| SAWAMURA TANOSUKE II |
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Stage names:
Guild: Kinokuniya Line number: NIDAIME (II) Poetry name: Shozan Existence: 1788 ~ 28th day of the 1st lunar month of 1817 [1] Connections: Grandfathers: Arashi Hinasuke I, Sawamura Sôjûrô II Father: Sawamura Sôjûrô III Half-brother: Sawamura Sôjûrô IV Career: 1788: born in Kyôto. He was the third son of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III and his mother was the sister of the Kamigata star Arashi Hinasuke I. 1st lunar month of 1793: he made his first appearance on stage, at the Nakamuraza, where he received the name of Sawamura Tetsunosuke I and performed as a koyaku in the drama "Saikai Soga Nakamura". 29th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1801 [2]: his father Sawamura Sôjûrô III dies; Tetsunosuke went back to his native Kamigata. 11th lunar month of 1801: Sawamura Tetsunosuke I took the name of Sawamura Tanosuke II in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, performing in the kaomise drama "Furuki o Motte Aratama no Kaomise". 1802 ~ 1806: He spent most of his early years performing in Kamigata koshibai. 4th ~ 6th lunar months of 1806: tour in Nagoya with Arashi Kichisaburô II, Yoshizawa Iroha I, Arashi Sangorô III and Nakayama Bungorô I; they performed at the Tachibana no Shibai in dramas like "Keisei Sakura no Shima", "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", "Hirakana Seisuiki", "Sarumawashi Kadode no Hitofushi" or "Komochi Yamanba". 7th lunar month of 1806: Tanosuke achieved a great success in Ôsaka at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai, playing the roles of Princess Toki and the koshimoto Sumie in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata", which was produced by Arashi Gonnosuke. 3rd lunar month of 1808: "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Tanosuke played the role of Hinaginu [casting]. Fall 1808: Tanosuke went to Edo. 11th lunar month of 1808: Tanosuke played at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Irosoyuru Nidai Genji", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Rikô II. 11th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II kaomise drama "Misao no Hana Toba no Koizuka", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Shôroku I and Onoe Matsusuke II; Tanosuke played the roles of Matsuyoi no Jijû, the female kani Koiso, Munekiyo's mekake Shiratae and the shinrei of the goddess Benzaiten [more details]. 1st lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Tanosuke played the role of the courtesan Koito [casting]. 9th lunar month of 1813: Tanosuke played at the Nakamuraza the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which was staged as Tanosuke's onagori kyôgen. Fall 1813: Tanosuke went back to Kamigata. 11th lunar month of 1813: Tanosuke performed in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri". He also performed all the roles of a 7-role hengemono entitled "Sawamurasaki Hatsunanatan". He finally played the role of Yûshide in the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto"; the role of Tatara Shindôzaemon was played by Asao Kuzaemon I. 1st lunar month of 1814: Tanosuke played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Miyuki and Princess Harusame in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto". This was the first performance in Kabuki history of a play based on the "Asagao Nikki" world [casting]. 4th lunar month of 1814: "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" was staged with the same casting in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai. Fall 1815: Tanosuke went back to Edo. 11th lunar month of 1815: Tanosuke played at the Nakamuraza in Fukumori Kyûsuke I's kaomise drama "Shitennô Oedo no Kaburaya", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Kikugorô III and Kataoka Gachô. His yearly salary was 900 ryô. 11th lunar month of 1816: Tanosuke appeared on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Fuwa Nagoya Yuki no Dategasa". 1st lunar month of 1817: Tanosuke's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. 28th day of the 1st lunar month of 1817 [1]: Tanosuke died in Edo. Comments: Sawamura Tanosuke II was a talented onnagata actor, endowed with delicate features and a beautiful voice, who achieved fame for himself in both Edo and Kamigata. He was able to play any role, excelling in keisei roles, but unfortunately died too young. [1] The 28th day of the 1st lunar month of the 14th year of the Bunka era was the 15th of March 1817 in the western calendar. [2] The 29th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 1st year of the Kyôwa era was the 11th of May 1801 in the western calendar. |
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Memorial Portrait of the Actor Sawamura Tanosuke II Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1798 Print made by Utagawa Kunisada (1811~1813) Print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû in the 1st lunar month of 1815 Print made by Shunkôsai Hokushû in the 9th lunar month of 1815 The Sawamura Tetsunosuke line of actors The Sawamura Tanosuke line of actors |
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