SUKETAKAYA TAKASUKE IV

Stage names:

Suketakaya Takasuke IV In Japanese
Sawamura Tosshô II In Japanese
Sawamura Genpei II In Japanese

Others names:

Sawamura Sôjûrô VI In Japanese
Sawamura Tosshi VI In Japanese

Guild: Kinokuniya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Poetry names: Kôga, Tosshi (6)

Existence: 1838 ~ 2 February 1886

Connections:

Father: Suketakaya Takasuke III (Sawamura Sôjûrô V)

Brother: Sawamura Tanosuke III

Adopted sons: Sawamura Sôjûrô VII, Sawamura Tosshi VII, Sawamura Genpei III

Disciples: Sawamura Shirogorô IV, Sawamura Yodogorô III

Career:

1838: born in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1842: he made his first appearance on stage, at the Nakamuraza, where he received the name of Sawamura Genpei II.

15th day of the 11th lunar month of 1853 [1]: his father Suketakaya Takasuke III died.

1st lunar month of 1854: Sawamura Genpei II took the name of Sawamura Tosshô II at the Nakamuraza, playing in the new year sogamono drama "Matsu Ichô Tsurukame Soga".

7th lunar month of 1857: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke III's drama "Sanzesô Nishiki Bunshô"; Tosshô played the role of Rokusaburô [casting].

2nd lunar month of 1859: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kosode Soga Azami no Ironui" (commonly called "Izayoi Seishin"); Tosshô played the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Kageyama Shigenojô and the karuwazashi Tachibana Kotsuru [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1860: Tosshô played at the Naka no Shibai (Ôsaka) the roles of Konami and Ishidô Umanojô in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1864: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Wakaba no Ume Ukina no Yokogushi" (commonly called "Kirare Otomi", in English 'Scarface Otomi'); Tosshô played the role of Yosaburô [casting].

2nd lunar month of 1866: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Fune-he Uchikomu Hashima no Shiranami" (commonly called "Ikake Matsu"); Tosshô played the role of Moritoya Sôjirô [more details].

Summer 1869: tour in Shizuoka.

3rd lunar month of 1870: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kusunoki-ryû Hanami no Makuhari" (commonly called "Keian Taiheiki" or "Marubashi Chûya"); Tosshô played the roles of Kanai Tanigorô, Hosokawa Katsumoto, Hata Kaneuji and Kiura Nagasanosuke [more details].

7th lunar month of 1872: premiere at the Murayamaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's dance "Renjishi", which starred Bandô Hikosaburô V and Tosshô in the roles of the spirits of Lions (parent and cub).

October 1874: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kumo no Ueno San'e no Sakumae"; Tosshô played the role of Kaneko Ichinojô [casting].

June 1876: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Hototogisu Date no Kikigaki"; Tosshô played the roles of Hosokawa Naizen-no-Kami, Shiozawa Tanzaburô, Isshiki Sakyônosuke and the menoto Masaoka [casting].

7 July 1878: his brother Sawamura Tanosuke III died.

May 1879: Sawamura Tosshô II took the name of Suketakaya Takasuke IV at the Shintomiza, playing the role of Nagoya Sanza Motoharu in the drama "Mukashi Moyô Sato no Sayaate"; the role of Fuwa Banzaemon Shigekatsu (Sanza's rival in the sayaate scene) was played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IX.

August 1879: Takasuke took part in the opening ceremony of the Hisamatsuza [details]. He was the zagashira of this new theater.

13 April 1881: his adopted son Sawamura Genpei III died.

March 1884: premiere at the Harukiza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Chûjô Hime Taima Engi"; Takasuke played the role of Princess Chûjô [casting].

October 1885: Takasuke and Sawamura Tosshi VII went together to Nagoya, to celebrate the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of the passing away of Sawamura Sôjûrô V.

January 1886: Takasuke appeared on stage for the last time, in Nagoya at the Chitoseza. He suddenly fell ill during the performance.

2 February 1886: Takasuke died.

Comments:

Suketakaya Takasuke IV was the worthy heir of his father Sawamura Sôjûrô V, excelling in wagotoshi, wajitsu or onnagata roles. He shared the stage with the Meiji giants Ichikawa Danjûrô IX and Onoe Kikugorô V. He posthumously received the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô VI.

[1] The 15th day of the 11th lunar month of the 6th year of the Kaei era was the 15th of December 1853 in the western calendar.

The actor Suketakaya Takasuke IV playing the role of the Princess Chûjô in the drama "Chûjô Hime Taima Engi", which was staged in March 1884 in Tôkyô at the Harukiza (print made by Toyohara Kunichika)

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika

Print made by Utagawa Yoshiiku in 1867

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1873

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1877

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1884

Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1885

The Sawamura Genpei line of actors

The Sawamura Tosshô line of actors

The Suketakaya Takasuke line of actors

The Sawamura Tosshi line of actors

The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors

 
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