Stage names:

Sawamura Shozan III
Sawamura Tanosuke V
Sawamura Yoshijirô III

Real name: Yamanaka Sôjirô

Guild: Kinokuniya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Shozan (3)

Existence: 11 October 1902 ~ 3 December 1968

Connection:

Father: Sawamura Sôjûrô VII

Brothers: Suketakaya Takasuke V, Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII

Sons: Sawamura Tanosuke VI, Sawamura Rokurô, Sawamura Yoshijirô V

Disciple: Sawamura Chidori

Career:

11 October 1902: Born in Tôkyô. He was the second son of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.

September 1908: he made his first stage appearance, at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Sawamura Yoshijirô III.

January 1920: he became nadai and took the name of Sawamura Tanosuke V at the Imperial Theater.

1931: he spent most of this year abroad, studying Western theatre arts in Europe and the USA.

November 1939: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Tanosuke played the role of the yamabushi Priest Sanukibô [casting].

March 1947: he achieved a great success at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô by playing the role of Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Hikimado".

May 1947: revival at the Tôkyô Gekijô of the drama "Jayanagi"; Tanosuke played the role of Honda Jirô Chikatsune [more details].

September 1947: premiere at the Imperial Theater of Atsumi Seitarô's version of "Nansô Satomi Hakkenden"; Tanosuke played the roles of Inukai Genpachi Nobumichi and Aboshi Samojirô [casting].

2 March 1949: his father Sawamura Sôjûrô VII died.

July 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Kitsune to Fuefuki"; Tanosuke played the role of Natsumasa [casting].

March 1953: premiere at the Kabukiza of Osaragi Jirô's drama "Edo no Yûbae"; Tanosuke played the role of the hatamoto Sekine Mondonojô [casting].

30 August 1962: his eldest brother Suketakaya Takasuke V died.

April 1964: because of serious health problems, he had to retire, taking the name of Sawamura Shozan III and giving his previous stage name to his son Sawamura Yoshijirô IV, who became Sawamura Tanosuke VI.

3 December 1968: he died in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Sawamura Shozan III was a nimaime and a wagotoshi. His most notable performance was the role of Sonobe Saemon in the classic "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari". In some books, he was referenced as Sawamura Shozan I. In others, he was Sawamura Shozan V. We've decided to stay in line with the the latest edition (2012) of "Kabuki Haiyû Meiseki Benran".

The Sawamura Yoshijirô line of actors

The Sawamura Tanosuke line of actors

The Sawamura Shozan line of actors

Sawamura Tanosuke V playing the role of Miyazaki Kazuma in the drama "Kôchiyama", which was staged in November 1926 at the Imperial Theater

The Sawamura Yoshijirô line of actors

The Sawamura Tanosuke line of actors

The Sawamura Shozan line of actors