Stage name:

Fujikawa Tomokichi I

Other name:

Fujikawa Kayû I

Guild: Itaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kayû

Existence: 1759 ~ 16th day of the 6th lunar month of 1808 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Fujikawa Hachizô I

Brother: Fujikawa Hachizô II

Disciples: Fujikawa Tomokichi II, Fujikawa Buzaemon II, Fujikawa Daikichi, Fujikawa Minosuke, Fujikawa Otokichi

Career:

1759~1773: born in Ôsaka. Disciple of Fujikawa Hachizô I, he received the name of Fujikawa Tomokichi I.

1st lunar month of 1774: first record; he performed as a wakaonnagata in Ôsaka in chûshibai.

29th day of the 12th lunar month of 1777 ^[2]: his master Fujikawa Hachizô I died in Ôsaka.

9th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1787 ^[3]: his brother Fujikawa Hachizô II died in Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1791: Tomokichi appeared on an ôshibai stage for the first time, performing at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shuten Dôji", which was produced by Hanagiri Tomimatsu II and celebrated the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

12th lunar month of 1791: Tomokichi played in the same theater the role of the koshimoto Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; his stage partner in the role of Hayano Kanpei was Arashi Kichisaburô II.

3rd lunar month of 1793: Tomokichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

1st lunar month ~ 3rd lunar month of 1794: premiere of Tatsuoka Mansaku's drama "Keisei Haru no Tori", which was famous for its "Umagiri" scene and was produced by the zamoto Asao Okujirô I in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai; Tomokichi played the role of Tôemon's musume Otoyo [more details].

9th lunar month of 1794: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; Tomokichi played the roles of Uji-no-Kata and Kagaribi [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1795: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamanba", which was originally written for the puppet theater, was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai; Tomokichi played the role of Shiragiku [casting].

11th lunar month of 1795: Tomokichi played in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of the keisei Sonouta and Kusunoki's sister Kikumachi in the kaomise drama "Hajimete Hiraku Nanshi no Hanabusa", which celebrated the shûmei of Arashi Mitsuemon I.

1st lunar month of 1796: Tomokichi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was two black strokes above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

10th lunar month of 1796: Tomokichi performed at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ebisu Daikoku Megumi no Kurairi" ^[4]; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danzô IV, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Asao Tamejûrô I, Nakayama Bunshichi II, Anegawa Shinshirô III, Yamashita Yaozô I and Ichikawa Danzaburô IV. The troupe moved to the Naka no Shibai in Ôsaka in the 11th lunar month to perform the same program for 10 days.

5th lunar month of 1797: Tomokichi played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Jijû Tarô's wife Hananoi and Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

Summer 1797: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Osome and Kojorô in the dramas "Osome" and "Kezori".

9th lunar month of 1797: Tomokichi played at the Naka no Shibai from the 9th to the 19th days the role of Kojorô in the drama "Keisei Hakata Ori" ^[4]; the roles of Kezori Kuemon and Sôshichi were played by Asao Tamejûrô I and Nakayama Hyôtarô I. Tomokichi also played at the end of the month from the 26th day the role of the keisei Kagetsu in the drama "Enshû Nakayama-zome" ^[4].

1st lunar month of 1798: Tomokichi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He also played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of the keisei Kinzan and the musume Oren in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Hana no Ômonbi".

11th lunar month of 1798: Tomokichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Kogane Bana Genji no Sakigake", which was produced by Yamashita Kamematsu; his stage partners were Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Nakamura Utaemon III, Arashi Hinasuke II, Yamashita Kinsaku II, Onoe Koisaburô I and Ôtani Tomoemon II.

1st lunar month of 1799: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was one black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent) [visual].

6th lunar month of 1799: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Ôgiya Yûgiri in the drama "Miotsukushi Naniwa no Nagame"; the role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon was played by the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1799: Tomokichi played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Satsuki in the kaomise drama "Ama-ga-Shita Shiru Kikyô no Hataage".

1st lunar month of 1800: Tomokichi's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was three black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent) [visual]. Tomokichi played in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Miyako-no-Mae, Yaezakura and Heita's nyôbô in the drama "Hana Ikada Yodogawa Banashi", which was produced by Nakamura Somenosuke.

3rd lunar month of 1800: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Uji-no-Kata and Kagaribi in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".

11th lunar month of 1800: Tomokichi performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ehô Taikôki". The troupe moved to the Kita no Shinchi Shibai to perform in the same drama in the 12th lunar month. Tomokichi also played at the Kita no Shinchi Shibai the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô".

1st lunar month of 1801: Tomokichi's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was three black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Mimasu Tokujirô I. Tomokichi performed in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai in Nagawa Tokusuke I's new year ni-no-kawari drama ishikawa-goemonmono "Keisei Fukama-ga-Fuchi", which was produced by Nakayama Tokujirô.

9th lunar month of 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Tomokichi played the roles of Katsugorô's wife Hatsuhana and Yodomachi Gozen [casting].

11th lunar month of 1801: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of the dancer Otomo in the kaomise drama "Furuki o Motte Aratama no Kaomise", which was produced by the zamoto Arashi Sankichi and celebrated the shûmei of Kanô Minshi I.

1st lunar month of 1802: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Tomokichi performed in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Yanagi Zakura".

3rd lunar month of 1802: Tomokichi played at the Kado no Shibai the role of Chidori in the drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima"; the role of the exiled priest Shunkan was played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

6th lunar month of 1802: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kiku-no-Mae in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

9th lunar month of 1802: Tomokichi played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kaoyo Gozen, Orie and Okita in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

11th lunar month of 1802: Tomokichi performed at the Naka no Shibai in Nagawa Shimesuke I's kaomise drama "Azuma Giku Naniwa no Kisewata", which was produced by Anegawa Kumajirô and celebrated the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Segawa Rokô III. The troupe moved in the 12th lunar month from the Naka no Shibai to the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai to perform a similar program.

1st lunar month of 1803: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Yamashita Yaozô I.

2nd~3rd lunar months of 1803: Tomokichi played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Tatsuta-no-Mae and Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

4th lunar month of 1803: Tomokichi played in Ôsaka at the Kita no Shinchi Shibai the roles of Hinadori and Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin"; his stage partners were Fujikawa Hachizô III (Fukashichi) and Nakayama Ittoku I (Koganosuke).

6th lunar month of 1803: Tomokichi played in the same theater the roles of Onaka and Danshichi Kurobê's wife in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; the role of Danshichi Kurobê was played by Fujikawa Hachizô III.

11th lunar month of 1803: Tomokichi became zamoto and produced at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Sôzoku Ishibashiyama", which celebrated the shûmei of Asao Tamejûrô II.

12th lunar month of 1803: Tomokichi produced in the same theater the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", in which he played the roles of Tatsuta-no-Mae and Yae.

1st lunar month of 1804: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

2nd lunar month of 1804: Tomokichi produced at the Naka no Shibai the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", in which he played the roles of Hinadori and Omiwa.

4th lunar month of 1804: Tomokichi produced in the same theater the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", in which he played the role of Shigenoi.

11th lunar month of 1804: Tomokichi performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ichiyô Ôgi no Kachidoki", which was produced by his disciple Fujikawa Tomosaburô.

1st lunar month of 1805: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He was the kanjiku for onnagata actors.

3rd lunar month of 1805: Tomokichi played in the same theater the roles of Hinadori and Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

8th lunar month of 1805: tour in Nagoya; Tomokichi played the role of Chidori in the drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima", which was staged in the precincts of the Seijuin Temple; his stage partners were Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Shunkan), Ôtani Tomoemon II (Senoo Tarô) and Nakamura Utaemon III (Tanzaemon).

9th lunar month of 1805: Tomokichi was back in Kyôto to play the role of Miyagino in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which was produced by Fujikawa Tomosaburô at the Kitagawa no Shibai. He also played the role of the courtesan Umegawa in "Keisei Sandogasa", sharing the stage with Nakamura Utaemon III in the role of Kameya Chûbê.

11th lunar month of 1805: Tomokichi played at the Naka no Shibai the role of the keisei Miyagino in the kaomise drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which was produced by Yamashita Tokujirô. He also performed in "Ôyashiro En no Hikizuna". Then, the troupe moved to the Minamigawa no Shibai in Kyôto to perform from the 22nd day in the kaomise drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura"; Tomokichi played the role of Osato.

12th lunar month of 1805: the troupe which was at the Minamigawa no Shibai moved back to Ôsaka to perform the same drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" from the 7th day at the Naka no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1806: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

3rd lunar month of 1806: Tomokichi played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Princess Tamaori, Kiku-no-Mae and Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also played the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama"; the roles of Iwafuji and Onoe were played by Nakayama Shinkurô III and Nakayama Yoshio I.

6th lunar month of 1806: tour in Nagoya; Tomokichi played the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which was staged in the precinct of the Seijuin Temple; the role of the wicked priest Narukami was played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.

11th lunar month of 1806: Tomokichi played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Nagisa-no-Kata in the kaomise drama "Futatsu Mon Sato no Nishikie". He also played the role of Teruha in the kiri kyôgen "Hime Kurabe Kazashi no Hi Ôgi".

1st lunar month of 1807: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1807: Tomokichi played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Shibaroku's and Kamatari's spouses in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

11th lunar month of 1807: Tomokichi performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Yaemusubi Jiraiya Monogatari", which was produced by Fujikawa Tatsuzô.

1st lunar month of 1808: Tomokichi's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

5th lunar month of 1808: Tomokichi appeared on stage for the last time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing 2 roles in the drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Iori no Akebono".

16th day of the 6th lunar month of 1808 ^[1]: Tomokichi died in Ôsaka ^[5].

Comments:

Fujikawa Tomokichi I was a talented onnagata actor, who spent all his career in Kamigata. He excelled in keisei roles in sewamono and in okugata roles in jidaimono. He unfortunately died too young, at the end of his 40s, but he was a jô-jô-kichi actor for five seasons.

[1] The 16th day of the 6th lunar month of the 5th year of the Bunka era was the 9th of July 1808 in the western calendar.

[2] The 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the 6th year of the An'ei era was the 27th of January 1778 in the western calendar.

[3] The 9th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 7th year of the Tenmei era was the 26th of April 1787 in the western calendar.

[4] This drama was written by Namiki Shôzô II and Tatsuoka Mansaku.

[5] Fujikawa Tomokichi I's tombstone was located in the precinct of the Kôenji Temple in the district of Junkei.

Fujikawa Tomokichi I in a print made by Shôkôsai Hanbê (1806)

Prints & Illustrations

The Fujikawa Kayû line of actors

The Fujikawa Tomokichi line of actors