarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

9th lunar month of 1732: first Kabuki adaptation of Matsuda Bunkôdô and Hasegawa Senshi puppet theater drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is produced in Kyôto by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Montarô plays the role of Akoya [casting].

11th lunar month of 1732: Montarô plays in Kyôto at Kameya Kumenojô's theater in the kaomise drama "Hayazaki Kogane no Hanabusa"; his stage partners are Ichiyama Sukegorô I, Arashi Kanshirô I, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I, Somenoi Hanshirô, Matsushima Moheiji, Kirinami Takie, Fujioka Daikichi, Shinozuka Kazaemon and Arashi Koroku I.

11th lunar month of 1733: Montarô plays at Kameya Kumenojô's theater (Kyôto) the role of the courtesan Oishi in the kaomise drama "Chôseiden Kogane no Shikigawara", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

11th lunar month of 1734: Montarô plays at Miyako Mandayû's theater (Kyôto) the role of the keisei Takakura in the kaomise drama "Tomi Yakata Kogane no Yaguruma", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1735: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Montarô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha [casting].

11th lunar month of 1735: Montarô plays the role of Kowata in the kaomise drama "Bankoku Ôshimadai", which is produced by Nakamura Tomijûrô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

Fall 1736: Montarô goes to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1736: Montarô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Miyako-no-Mae in the kaomise program "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata", which celebrates the shûmei of Tsuruya Nanboku II.

11th lunar month of 1737: Montarô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Sanuki in the kaomise program "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1738: Montarô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shares the same rank with Anegawa Kiyosaburô.

11th lunar month of 1738: Montarô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise program "Mitsugibune Taiheiki".

3rd lunar month of 1739: Montarô plays in the same theater the role of Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Jômon no Hanabusa"; the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû are played by Ichikawa Ebizô II and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1739: Montarô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Kageyu's wife Naniwazu in Fujimoto Tobun's kaomise drama "Tokiwagi Taiheiki". The role of Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon is played by Bandô Hikosaburô I.

Fall 1740: Montarô goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1740: Montarô plays in the kaomise drama "Shinra Genji Shimada Gunpô", which is produced by Sanogawa Hanazuma II at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Arashi Sanjûrô II, Iwai Hanshirô III, Yamatoyama Jinzaemon II, Fujikawa Heikurô, Kamakura Heikurô I, Yoshizawa Ayame II and Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II.

1st lunar month of 1741: Montarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is two little strokes below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

11th lunar month of 1741: Montarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kikusui Kageyu's wife Sawaragi in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Yakata Bandai no Kame", which is produced Fujikawa Kamenoi; the role of Kikusui Kageyu is played by Fujikawa Heikurô.

1st lunar month of 1742: Montarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is back to jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shares this rank with Matsushima Hyôtarô.

11th lunar month of 1742: Montarô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Otora in the kaomise drama "Kudô Suketsune Ôiso Gayoi", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

7th lunar month of 1743: Montarô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ônishi no Shibai, where he plays in the drama "Kashû Hachi Katsugi Monogatari". He suddenly falls ill and dies.

Comments:

Tomizawa Montarô I was a popular and talented Kamigata onnagata actor, who made his career during the first half of the 18th century. He was able to play a wide range of roles, as musume, hime, nyôbô or keisei, equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was also expert in onna budô and achieved a reputation as a musician. It is also worthy to note that he was the first Kabuki actor to perform two of the most famous female roles: Akoya in "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki" and Kuzu-no-Ha in "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

The Actor Tomizawa Montarô I as Miyako no Mae in the play "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata", performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1736
Artist: Torii Kiyomasu II
Date: 1736
The Art Institute of Chicago (print in the public domain)

Print made by Okumura Masanobu in 1737

Prints & Illustrations