| SAWAMURA SÔJÛRÔ IX |
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Stage names:
Real name: Sawamura Juichi Guild: Kinokuniya Line number: KUDAIME (IX) Blazon: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い] Existence: 8 March 1933 ~ 12 January 2001 Connections: Grandfather: Sawamura Sôjûrô VII Father: Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII Brother: Sawamura Tôjûrô II Disciples: Sawamura Sônosuke III, Sawamura Kiyosuke Career: May 1941: first stage appearance, at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Sawamura Genpei VI and performed in the drama "Sukeroku". 2 March 1949: his grandfather Sawamura Sôjûrô VII died. September 1953: Sawamura Tosshô IV and his son Sawamura Genpei VI respectively the names of Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII and Sawamura Tosshô V at the Kabukiza; the new Tosshô played the role of Sakuramaru's wife Yae [1] and Mitsuhide's sister Kikyô in "Kamo Zutsumi" and "Badarai no Mitsuhide". February 1955: second edition at the Kabukiza from the 24th to the 27th of February of the Tsubomikai, a study group led by Nakamura Utaemon VI [more details]. It included the revival of Sakurada Jisuke I's dance-drama "Kumo no Hyôshimai" (entitled "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi") [casting] and the premiere of Mishima Yukio's dance-drama "Yuya" [casting]; Tosshô played the roles of the jijo Wakana and a female page (in reality a ground spider) in "Yuya" and "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi". March 1956: Tosshô played at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Fujiya Izaemon was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII. April 1956: Tosshô played at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Chidori in the drama "Shunkan". June 1959: Tosshô played at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Princess Yuki in the drama "Kinkakuji"; the roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Konoshita Tôkichi were played by Ichikawa Danshirô III and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III. February 1960: Tosshô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Nakamura Senjaku II (Katsuyori) and Sawamura Gennosuke V (Nureginu). April 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Onizoroi Momijigari"; Tosshô played the role of a female retainer, in reality a female demon [casting]. 1960: Tosshô joined the Tôei Company to be a movie actor for a few years. 1963: Tosshô was back in the Kabuki world. January 1964: Tosshô played for the first time the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi", which was staged at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô); the role of Yosaburô was played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III. April 1964: Tosshô played for the first time the role of Oginoya Yaegiri [11] in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamanba", which was staged at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô). January 1965: Tosshô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Oginoya Yaegiri [11] in the drama "Komochi Yamanba". July 1966: Tosshô played at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theatre in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Tosshô played the roles of Sonoo-no-Mae and the yakko Takunai [casting]. February 1968: Tosshô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Oginoya Yaegiri [11] in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamanba". May 1968: revival at the National Theatre of "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi"; Tosshô played the role of Okinoi [casting]. November 1969: premiere at the National Theatre of Mishima Yukio's drama "Chinsetsu Yumihari-zuki"; Tosshô played the roles of Tametomo's wife Sasarae and Neiwannyo [more details]. March 1971: Tosshô played at the Kabukiza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri was played by his brother Sawamura Kiyoshirô. August 1971: Tosshô played at the National Theatre the role of Princess Takiyasha in the drama "Masakado". May 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the passing away of the playwright; Tosshô played the role of Miyaji Gen'emon [casting]. July 1973: Tosshô played at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". January 1974: Tosshô played at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". He also played the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Fujiya Izaemon was played by Nakamura Senjaku II. 25 December 1975: his father Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII died. March 1976: Tosshô played at the Minamiza the role of Katsuyori in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Bandô Tamasaburô (Princess Yaegaki) and Arashi Tokusaburô VII (Nureginu). September 1976: Sawamura Tosshô V took the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô IX at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Oginoya Yaegiri [11] and Fukuoka Mitsugi [12] in the dramas "Komochi Yamanba" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". December 1976: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". September 1977: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". October 1977: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri was played by Sawamura Tôjûrô. September 1978: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Sôjûrô played the role of Ume no Yoshibê [casting]. February 1979: revision by Uno Nobuo at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Sakurada Jisuke III's drama "Sanzesô Nishiki Bunshô"; Sôjûrô played the role of Seibê's wife Okaji [casting]. April 1979: historic revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV long-forgotten play "Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise" (commonly called "Date no Jûyaku"); Sôjûrô played the role of Watanabe Minbunosuke [casting]. He also played the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Ennosuke (Danshichi Kurobê) and Nakamura Ganjirô II (Tsuribune Sabu). August 1979: revival at the National Theatre Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri"; Sôjûrô played the roles of Iseya Sentarô and Dôjûrô's wife Oriyo [casting]. January 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki" [more details]; Sôjûrô played the role of Sonoo-no-Mae. October 1980: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi"; the role of Yosaburô was played by Ichikawa Ebizô X. January 1981: Sôjûrô played at the Asakusa Kôkaidô the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; The role of the courtesan Ôgiya Yûgiri was played by Nakamura Baishi III. June 1981: Sôjûrô played at the National Theatre the role of Otatsu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Onoe Tatsunosuke I (Danshichi Kurobê), Ichikawa Ginnosuke I (Issun Tokubê) and Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III (Tsuribune Sabu). July 1981: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi"; Sôjûrô played the roles of Yui Minbunosuke and Nakano Tôsuke [casting]. He also played the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". September 1982: Sôjûrô played at the Minamiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Sôjûrô played the role of Fuwa Banzaemon's wife Fujikae [casting]. April 1984: revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's 1813 kaomise drama "Gohiiki Tsunagi Uma"; Sôjûrô played the roles of the tsubone Inaba (in reality the hinin Kumade no Otsume) and Ibaragiya Onishichi's nyôbô Otsuna (in reality the jijo Tomaya) [more details]. November 1984: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Ohaya in the "Hikimado" scene in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". April 1987: Sôjûrô took part in the revival at the Meijiza of the play "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura", which included the famous Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" [more details]. August 1989: first edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai, a gala program starring Sôjûrô and whose main goal was the revival of long-forgotten plays; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Uwabami Oyoshi" [2]. December 1989: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". June ~ July 1990: Sôjûrô took part in a Kabuki tour in the USA, performing 26 shows in several big cities; he played the role of Yamakage Ukyô in the dance-drama "Migawari Zazen" [casting]. Sôjûrô plays also the role of Togashi in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", which was staged only in Los Angeles. August 1990: second edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Benizara Kakezara" [3]. October 1990: Sôjûrô played at the National Theatre the role of Onoe II in the drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji"; The role of the evil Iwafuji was played by Onoe Kikugorô. December 1990: Sôjûrô played at the Gion Kaburenjô (Kyôto) the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna". August 1991: third edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Onna Ôsakazuki" [4]. November 1991: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". August 1992: fourth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Kijin no Omatsu" [5]. October 1992: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". August 1993: fifth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced the acts VI [6] and VII of the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". September 1993: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Issun Tokubê in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Nakamura Kichiemon (Danshichi Kurobê) and Nakamura Tomijûrô (Tsuribune Sabu). December 1993: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Ofune [13] in the drama "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi"; the role of Tonbê was played by Ichikawa Sadanji IV. August 1994: sixth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Nuregami Oseki" [7]. October 1994: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi"; the role of Yosaburô was played by Nakamura Baigyoku. August 1995: seventh edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Onna Gonin Kiri" [8]. August 1996: eighth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced three new dramas: "Enmusubi Yûyû Banashi", "Natane no Michiyuki" and "Yûgaodana". August 1997: ninth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced and played the leading role of the drama "Mijikayo Ukina no Chirashigaki". He suddenly fell ill and the performance had to be cancelled. November 1997: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Tôyata Monogatari", which was staged to commemorate the 36th anniversary (37th memorial service) and the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the passings away of late Bandô Mitsugorô VII and late Bandô Mitsugorô VIII; the roles of Iso no Tôyata and Yoshitsune were played by Bandô Mitsugorô IX and Ichimura Uzaemon XVII. August 1998: tenth edition of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produced the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" [9]. December 1998: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of the courtesan Miyagino in the "Ageya" scene of the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi"; the role of Miyagino's sister Shinobu was played by Nakamura Shibajaku. January 1999: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana"; Sôjûrô played the role of Otomi [casting]. March 1999: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the roles of Ofude and Nureginu in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Honchô Nijûshikô". June 1999: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Yûshide in the "Imorizake" scene of the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto". July 1999: Sôjûrô played the role of the evil Yashio in the drama "Date no Jûyaku", produced by Ichikawa Ennosuke at the Kabukiza. October 1999: Sôjûrô played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the roles of Otoku and Sagami in the dramas "Keisei Hangonkô" and "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" ("Kumagai Jin'ya"). November 1999: Sôjûrô played at the National Theatre the role of Otane in the "Takenoko Hori" scene of the play "Honchô Nijûshikô". January 2000: Sôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Soga Jûrô in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne". December 2000: Sôjûrô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Ranchô [10] and Omiya in the drama "Wakaki Uchina Gusa", which belonged to the Kinokuniya guild; The role of the courtesan Konoito was played by Nakamura Shibajaku. 12 January 2001: Sôjûrô died in Ôsaka. Comments: Sawamura Sôjûrô IX was an excellent onnagata and nimaime, the worthy heir of his amazing grandfather Sawamura Sôjûrô VII. Sawamura Sôjûrô IX's best roles: Onoe ("Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"), Otomi ("Kirare Yosa"), Tanzaemon ("Heike Nyogo no Shima"), Oginoya Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamanba"), Tatara Yûshide ("Imorizake"). [1] The role of Sakuramaru in "Kamo Zutsumi" was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII. [2] Not performed for 88 years. [3] Not performed for 58 years. [4] Not performed for 93 years. [6] Act VI was staged for the last time in 1935. [7] Not performed for 179 years. [8] Not performed for 166 years. [9] The role of Dôshin in "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto" belongs to the Kôga Jisshu. [10] The role of Ranchô in "Wakaki Uchina Gusa" belongs to the Kôga Jisshu. [11] The role of Oginoya Yaegiri in "Komochi Yamanba" belongs to the Kôga Jisshu. [12] The role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in "Ise Ondo" belongs to the Kôga Jisshu. [13] The role of Ofune in the drama "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi" belongs to the Kôga Jisshu. |
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Sawamura Sôjûrô IX playing the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Kurotegumi Sukeroku" in a print made by Tsuruya Kôkei in July 1982 The Sawamura Genpei line of actors The Sawamura Tosshô line of actors The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors |
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