Stage names:

Ichikawa Sumizô VII
Ichikawa Danjirô
Ichikawa Tomisaburô

Real name: Ôta Mitsunosuke

Guild: Masudaya

Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)

Existence: 1 April 1902 ~ 7 March 1985

Connections:

Grandfather: Ichikawa Sumizô V

Father: Ichikawa Dankurô II

Uncle: Ichikawa Jukai III (Ichikawa Sumizô VI)

Disciple: Ichikawa Mikizô II

Career:

1 April 1902: born in Tôkyô in the district of Hongô.

7 May 1906: his grandfather Ichikawa Sumizô V died.

May 1912: he made his first stage appearance at the Tôkyôza, where he received the name of Ichikawa Tomisaburô and performed in the drama "Yamatobashi".

1919: Ichikawa Tomisaburô took the name of Ichikawa Danjirô.

July 1924: Danjirô became nadai at the Asakusa Shôchikuza.

2 May 1940: his father Ichikawa Dankurô II died.

January 1948: Danjirô settled in Ôsaka.

February 1949: Ichikawa Sumizô VI and his nephew Ichikawa Danjirô respectively took the names of Ichikawa Jukai III and Ichikawa Sumizô VII in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza; the new Sumizô played the roles of the wakashu Sodeura Kinnojô, Nagasaki Jirô Takasada and Dôgo Saemon Chikanobu in "Sukeroku", "Takatoki" and "Ômori Hikoshichi".

June 1949: Ichikawa Jukai III and Ichikawa Sumizô VII celebrated their shûmei in Nagoya at the Misonoza; the new Sumizô played the roles of Yamazumi Tôroku, Banba no Chûta, Furugôri Shinzaemon and the tedai Tôhachi in "Yagyû Matajûrô", "Shikorobiki", "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata" and "Kirare Yosa".

September 1949: Ichikawa Jukai III and Ichikawa Sumizô VII celebrated their shûmei in Kyôto at the Minamiza; the new Sumizô played the roles of Banba no Chûta, Dôgo Saemon Chikanobu and Ôe Onitsura in "Shikorobiki", "Ômori Hikoshichi" and "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

July 1951: Ichikawa Jukai III, Ichikawa Sumizô VII and Ichikawa Raizô VIII celebrated their shûmei in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza; the new Sumizô played the roles of Katagiri Shuzen and the wakatô Hachisuke in "Kiri Hitoha" and "Toribeyama Shinjû".

1956: Sumizô performed in Shima Kôji's movie "Zangiku Monogatari".

March 1958: Sumizô took part in the final Kabuki performance at the Ôsaka Kabukiza [more details].

November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which was supervised by Mishima Yukio; Sumizô played the role of Matsui Gengo [casting].

3 April 1971: his uncle Ichikawa Jukai III died.

June 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Sumizô played the role of Yamazumi Goheita [casting].

January 1980: Sumizô took part in the first Kabuki performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details].

March 1980: Sumizô received the National Theatre Excellence Prize (Kokuritsu Gekijô Yûshûshô) for his performance in the role of Gunsuke in the drama "Miyakodori Nagare no Shiranami".

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Sumizô played the role of the owner of the Naniwa chaya Kawakyû [casting].

January 1985: Sumizô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of Taira no Kenjô Naokata in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon".

7 March 1985: Sumizô died.

Comments:

Ichikawa Sumizô VII was a good supporting tachiyaku actor. He was born in Tôkyô but joined the Kamigata Kabuki after WW2. He gradually rose in the hierarchy and finally entered the first league of actors. He became a talented oyajigata in his latter years. His best roles were Sagisaka Bannai in the third and seventh acts of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", Shibata Jûdayû in "Banchô Sarayashiki" and Taira no Kenjô Naokata in "Sodehagi Saimon".

The Ichikawa Sumizô line of actors