TOYAMA SENNOSUKE

Stage names:

Toyama Sennosuke
Takii Sawanojô

Existence: 1672 ~ ???

Career:

1672 ~ 1688: born and trained in Kyôto. His first stage name was Takii Sawanojô.

1688: he settled in Edo, took the name of Toyama Sennosuke and performed as a wakashugata at the Ichimuraza.

1691: he performed in Kyôto as a wakashugata.

7th lunar month of 1692: Sennosuke played in Kyôto the role of the koshô Samon in the drama "Kashima no Kanameishi", which was produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon I.

3rd lunar month of 1693: Sennosuke performed in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Butsumo Mayasan Kaichô", which was written for the star Sakata Tôjûrô I and was produced by Yamashita Hanzaemon I.

Summer 1694: he settled in Edo, became wakaonnagata and performed at the Yamamuraza.

1697: he went back to Kamigata.

Fall 1702: Sennosuke settled in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1702: Sennosuke played at the Nakamuraza the role of Minanogawa in the kaomise drama "Onna Hachinoki Mitsu Uroko".

3rd lunar month of 1703: Sennosuke's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô (superior) [visual].

1703 ~1715: Sennosuke performed in tabi shibai for many years.

Fall 1715: Sennosuke was back in Edo and in ôshibai.

11th lunar month of 1715: Sennosuke became kashagata and played at the Ichimuraza the role of Masaki-no-Mae in the kaomise drama "Banzei Onna Hachinoki".

11th lunar month of 1716: Sennosuke appeared on an ôshibai stage for the last time, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he performed in the kaomise drama "Yoroi Kurabe Ôshû Gane". He was recorded in the 1717 Edo hyôbanki. No stage record afterwards.

Comments:

Toyama Sennosuke was born and trained in Kyôto. He was active not only in Kamigata but also in Edo and on the road in tabi shibai. He started as a wakashugata, became a wakaonnagata and ended as a kashagata. As a wakashugata, he was good in budôgoto. As a wakaonnagata, he was said to be outstanding in nuregoto.

Toyama Sennosuke in an ilustration from the book "Hana no Edo Kabuki Nendaiki"