Stage names:

Onoe Tamizô I
Onoe Tamizô
Onoe Kenzô
Hanazome Tamizô

Guilds: Otowaya, Aizuya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry names: Kôchô, Baishi

Existence: ???

Connections:

Masters: Onoe Kikugorô I, Hanazome Minanojô

Career:

1760s: he started his career in Kyôto in 1761 in a children-actor troupe (kodomo shibai) led by Hanazome Minanojô, who gave him the name of Hanazome Tamizô. He performed in the precincts of temples and shrines (miyaji shibai). He stopped acting for a few years before becoming a disciple of Onoe Kikugorô I in 1768. He received the name of Onoe Kenzô and performed in the precincts of the Nishiki Tenjin shrine in Kyôto in Spring 1768. Then, he went on tour in Kamigata with a travelling troupe (tabi shibai).

Fall 1769: he went with his master to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1769: he took the name of Onoe Tamizô at the Ichimuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Ume no Kaomise".

1st lunar month of 1770: Tamizô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki (wakaonnagata section), was jô-(shiro)jô (superior - (white) superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1771: Tamizô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Kono Hana Yotsugi no Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1772: Tamizô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki (wakaonnagata section), was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1772: Tamizô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Edo Katagi Hikeya Tsunazaka", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Danzaburô III.

11th lunar month of 1774: Tamizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Ama no Iwato".

1st lunar month of 1775: Tamizô changed the writing of his first name:

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11th lunar month of 1777: Tamizô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune".

11th lunar month of 1778: Tamizô performed at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Date Nishiki Tsui no Yumitori".

8th lunar month of 1779: Tamizô played in the same theater the role of Lady Kaoyo in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1779: Tamizô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Mori Sakae Kusunoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Azuma Tôzô III and Segawa Otome.

1st lunar month of 1780: Tamizô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki (wakaonnagata section), was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1780: tour in Sendai. Tamizô temporarily used the first writing for his first name.

1781: Tamizô went back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1781: Tamizô performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Shin Yakata Fukki no Ishizue", which celebrated the shûmei of Hanagiri Tomimatsu I and Yamamoto Giemon and welcomed back in Kyôto the star Nakamura Tomijûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1782: Tamizô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Zu ni Notta Bankoku Tokai", which celebrated the shûmei of Kagaya Kashichi I.

1st lunar month of 1783: Tamizô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki (wakaonnagata section), was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1783: Tamizô performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Rangiku Meoto Gitsune".

10th lunar month of 1796: Tamizô performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ebisu Daikoku Megumi no Kurairi", which starred Ichikawa Danzô IV, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Asao Tamejûrô I, Nakayama Bunshichi II, Anegawa Shinshirô III, Yamashita Yaozô I, Fujikawa Tomokichi I, Ichikawa Danzaburô IV and Mimasu Matsugorô I.

3rd lunar month of 1797: Tamizô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki (wakaonnagata section), was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. No record afterwards.

Comments:

Onoe Tamizô I was a wakaonnagata who made his career during the Meiwa, An'ei, Tenmei and Kansei eras. He was said to be good in keisei and housewives roles. Never an outstanding onnagata actor, his rankings were quite stable: jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi in Edo or jô-jô in Kamigata for several years. This meant that he did not make any significant progress.

Onoe Tamizô I playing the role of Princess Tatsu in the drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata", staged in the 11th lunar month of 1770 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô)

Prints & Illustrations

The Onoe Tamizô line of actors