Stage names:

Sugiyama Kanzaemon I

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: ???

Connection:

Adopted son: Sugiyama Kanzaemon III

Disciple: Sugiyama Kanzaemon II

Career:

1673: he started his career in Ôsaka, performing as a tachiyaku under the name of Sugiyama Kanzaemon I in Araki Yojibê I's theater.

1692: Kanzaemon performed in Ôsaka in the drama "Sada no Raikôji", which was produced by Iwai Hanshirô I; this production was a failure in term of audience.

3rd lunar month of 1693: Kanzaemon performed in Ôsaka in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Butsumo Mayasan Kaichô", which was produced by Iwai Hanshirô I; this production was a success and a long run (150 days). The same play was simultaneously staged in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

11th lunar month of 1693: Kanzaemon performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater in Tominaga Heibê's drama "Budô no Tassha"; his stage partners were Shibazaki Rinzaemon I, Sakurayama Rinnosuke I, Kirinami Senju I, Sodesaki Karyû, Osagawa Jûemon, Adachi Saburôzaemon and Sendai Yagoshichi.

12th lunar month of 1695: Akaneya Hanshichi (son of a sake merchant) and his lover Sankatsu committed suicide together in Ôsaka. This event caused quite a stir and was immediately adapted for Kabuki by Iwai Hanshirô I, under the title "Akane no Iroba". The roles of Sankatsu and Hanshichi were played by Hanai Azuma and Kanzaemon; this production was a long run (150 days).

1st lunar month of 1700: Kanzaemon played in Kyôto the role of Hiyô Kanpachi, in reality Fukuyama Ushinojô, in the new year drama "Keisei Zen no Tsuna", which was produced by Yamatoya Jinbê II; Kanzaemon's stage partners were Yoshizawa Ayame I, Mizuki Tatsunosuke I, Hayakawa Hatsuse, Onoyama Ujiemon, Onogawa Ugenji, Takenaka Kiyonosuke, Matsunaga Rokuroemon and Fujimoto Heijûrô.

3rd lunar month of 1700: Kanzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

1st lunar month of 1701: Kanzaemon played in Ôsaka the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Hyakunichi Soga", which was produced by Kataoka Nizaemon I (who played the role of Jûrô's brother Soga Gorô Tokimune); Kanzaemon fell ill and had to be replaced.

Winter 1704: Kanzaemon went to Edo.

1st lunar month of 1704: Kanzaemon performed at the Nakamuraza in the new year drama "Shinshun Niwatori Soga".

Spring 1707: tour in Ise.

11th lunar month of 1707: Kanzaemon played in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Taruya Heibê in the kaomise drama "Ohiyaki Sannin Musume".

Winter 1711: Kanzaemon went to Edo.

1st lunar month of 1711: Kanzaemon performed at the Moritaza in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Saka Omodaka"; this was his last-recorded stage appearance. No record afterwards.

Comments:

Sugiyama Kanzaemon I was a Kamigata tachiyaku, who was active from the beginning of the 1670s to the beginning of the 1710s. His field of excellence was yatsushigoto and he was the first actor in Kabuki history to perform as a handôyatsushi.

Sugiyama Kanzaemon I in 1693

The Sugiyama Kanzaemon line of actors