ICHIKAWA YAOZÔ IX

Stage names:

Real name: Matsumoto Sei'ichi

Guilds: Tachibanaya, Kôraiya

Line number: KUDAIME (IX)

Poetry name: Teika

Existence: 31 July 1906 ~ 1 January 1987

Connections:

Master: Matsumoto Kôshirô VII

Career:

January 1913: first stage appearance at the Imperial Theater, where he received the name of Matsumoto Kin'ichi I.

April 1929: Matsumoto Kin'ichi I became nadai and took the name of Matsumoto Komagorô I at the Imperial Theater.

July 1952: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hôjô Hideji's drama "Kitsune to Fuefuki"; Komagorô played the role of Fuyutoshi [casting].

June 1953: Ichikawa Yaozô VIII and Matsumoto Komagorô I respectively took the names of Ichikawa Chûsha VIII and Ichikawa Yaozô IX at the Kabukiza; the new Yaozô played the role of Satô Masakiyo in the drama "Ehon Taikôki".

November 1959: revival at the Kabukiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which was supervised by Mishima Yukio; Yaozô played the role of Iruma Akugorô [casting].

April 1960: premiere at the Kabukiza of Hagiwara Yukio's dance-drama "Onizoroi Momijigari"; Yaozô played the role of the shitennô Takatô Shirô Kaneyoshi [casting].

November 1962: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Fudô", a play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Yaozô played the role of one of Hayakumo's retainers [more details].

June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" was produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Yaozô played the role of the brothel-keeper Gonbê [casting].

March 1967: revival at the National Theatre of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô", which was supervised by Gunji Masakatsu; Yaozô played the role of the priest Zangetsu [casting].

July 1968: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kama-ga-Fuchi Futatsu Domoe"; Yaozô played the role of Iwaki Hyôbu [casting].

April 1971: revival at the National Theatre of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Yaozô played the role of Ôsakaya Gen'emon [casting].

February 1979: revision by Uno Nobuo at the Shinbashi Enbujô of Sakurada Jisuke III's drama "Sanzesô Nishiki Bunshô"; Yaozô played the role of Chôan [casting].

January 1980: Yaozô took part in the first Kabuki performances at the Asakusa Kôkaidô [more details].

December 1983: Yaozô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Sagisaka Bannai in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

1 January 1987: Yaozô died.

Comments:

Ichikawa Yaozô IX was a good tachiyaku actor, who was able to play a broad range of supporting roles, from katakiyaku to sanmaime, in either jidaimono or sewamono dramas. He often played roles like Shundô Genba ("Terakoya"), Tosa Shôgen Mitsunobu ("Domo Mata"), Kumasuke ("Irezumi Chôhan") and Narita Gorô ("Onna Shibaraku").

The Matsumoto Kin'ichi line of actors

The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors