Stage names:

Ichimura Uzaemon XVII
Bandô Hikosaburô VII
Bandô Shinsui VII
Bandô Kamesaburô III

Real name: Bandô Mamoru

Guilds: Tachibanaya, Otowaya

Line number: JÛSHICHIDAIME (XVII)

Existence: 11 July 1916 ~ 8 July 2001

Connection:

Great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XII)

Grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XIII)

Father: Bandô Hikosaburô VI

Sons: Bandô Rakuzen (Bandô Hikosaburô VIII), Ichimura Manjirô II, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô IV

Grandsons: Bandô Hikosaburô IX, Bandô Kamezô III, Ichimura Takematsu VI, Ichimura Hikaru

Great-grandson: Bandô Kamesaburô VI

Disciples: Bandô Kitsutarô, Bandô Tachibana, Bandô Tsurue, Bandô Yaezô

Career:

October 1921: he made his first stage appearance, at the Imperial Theater, where he received the name of Bandô Kamesaburô III and played the role of Tsurukichi in the drama "Meigetsu Hachiman Matsuri".

November 1928: premiere at the Kabukiza of Oka Onitarô's dance-drama "Kakuju Senzai"; Kamesaburô played the role of a girl [more details].

March 1935: Bandô Kamesaburô III took the name of Bandô Shinsui VII at the Kabukiza. Premiere at the Kabukiza of the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari"; Shinsui played the role of the yakko Datehei, in reality Kiso Yoshikata [more details]. Shinsui was one of the haimyô used by the Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors and Bandô Shinsui VII was the first actor to use it as a stage name.

April 1936: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Uwanari", a play to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Shinsui played the role of the disciple Kingaku [more details].

October 1942: Bandô Shinsui VII took the name of Bandô Hikosaburô VII at the Kabukiza, playing the role of the oshimodoshi demon-queller and Ibuki Tôta in the dance-drama "Futa Omote" and the drama "Moritsuna Jin'ya".

May 1947: revival at the Tôkyô Gekijô of the drama "Jayanagi"; Hikosaburô played the role of Heinai [more details].

September 1947: premiere at the Imperial Theater of Atsumi Seitarô's version of "Nansô Satomi Hakkenden"; Hikosaburô played the roles of Inukawa Sôsuke and Yamabayashi Fusahachi [casting].

July 1951: revival at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jitsugetsusei Kyôwa Seidan"; Hikosaburô played the roles of the thief Akatsuki Hoshiemon and Ôzakaya Kihachi (in reality Akatsuki Hoshiemon) [casting].

March 1953: premiere at the Kabukiza of Osaragi Jirô's drama "Edo no Yûbae"; Hikosaburô played the role of Yoshida Ippeita [casting].

March 1954: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 1st part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Hikosaburô played the role of Manabe Echizen-no-Kami Akifusa [more details].

December 1954: premiere at the Meijiza of Kawaguchi Matsutarô's revision of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Daikyôji Mukashi Goyomi", which was entitled "Osan Mohei"; Hikosaburô played the role of the daikyôji Ishun [casting].

March 1955: premiere at the Kabukiza of the 3rd (and last) part of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Hikosaburô played the roles of Akimoto Tajima-no-Kami and Kido Jûbê Katsumasa [more details].

October 1955: Bandô Hikosaburô VII took the name of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki, Wada no Hyôe Hidemori, Minamoto no Raikô and Izumiya Tazaemon in "Ishikiri Kajiwara", "Moritsuna Jin'ya", "Tsuchi-gumo" and "Kirare Yosa"; the program commemorated the memorial services of the passing away of both Onoe Baikô VI and Ichimura Uzaemon XV; this was also the hatsubutai of Uzaemon's second son Ichimura Takematsu V.

November 1955: Uzaemon celebrated his shûmei ^[1] in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki, Kiichi Hôgen, the father shishi and Haruki-chô Minosuke in "Ishikiri Kajiwara", "Kikubatake", "Renjishi" and "Kagatobi".

December 1955: Uzaemon celebrated both his shûmei and the 5th anniversary of the reopening of the Meijiza, playing the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts), Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act), Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) and Kobayashi Heihachirô (11th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

May 1956: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".

April 1957: Uzaemon played at the Misonoza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".

January 1958: premiere at the Shinbashi Enbujô of the of the matsubamemono dance-drama "Tôzumô"; Uzaemon played the role of the interpreter (tsûji) [more details].

June 1958: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Onoe Baikô VII. He also played the role of Shundô Genba in the drama "Terakoya".

September 1958: Uzaemon played at the Meijiza the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the drama "Sushiya".

May 1959: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Hayami no Tôta in the dance-drama "Yoshinoyama".

December 1959: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Yakushiji Jirozaemon (4th act), Ono no Sadakurô (5th act), Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) and Kobayashi Heihachirô (11th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

June 1960: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Ichikawa Danzô VIII.

December 1961: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) and Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

May 1962: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Ichikawa Sadanji III; this drama was staged to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô XI.

June 1962: revival at the Kabukiza under the supervision of Takechi Tetsuji of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Uzaemon played the role of Koshino Kanzaemon [more details].

January 1963: Uzaemon played at the Shinbashi Enbujô the role of Togashi Saemon in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Minamoto no Yoshitsune were played by Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" was produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Uzaemon played the role of Daimonjiya Jihê (commonly called Sakai no Daiji) [casting].

December 1963: Uzaemon played at the Minamiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III.

May 1965: shûmei at the Kabukiza for 3 young actors of the Otowaya guild; Onoe Ushinosuke V, Onoe Sakon I and Uzaemon's son Bandô Kamesaburô IV respectively took the names of Onoe Kikunosuke IV, Onoe Tatsunosuke I, and Bandô Shinsui VIII. The program also commemorated the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Kikugorô VI. Revival in the same theater of the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari"; Uzaemon played the role of Tenmei Yashagorô [more details].

October 1965: Uzaemon took part in the first Kabuki tour in Western Europe; he played the roles of Matsuômaru, Tanzaemon and Yuranosuke in the plays "Kurumabiki", "Heike Nyogo no Shima" and "Kanadehon Chûshingura" [casting].

December 1965: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (4th, 7th, 10th and 11th acts) and Yoshida Chûzaemon (6th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1967: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Dattan"; Uzaemon played the role of the dôdôji [casting].

November 1968: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts) and Ono no Sadakurô (5th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

November 1969: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Onoe Kurôemon II; this drama was staged to celebrate the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô X.

December 1969: revival at the Kabukiza of the Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Kumo no Ito Azusa no Yumihari"; Uzaemon played the role of Minamoto Yorimitsu [more details].

May 1970: Uzaemon played at the Ôsaka Shinkabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III; this drama was staged to celebrate the shûmei in Ôsaka of Ichikawa Ebizô X.

October 1970: Uzaemon played at the Misonoza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô III; this drama was staged to celebrate the shûmei in Nagoya of Ichikawa Ebizô X.

February 1971: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Shinobu were played by Nakamura Senjaku II and Ichikawa Monnosuke VII.

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

December 1972: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Hayano Kanpei in the michiyuki "Michiyuki Tabiji no Hanamuko"; the role of Shizuka Gozen was played by Ôkawa Hashizô II.

February 1973: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (4th, 7th and 9th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

May 1973: Uzaemon played at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".

June 1973: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Uzaemon played the roles of Kaze-no-Kami Kizaemon and Anoya Jûbê [casting].

December 1973: Uzaemon played at the National Theatre the roles of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) and Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1975: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Debauchi Otama"; Uzaemon played the role of Mori Tôjûrô [more details].

March 1975: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Uzaemon played the roles of Yashagorô and Tsukikage Gunryô Miyukinosuke [casting].

January 1976: Uzaemon played at the National Theatre the role of Togashi Saemon in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Musashibô Benkei and Minamoto no Yoshitsune were played by Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

February 1977: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Ichimatsu Kozô no Onna"; Uzaemon played the role of Shimaya Jûemon [more details].

November 1977: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke (1st and 3rd acts), Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) and Fuwa Kazuemon (6th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1978: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Aibiki no Onna"; Uzaemon played the role of Okinaya Nihê [more details].

May 1978: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Nakamura Tomijûrô V.

January 1979: tour in the Popular Republic of China.

January 1980: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki" [more details]; Uzaemon played the roles of Hakamadare no Yasusuke and Mita Genta Hirotsuna (in reality Hakamadare no Yasusuke).

January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the National Theatre; Uzaemon played the role of Ema no Koshirô Yoshitoki [casting].

January 1982: revival at the National Theatre of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Uzaemon played the role of the villain Ôtomo no Kachimaro [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Uzaemon played the role of Umezu Kanimori [casting].

November 1984: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U", a play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Uzaemon played the role of Kumagai Renshôbô, later Ryû Bi [casting].

October 1986: Uzaemon played at the National Theatre the roles of Kakogawa Honzô (2nd and 3rd acts) and Ishidô Umanojô (4th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

November 1986: Uzaemon played at the National Theatre the roles of Hara Goemon (6th act) and Teraoka Heiemon (7th act) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

December 1986: Uzaemon played at the National Theatre the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke (9th, 10th and 11th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

June 1987: tour in USSR.

September 1988: tour in South Korea.

1990: Uzaemon received the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhô in Japanese).

January 1991: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-priest Musashibô Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô"; the roles of Togashi Saemon and Minamoto no Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon II and Onoe Baikô VII.

February 1991: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the roles of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) and Ôboshi Yuranosuke (7th and 11th acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

October 1992: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Shinobu were played by Nakamura Jakuemon IV and Ichimura Manjirô II.

April 1993: Uzaemon played at the Meijiza the bombastic role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira was played by Uzaemon's son Bandô Hikosaburô VIII; this drama was staged to celebrate the reopening of the Meijiza.

May 1994: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Owasa's daughter Shinobu were played by Nakamura Shikan VII and Nakamura Fukusuke IX ^[2].

February 1995: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Kô no Moronô (1st and 3rd acts) in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1997: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Yamashina Kankyo".

November 1997: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the drama "Tôyata Monogatari", which was staged to commemorate the 36th anniversary (37th memorial service) and the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the passing away of Bandô Mitsugorô VII and Bandô Mitsugorô VIII; the roles of Iso no Tôyata and Shizuka Gozen were played by Bandô Mitsugorô IX and Sawamura Sôjûrô IX.

April 1998: Uzaemon played at the Shôchikuza the role of the villain Kiyohara no Takehira in the spectacular drama "Shibaraku"; the role of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa was played by Ichikawa Danjûrô XII; this drama was staged to celebrate the shûmei in Ôsaka of Kataoka Nizaemon XV.

September 1999: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the role of Musashibô Benkei in the drama "Benkei Jôshi"; the role of Owasa and Owasa's daughter Shinobu were played by Nakamura Shikan VII and Nakamura Kantarô II ^[3].

January 2000: Uzaemon played at the Kabukiza the bombastic role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the spectacular drama "Ya-no-Ne"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Sawamura Sôjûrô IX. Uzaemon fell ill and had to be replaced from the 7th by his son Bandô Hikosaburô VIII.

March 2001: Uzaemon performed on stage for the last time with the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan, in Tôkyô at the Shinbashi Enbujô, where he played the role of Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged to commemorate the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) and the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of both Onoe Shôroku II and Onoe Baikô VII.

April 2001: Uzaemon appeared on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Shôchikuza, where he took part in the kôjô celebrating the shûmei of Bandô Mitsugorô X.

8 July 2001: Uzaemon died in Tôkyô of breathing difficulties following a lung cancer.

Comments:

Ichimura Uzaemon XVII was one of the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century, excelling in aragoto roles. He was a Kabuki icon with encyclopedic knowledge of theater traditions. The theater critic Itô Katsuyo wrote that he was "the last heavyweight in the Kabuki world. He learned directly from the old, legendary actors".

[1] It was also the shûmei in Ôsaka of Bandô Yasosuke IV.

[2] It is interesting to note that the role of the daughter was played by the son of the actor playing the role of the mother.

[3] It is interesting to note that the role of the daughter was played by a grandson of the actor playing the role of the mother.

Ichimura Uzaemon XVII playing the role of Soga Gorô in the bombastic drama "Ya-no-Ne" (painting made by Hasegawa Noboru in June 1958)

The Bandô Kamesaburô line of actors

The Bandô Shinsui line of actors

The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors

The Ichimura Uzaemon line of actors and theater managers