ICHIKAWA YAOZÔ II

1735: born in Edo. His father was a shitateya named Kichibê, who lived in the district of Tomizawa-chô. His real name as a child was Kamekichi. He started his career as a puppet theater singer. His master was Toyotake Hizennojô and his stage name was Toyotake Izumidayû.

1751: he became disciple of the actor Nakamura Denkurô II, who gave him the name of Nakamura Denzô I.

8th lunar month of 1756: Denzô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

19th day of the 10th lunar month of 1759^[2]: Ichikawa Yaozô I died in Edo.

Fall 1761: Denzô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Araoka Genta in the drama "Tsuizen Nana Komachi", which commemorated the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of late Ichikawa Yaozô I. People were amazed by the striking physical resemblance between Ichikawa Yaozô I and Denzô. His master Nakamura Denkurô II introduces him to the family of the late actor and Denzô gets married with the sister of Ichikawa Yaozô I.

2nd lunar month of 1763: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which was staged at the Moritaza; Denzô played the role of Shigasaki Ikomanosuke [casting|illustrations].

11th lunar month of 1763: he became disciple of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and took the name of Ichikawa Yaozô II at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki".

5th lunar month of 1764: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1764: Yaozô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi".

5th lunar month of 1765: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1765: Yaozô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Han'ya Gorô in the kaomise drama "Kagura Uta Amagoi Komachi", which celebrated the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô IV.

5th lunar month of 1766: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Yaoya Oshichi Koi no Edozome"; Yaozô played the role of Goshaku Somegorô.

11th lunar month of 1766: Yaozô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the roles of Hashiba Hisayoshi and the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Tsuitachi".

1st lunar month of 1767: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kichisa in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Yawaragi Soga"; the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Yaoya Oshichi (the girl in love with Kichisa) were played by Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Segawa Kikunojô II.

2nd lunar month of 1767: first Kabuki adaptation, at the Ichimuraza, of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku"; Yaozô played the roles of En'ya Hangan and Hayano Kanpei [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1767: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Tokubê in the drama "Yoni Ôsaka Nitsui Meoto", which mixed Chikamatsu Monzaemon's dramas "Sonezaki Shinjû" and "Shinjû Yoi Gôshin"; the role of Tokubê's lover, the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu, was played by Segawa Kikunojô II.

7th lunar month of 1767: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1767: Yaozô moved to the Nakamuraza and played the role of Shinozuka Iga-no-Kami (the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene) in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Shizu no Furisode".

1st lunar month of 1768: Yaozô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1768: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura"; the role of Okaru was played by Segawa Kikunojô II.

7th lunar month of 1768: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Umeômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Sakuramaru were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô III and Ichikawa Komazô II.

8th lunar month of 1768: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Kokyô no Torikaji"; Yaozô played the roles of Momonoi Harimanosuke and Akaneya Hanshichi [more details].

11th lunar month of 1768: Yaozô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of Nakamura Utaemon I and the shûmei of Osagawa Tsuneyo II.

1st lunar month of 1769: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kudô Saemon Suketsune (Soga brothers' enemy) were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô III and Nakamura Utaemon I.

11th lunar month of 1769: Yaozô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1770: Yaozô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga".

6th lunar month of 1770: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Chûbê in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Chûkô Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1770: Yaozô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Nakamura Shichisaburô III and Bandô Sanpachi II.

1st lunar month of 1771: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono drama "Sakaichô Soga no Nendaiki".

3rd lunar month of 1771: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Tokubê in the Miyakoji-based dance-drama "Oborozuki Tsui no Someginu", which gathered in the same michiyuki the couples of lovers Tokubê/Ohatsu ("Sonezaki Shinjû"), Ochiyo/Hanbê ("Shinjû Yoi Gôshin") and Osome/Hisamatsu; the role of Tokubê's lover, the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu, was played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.

4th lunar month of 1771: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1771: Yaozô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Munesada in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji".

11th lunar month of 1772: Yaozô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Oyamada Tarô, Katagiri Yashichi and Ashikaga Motouji in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Ebizô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Komazô III.

1st lunar month of 1773: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Midajirô and Soga Gorô Tokimune in the new year sogamono drama "Wada Sakamori Eiga Kagami". He also played the role of Hiranoya Tokubê in the second part (nibanme) of the new year program, which was similar to Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû"; the role of Tokubê's lover, the courtesan Tenmaya Ohatsu, was played by Iwai Hanshirô IV.

9th lunar month of 1773: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Kan Shôjô were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Nakamura Shôchô.

11th lunar month of 1773: Yaozô moved to the Moritaza and played the roles of Harata Rokurô (the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene), Naniwa Saburô and Aoto Magosaburô Fujitsuna in the kaomise drama "Onna Aruji Hatsuyuki no Sekai".

1st lunar month of 1774: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in Horikoshi Saiyô's new year sogamono drama "Kite Hajime Hatsugai Soga"; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Nakamura Jûzô II and Bandô Mitsugorô I.

4th lunar month of 1774: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Teraoka Heiemon and Hayano Kanpei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1774: Yaozô moved to the Ichimuraza and played the roles of Hachiômaru Aratora (the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene) and Ôdate Samanosuke in Horikoshi Saiyô's kaomise drama "Chigo Sakura Jûsangane", which celebrated the shûmei of Segawa Kikunojô III.

2nd lunar month of 1775: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in Horikoshi Saiyô's new year sogamono drama "Sakae Soga Kagura no Taiko"; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari was played by Arashi Sangorô II.

9th lunar month of 1775: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; the role of Kuzu-no-Ha was played by Yoshizawa sakinosuke III.

11th lunar month of 1775: Yaozô played at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Oyafune Taiheiki"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Ebizô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Nakamura Noshio I. This kaomise was a huge success, starting the 1st day of the 11th lunar month and ending the 15th day of the 12th lunar month.

1st lunar month of 1776: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Danzaburô in the new year drama "Kamuri Kotoba Soga no Yukari"; the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Kudô Saemon Suketsune were played by Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Ebizô III.

3rd lunar month of 1776: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsuzakura"; the roles of Agemaki and the villain Ikyû were played by Iwai Hanshirô IV and Sakata Hangorô II. The performance was a huge success and a long run but, in the middle of the 5th lunar month, both Yaozô and Sakata Hangorô II fell sick and had to be replaced by Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Ichikawa Ebizô III.

7th lunar month of 1776: Yaozô played in the same theater the role of Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners were Ichimura Uzaemon IX (Umeômaru), Ichikawa Ebizô III (Matsuômaru, Kan Shôjô), Nakamura Noshio I (Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo), Sakata Hangorô II (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû) and Nakajima Mihoemon II (Fujiwara no Shihei).

11th lunar month of 1776: Yaozô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi". This was also the premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's Tomimoto-based dance-drama "Momo Yogiku Iro no Yo no Naka"; Yaozô played the role of Shii no Shôshô [casting].

1st lunar month of 1777: Yaozô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was one black stroke below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune, Akogi Heiji, Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka and the otokodate Ume no Yoshibê in the new year program "Tsukisenu Haru Hagoromo Soga; the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Ichimura Uzaemon IX. For the first time in Kabuki history, chiwata threads were used in the bloody murder of the priest Dainichibô by Akoya. This new technique was very well received by the audience.

5th lunar month of 1777: Yaozô played in the same theater the roles of Minamoto Yoshiie (Hachiman Tarô) and Bunji in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".

Summer 1777: the book "Yakusha Sensakuron" ('About actors prying') was published in Edo. It gives some private information on actors. Edo readers learn that Yaozô lives in the district of Izumi-chô and his yearly salary was 700 ryô.

7th lunar month of 1777: Yaozô was expected to play at the Ichimuraza the roles of Mikawaya Kanzaburô and Issun Tokubê in the drama "Naniwagata Imose no Irifune" but he suddenly fell ill.

3rd day of the 7th lunar month of 1777^[1]: Yaozô died in Edo.

Comments:

Ichikawa Yaozô II was a popular and talented tachiyaku, excelling in aragoto and wagoto, 2 opposite styles. He died before reaching the peak of his career and his last rank in the Edo hyôbanki was slightly below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). His popularity among the female audience was such that the water he dived into while playing the role of Sukeroku was sold to his fans at high prices.

Ichikawa Yaozô II's best roles: Hayano Kanpei ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene, Hiranoya Tokubê ("Sonezaki Shinjû"), Soga Gorô Tokimune (sogamono).

[1] The 3rd day of the 7th lunar month of the 6th year of the An'ei era was the 5th of August 1777 in the western calendar.

[2] The 19th day of the 10th lunar month of the 9th year of the Hôreki era was the 8th of December 1759 in the western calendar.

Ichikawa Yaozô II playing the role of Hachiômaru Aratora (the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene) in Horikoshi Saiyô's kaomise drama "Chigo Sakura Jûsangane", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1774 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Katsukawa Shunshô)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (print in the public domain)

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Chûsha line of actors

The Nakamura Denzô line of actors

The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors