Stage names:

Sawamura Tôjûrô II
Sawamura Kiyoshirô I

Real name: Sawamura Gôichi

Guild: Kinokuniya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Birthday: 12 October 1943

Connections:

Grandfather: Sawamura Sôjûrô VII

Father: Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII

Brother: Sawamura Sôjûrô IX

Disciple: Sawamura Kiyoshirô II

Career:

January 1957: he made his first appearance on stage, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Sawamura Kiyoshirô and played the role of Ohisa in the ninth act of the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1958: Kiyoshirô joined the Tôei Company, a competitor of Shôchiku for Kabuki shows production.

1964: Kiyoshirô was back at the Shôchiku.

November 1969: premiere at the National Theatre of Mishima Yukio's drama "Chinsetsu Yumihari-zuki"; Kiyoshirô played the roles of Takama's wife Isohagi and Tsuru [more details].

April 1971: revival at the National Theatre of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Kiyoshirô played the role of Okumi [casting].

March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Kiyoshirô played the role of Tsukikage's daughter Princess Tagoto [casting].

September 1976: Sawamura Kiyoshirô took the name of Sawamura Tôjûrô II at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Omitsu and Shinobu in the plays "Nozaki-mura" and "Shiraishi Banashi".

September 1978: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Tôjûrô played the roles of Kosan and Chôkichi [casting].

August 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa"; Tôjûrô played the role of the courtesan Otomi [casting].

July 1981: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi"; Tôjûrô played the role of the onna hinin Ohagi [casting].

October 1988: Tôjûrô took part in a Kabuki tour in Egypt; he played the roles of Tanzaemon and the Wisteria Maiden in the play "Shunkan" and the dance "Fuji Musume".

August 1990: revival at the Kabukiza of the kaidanmono "Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki"; Tôjûrô played the role of Shigenobu's wife Oseki [casting].

May 1993: Tôjûrô produced a special show in Kyôto in the precinct of the Sambôin Temple, playing in open air the main role of the dance "Momo Chidori Musume Dôjôji", a rare dôjôjimono.

June 1998: Tôjûrô played at the Kabukiza the role of Naritsune in the drama "Shunkan"; this was his last stage performance before the start of his health problems.

1998: black year for Tôjûrô who fell seriously ill.

Comments:

Sawamura Tôjûrô II was an excellent onnagata actor who was still in rehabilitation. We all hope he will be able to make his comeback.

Sawamura Tôjûrô II in a print made by Lynn Matsuoka
Print courtesy of Lynn Matsuoka Studios (all rights reserved)
Lynn Matsuoka worked in the dressing room and back stage, right in front of the actor, not from Pictures!!!

The Sawamura Tôjûrô line of actors