KOKAN TARÔJI I

Existence: 1644 ~ 19th day of the 10th lunar month of 1711^[1]

Connection: ???

Career:

1690: Tarôji became kashagata and performed in Kyôto in the drama "Kanaoka-ga-Fude".

1st lunar month of 1698: Tarôji's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, kashagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Fall 1699: Tarôji went to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1699: Tarôji performed in Ôsaka in the drama "Daimyô Takara no Fukubiki", which was produced by Takeshima Kôjûrô.

1st lunar month of 1700: Tarôji's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, kashagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Fall 1700: Tarôji went back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1700: Tarôji performed in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Daiichi Daiman", which was produced by Yamatoya Jinbê II.

1st lunar month of 1704: Tarôji went to Edo and performed at the Yamamuraza in the new year drama "Genji Aioi Jûnidan"; his stage partners were Miyazaki Denkichi, Ogawa Zengorô I, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Bandô Matatarô I, Sawamura Kodenji I, Tomizawa Hanzaburô I, Katsuyama Matagorô, Murayama Heiemon III, Shinomiya Genpachi and Mizuki Tominosuke.

11th lunar month of 1706: Tarôji performed at the Yamamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Buyû Kagami", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Takeshima Kôzaemon I.

11th lunar month of 1710: Tarôji performed at the Yamamuraza in the kaomise drama "Jinriki Teika Azuma Asobi", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Arashi Kiyosaburô I. The others main stage partners were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ikushima Shingorô, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Asao Jûjirô I and Sakurayama Shirosaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1711: Tarôji played in the same theater the role of the mother of the Soga brothers in the new year sogamono drama "Yunzei Yomeiri Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Ikushima Shingorô.

19th day of the 10th lunar month of 1711^[1]: Tarôji died in Edo.

Comments:

Kokan Tarôji I was one of the most famous kashagata actors in Kabuki history. He was born and trained in Kyôto and achieved fame for himself in Kamigata. He spent the last years of his career in Edo, as a mainstay of the Yamamuraza.

[1] The 19th day of the 10th lunar month of the 1st year of the Shôtoku era was the 28th of November 1711 in the western calendar.

Kokan Tarôji I