Stage names:

Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Yoshizawa Sakiya

Guild: Tennôjiya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Keishi

Blazon: Yattsu Yaguruma

Existence: 1719 ~ 3rd day of the 8th lunar month of 1786 ^[1]

Connections:

Father: Yoshizawa Ayame I

Adoptive father: Nakamura Shingorô I

Brothers: Yoshizawa Ayame II, Yamashita Matatarô I, Yoshizawa Ayame III

Father-in-law: Yamashita Kinsaku I

Adopted sons: Nakamura Shingorô II, Nakamura Noshio II

Son-in-law: Nakamura Noshio I

Disciples: Nakamura Handayû (Yamashita Kinsaku II), Nakamura Ômachi, Nakamura Matsuyo, Nakamura Kyôjûrô II, Nakamura Tominosuke, Nakamura Tokusaburô, Nakamura Yoshimatsu, Nakamura Kichinosuke, Nakamura Tomiyo, Nakamura Man'yo

Family map: the Yoshizawa Clan

Career:

1719 ~ 1728: born in Ôsaka. Third son of the great star Yoshizawa Ayame I, who gives him the name of Yoshizawa Sakiya and trains him as an actor. He is adopted by Nakamura Shingorô I.

1st lunar month of 1729: he makes his first appearance on stage in Kyôto, as a wakaonnagata, taking the name of Nakamura Tomijûrô and playing in the drama "Keisei Isamiyama", which is produced by the zamoto Sanogawa Mangiku.

1st lunar month of 1731: Tomijûrô, his adoptive father and Sanogawa Mangiku settle in Edo. The 3 actors play together at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Naresome Azuma Genji".

9th lunar month of 1731: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater in "Hana Shôbu Imagawa". Nakamura Shingorô, Sanogawa Mangiku and Tomijûrô go back to Kamigata after this performance.

11th lunar month of 1731: Tomijûrô triumphes in Kyôto by playing the role of the courtesan Tamayama in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Imagawajô", which is staged in Miyako Mandayû's theater.

9th lunar month of 1732: first Kabuki adaptation of Matsuda Bunkôdô and Hasegawa Senshi puppet theater drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is produced in Kyôto by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Tomijûrô plays the role of Okachi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1734: Tomijûrô becomes zamoto and produces in the same theater the play "Tomi Yakata Kogane no Yaguruma", written by the playwrights Tomimura Takichi, Iwai Izaemon and Sawamura Bunji. He works as a zamoto in Kyôto up to the 7th lunar month of 1737.

11th lunar month of 1735: Tomijûrô produces at Miyako Mandayû's theater the kaomise drama "Bankoku Ôshimadai".

Summer or Fall 1736: Tomijûrô produces at Miyako Mandayû's theater the first (partial) Kabuki adaptation of the drama "Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru", which is entitled "Hangaku Mon Yaburi" ('The Destruction of the Gate by Hangaku' in English); it stars Sanogawa Mangiku (Hangaku) and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I (Ichiwakamaru).

Fall 1737: Tomijûrô settles in Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1737: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the Shimabara pleasure quarter courtesan Konohana in the kaomise drama "Iwatogura Kogane Masugata", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III.

11th lunar month of 1738: Tomijûrô is back in Kyôto and becomes zamoto, working with the nadai Kameya Kumenojô and producing Tomimura Takichi's kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Hôrai Yakata" in which he plays the role of Sonohana. He works as a zamoto in Kyôto up to the 10th lunar month of 1739.

1st lunar month of 1739: Tomijûrô produces the play "Keisei Arashiyama" in which he plays the roles of Mojiemon's daughter Osan, Princess Sakuragi and the courtesan Michinoku.

Fall 1739: Tomijûrô settles in Ôsaka.

9th lunar month of 1740: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of the play "Hirakana Seisuiki", in which Tomijûrô plays the role of Chidori.

11th lunar month of 1740 ~ 10th lunar month of 1741: Tomijûrô produces several plays in Ôsaka, notably "Yaguruma Yakata no Fuji".

11th lunar month of 1741: second stay in Edo in the company of Nakamura Shingorô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Sanogawa Mangiku and Ôtani Hiroji I. He triumphes at the Nakamuraza by playing in Hayakawa Denshirô's drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki" and the dance "Shakkyô" ("The Stone Bridge"), a famous lion spirit's dance (shishimono).

1st lunar month of 1742: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima", which is performed at the Nakamuraza.

7th lunar month of 1742: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in which Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Katsuragi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1742: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Princess Tatsu in the kaomise program "Keisei Akazawayama".

1st lunar month of 1743: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Hidaka in the new year drama "Kadomidori Tokiwa Soga". His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I (Kurofune Chûemon), Sanogawa Mangiku (Yamabuki) and Sawamura Sôjûrô I (Ume no Yoshibê). Tomijûrô also plays the role of Osome, in duo with Sanogawa Ichimatsu I in the role of Hisamatsu in the dance "Osome Hisamatsu no Michiyuki".

4th lunar month of 1743: Tomijûrô visits the Kishibô Shrine in the district of Zôshigaya and offers a votive picture tablet.

5th lunar month of 1743: special performance at the Nakamuraza related to the exhibition of a sacred image of Prince Shôtoku in the Shitennôji Temple in the district of Yûshima. Tomijûrô plays the roles of Ukamuse Hachibei's wife Kiku and the fox spirit of the temple Tennôji in the drama "Yamato Morokoshi Aishô Kagami". He also plays the role of Osan in duo with Utagawa Shirogorô in the role of Mohei in the drama "Daikyôji".

Fall 1743: Tomijûrô and Sawamura Sôjûrô I play in the same theater the roles of the courtesans Yatsuhashi and Yufuran in the drama "Futari Yatsuhashi". They decide to go back together to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1743: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Konohana in Namiki Sôsuke's kaomise drama "Futatsu Biki Nishiki no Manmaku", which is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the star Sawamura Sôjûrô I.

12th lunar month of 1743: Tomijûrô and Sawamura Sôjûrô I play in the same theater the roles of the courtesan Tôyama and Saitô Shôkurô in the drama "Ômonguchi Yoroi Gasane".

3rd lunar month of 1744: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Ono no Komachi and Shinobu in the drama "Ôshû Shinobu Ishi".

1st lunar month of 1745: première of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai, in which Tomijûrô and Nakamura Shingorô I play the role of the courtesan Tôyama and the painter Matahei.

11th lunar month of 1745: Tomijûrô plays the role of Oshio in Namiki Eisuke's play "Toragoyomi Hoteibukuro", produced in Kyôto by Nakamura Kumetarô I.

10th lunar month of 1746: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Yae and Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Asao Motogorô I in Kyôto at Ebisuya Kichirôbê's theater.

1st lunar month of 1748: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Oritsu and Sakurado in the drama "Keisei Yoake no Kane", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1748: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Tomokirimaru in the drama "Tsuizen Soga Zoroe".

7th lunar month of 1748: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the female hairdresser Otsuge in the drama "Keisei Momiji Gun".

Fall 1748: Tomijûrô achieves a great success in the same theater by playing the main role of the lion spirit dance "Shakkyô".

11th lunar month of 1748: Tomijûrô takes part in the kaomise program, playing the roles of Tokiwa Gozen and the fox Tokiwa in the drama "Sugomori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which is produced in Kyôto by Arashi San'emon IV. His stage partners are Fujikawa Heikurô, Yamashita Matatarô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Hanakawa Ichinojô, Sanogawa Hanazuma II and Imamura Shichisaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1749: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osaga in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chikai no Fumizuka".

5th lunar month of 1749: tour in Ise. Tomijûrô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which is staged at the Naka-no-Jizô no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1749: Tomijûrô takes part in the kaomise program, playing 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Tokitsukazeyasu Keizu", which is produced in Kyôto by Sakakiyama Shirotarô II; his stage partners are Yamashita Matatarô I, Kasaya Matakurô I, Sakakiyama Koshirô I and Sakurayama Shirosaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1750: Tomijûrô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Sendai no Otsuru in the drama "Keisei Kodamazuka".

11th lunar month of 1750: Tomijûrô moves to Ôsaka and plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the fortune-teller Ohyaku and a female fox in the kaomise drama "Yasa Heike Sakiwake Musha", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

12th lunar month of 1750: the play "Keisei Hangonkô" is performed for the first time at the Naka no Shibai. It is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô I for the nadai Shioya Kuroemon and performed under the title "Keisei Tôyama Zakura". Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Tôyama [casting].

1st lunar month of 1751: Tomijûrô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).

4th lunar month of 1752: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Tonase and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi San'emon IV in Kyôto. The role of Tonase's daughter Konami is played by the actor Yamamoto Iwanojô.

11th lunar month of 1752: third stay in Edo. Tomijûrô and Yamashita Kinsaku II play together at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Akazawayama Sumô Nikki".

3rd ~ 6th lunar months of 1753: Tomijûrô achieves an huge success for several months by playing the main role of the dance "Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji", which is performed at the Nakamuraza. His fame in the Shôgun capital is equal to the late star Segawa Kikunojô I's.

3rd lunar month of 1754: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance "Hanabusa Shûjaku no Shishi"; the leading role of this dance is played by Tomijûrô.

11th lunar month of 1754: Tomijûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Tsukisayo in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Matsumoto Kôshirô III and Tsuuchi Monzaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1755: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôiso no Tora (in reality Princess Sendan) and Arima no Fuji in the new year sogamono drama "Waka Midori Nishiki Soga".

8th lunar month of 1756: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1758: Tomijûrô plays at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Kujûsanki Ôyose Soga".

6th lunar month of 1759: Tomijûrô returns to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1759: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Otomi in Namiki Shôzô I's kaomise drama "Saiwai Genji Chôkyû no Maki", which is produced by Nakayama Bunshichi I and celebrates the shûmei of Arashi Koisa II.

1st lunar month of 1761: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's ni-no-kawari drama "Kiritarô Tengu no Sakamori"; Tomijûrô plays the role of the keisei Sakuragi (in reality Minamoto Yoshitsune's daughter Princess Kiku) [more details].

4th lunar month of 1761: Tomijûrô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the great drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by Nakayama Bunshichi I.

5th lunar month of 1762: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Koi Hakke Hashira Goyomi", which is a revision of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi"; Tomijûrô plays the role of Osan [more details].

2nd lunar month of 1763: Tomijûrô plays the role of the courtesan Tôyama in the play "Keisei Hangonkô", which is produced by Mimasu Daigorô I at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô I (Matahei), Arashi Sangorô II (Shirojirô) and Iwata Somematsu I (Otoku).

7th lunar month of 1763: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Yae and Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1763: Tomijûrô plays the role of a fox spirit in the drama "Shôchikubai Ôshimadai", which is performed in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1764: Tomijûrô plays the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is performed in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1766: Tomijûrô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Tamamo-no-Mae and a white fox spirit in Namiki Jûsuke's kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Hikime no Yaguruma", which is produced by Nakamura Utaemon I.

3rd lunar month of 1770: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Miyako and Oseki in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in Kyôto.

1770: tour in Ise.

11th lunar month of 1770: fourth stay in Edo; Tomijûrô plays 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Miyako Zome Giô Katsugi", which is performed at the Moritaza.

5th lunar month of 1771: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Sadanobu and Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

8th lunar month of 1771: Tomijûrô performs in the same theater in an amazing seven roles Nagauta-based dance called "Kiku ha Yae Shichinin Geshô". The seven sections are "Kanjo" (the court lady), "Harukoma" (a dance using a horse head look-alike puppet), "Wakashû Tanzen" (a boy in Tanzen style), "Keisei" (a high-ranking courtesan), "Yamagatsu" (the mountaineer), "Nuno Zarashi" (the bleached cotton dance) and "Yari Odori" (the spear dance).

11th lunar month of 1771: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Nagoya Osan in the kaomise drama "Fukikaete Tsuki no Yoshiwara", which celebrates the arrival of the new zagashira Ichikawa Danjûrô V.

1st lunar month of 1772: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune (almost unbelievable!) in the new year drama "Hatsu Akebono Niwatori Soga"; the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Soga Gorô Tokimune are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Nakamura Jûzô II.

11th lunar month of 1772: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osaga in the kaomise drama "Izu Goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Chôjûrô IV, Sawamura Kijûrô II and Mikuni Fujigorô.

11th lunar month of 1774: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Miyagino in the kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi Tsuki no Kaomise", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of his adopted son Nakamura Shingorô II.

1st lunar month of 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of the dancer Ukigusa, the Sendai zatô Mukuichi and the spirit of Masakado in the new year program "Shida Yuzuriha Hôrai Soga". He is also the leading actor in the seven roles Tomimoto-based dance "Sono Saishiki Nanaori Ôgi".

5th lunar month of 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The role of Yae's husband Sakuramaru is played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.

8th lunar month of 1775: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Tôyama in the drama "Keisei Tsuki no Miyako".

11th lunar month of 1775: the departure of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV to the Ichimuraza is a hard blow for the Moritaza. Tomijûrô stays and plays the roles of Bijomaru and Kiyoaki's wife in the kaomise drama "Kikujidô Shuen no Iwaya". He also plays the eponymous role of the dance "Sanbasô".

1st lunar month of 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year program "Sono Kyôdai Fuji no Sugatami".

2nd lunar month of 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Osugi in second part (nibanme) of the new year program "Sono Kyôdai Fuji no Sugatami". His stage partners in the roles of Yaoya Oshichi and Kichisaburô are Yoshizawa Iroha I and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.

5th lunar month of 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Okoma in the Tokiwazu-based dance "Ayame Fukuhana no Itazura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Ôtani Hiroji III and Ichikawa Monnosuke II.

7th lunar month of 1776: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Kikyôzome Onna Urakata", whose plot and characters are similar to "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". He also plays the role of Bikuni in the Tokiwazu-based dance "Hana Fubuki Fuji no Sugegasa", performed in duo with Bandô Mitsugorô I in the role of Fuji Tarô.

11th lunar month of 1776: Tomijûrô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Gion Okaji in the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise". He also plays the leading role of the Tokiwazu-based dance "Tono Gonomi Koi no Utaura".

11th lunar month of 1777: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the Tomimoto-based dance-drama "Meotozake Kawaranu Nakanaka" (commonly called "Kurama Jishi"); Tomijûrô plays the role of the female fox [casting].

19th day of the 11th lunar month of 1777: his two adopted sons, Nakamura Noshio I and Nakamura Shingorô II die the same day.

1778: Tomijûrô is back in Kamigata, after a short stay in Nagoya to perform the dance "Musume Dôjôji".

11th lunar month of 1778: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Suma-no-Konami and Ayazuru in the kaomise drama "Genpei Tatoezukushi", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I.

12th lunar month of 1778: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Okinu in Namiki Gohei's drama "Ishii no Jô Onna Nawabari".

3rd lunar month of 1779: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's play "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; Tomijûrô plays the roles of the ghost of Hime-ga-Jô Castle (in reality Kinuta-no-Mae) and Toya Otsuyu [casting].

1781: tour in Nagoya.

9th lunar month of 1781: Tomijûrô plays the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon I (Soga no Iruka), Nakayama Bunshichi I (Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Shibaroku), Nakamura Noshio II (Hinadori) and Yoshizawa Iroha I (Koganosuke, Princess Tachibana).

11th lunar month of 1781: Tomijûrô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of Ayatsuru in the kaomise drama "Shin Yakata Fukki no Ishizue", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai and celebrates the shûmei of both Yamamoto Giemon and Hanagiri Tomimatsu I.

5th lunar month of 1782: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".

7th lunar month of 1782: Tomijûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I (Daihanji no Kiyosumi), Fujikawa Hachizô II (Shibaroku), Yamamoto Giemon (Soga no Iruka), Nakamura Noshio II (Hinadori), Yoshizawa Iroha I (Koganosuke) and Onoe Tamizô I (Princess Tachibana).

1st lunar month of 1783: Tomijûrô plays the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which is performed in Kyôto at the Nishigawa no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of Tadanobu is Arashi Hinasuke I.

1st ~ 4th lunar months of 1784: tour in Nagoya. Tomijûrô plays at the Inari Shrine in the dramas "Tana Biku Kogane no Shirahata" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

5th lunar month of 1784: tour in Ise, Yamada and Matsuzaka. Tomijûrô plays among others the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1784: Tomijûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Onna Konpira in Namiki Gohei I and Namiki Jûsuke kaomise drama "Yunzei Konpira Musume", which is produced by the young zamoto Onoe Ushinosuke I; Tomijûrô also plays the roles of Chiyo and Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1786: Tomijûrô plays the role of Okame in the drama "Keisei Inabayama", which is performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater. He returns quickly in Ôsaka in order to perform at the Ônishi no Shibai before going back to the Imperial Capital.

3rd lunar month of 1786: Tomijûrô appears on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater, performing in the drama "Onna Hachinoki".

3rd day of the 8th lunar month of 1786 ^[1]: Tomijûrô dies in Kyôto. His tombstone is located in the cemetery of the Yakuôji temple in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Nakamura Tomijûrô I was an amazing eighteenth-century onnagata actor who found fame in both Edo and Kamigata.

One of his forte were the roles of women belonging to the samurai class (onna budôgoto), proud of their chivalrous spirit and involved in complicated revenge plots. Nakamura Tomijûrô created many female version of famous Kabuki characters, like "Onna Narukami" ("The Narukami woman"), "Onna Yuranosuke" ("The Yuranosuke women" - Yuranosuke is the main male role of the great play "Kanadehon Chûshingura"), "Onna Kagekiyo" ("The Kagekiyo woman" - Kagekiyo is the great warrior Taira no Kagekiyo), "Onna Kurofune" ("The Kurofune woman") and "Onna Asaina" ("The Asaina woman" - Kobayashi no Asahina is a famous character belonging to the sogamono world). "He was loved in all types of female roles - from proper young ladies to courtesans to samurai wives to amazons" (Samuel Leiter, "New Kabuki Encyclopedia").

Nakamura Tomijûrô I's best roles: the snake spirit dancer Hanako ("Kyôganoko Musume Dôjôji"), Hangaku ("Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru"), Chiyo ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Shigenoi ("Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna") and Chidori ("Hirakana Seisuiki").

[1] The 3rd day of the 8th lunar month of the 6th year of the Tenmei era was the 26th of August 1786 in the western calendar.

Nakamura Tomijûrô I in an illustration from the book "Yakusha Mono Iwai" (1784)
Copyright © The Trustees of the British Museum

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1753

Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1754

Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku 1794~1795

Caricature 1780

The Nakamura Tomijûrô line of actors