Stage names:

Asao Yoroku II
Yamamura Takumi II
Asao Hangorô

Nickname: Ômi Yoroku

Guild: Asadaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Ippo, Baikô

Existence: 1821 ~ 8th day of the 10th lunar month of 1862 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Asao Yoroku I

Disciple: Asao Yoroku III

Career:

1821 ~ 1840s: born in the province of Ômi. He started his career in Kamigata as a disciple of Asao Yoroku I, who gave him the name of Asao Hangorô.

9th day of the 12th lunar month of 1851 ^[2]: his master Asao Yoroku I died in the city of Yoshida in the province of Mikawa.

8th lunar month of 1852: Asao Hangorô took the name of Yamamura Takumi II in Nagoya at the Wakamiya no Shibai.

1855: he took the name of Asao Yoroku II and settled in Edo in the 3rd lunar month.

1st lunar month of 1857: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Nezumi Komon Haru no Shingata" (commonly called "Nezumi Kozô"); Yoroku played the roles of Miura Hyôbunosuke, the ashigaru Gonpei and the tsujiban Yosobê [casting].

7th lunar month of 1857: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ami Moyô Tôro no Kikukiri" (commonly called "Kozaru Shichinosuke"); Yoroku played the roles of Kuraganoya Gohê and Shibukawa Gunjûrô [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1858: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Edo Zakura Kiyomizu Seigen"; the nibanme of this drama was now entitled "Kurotegumi Kuruwa no Tatehiki" in the Kabuki repertoire (commonly called "Kurotegumi Sukeroku"); Yoroku played the roles of the rônin Sagohei and Monbei [more details].

1st lunar month of 1859: Yoroku's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, was jô-jô-jû (superior - superior - "ten") [visual].

1st lunar month of 1860: the 1762 puppet drama "Kishi no Himematsu Kutsuwa Kagami" (commonly called "Kishi Hime") was adapted for the first time to Kabuki, in Edo at the Moritaza; it was integrated within the new year sogamono drama "Momo Chidori Nigiwai Soga" and Yoroku played the role of Yomosaku [casting].

8th lunar month of 1862: Yoroku appeared on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, where he played the role of Katanaya Kizaemon in the drama "Toki-ha Ima Yakko no Ukejô".

8th day of the 10th lunar month of 1862 ^[1]: Yoroku died in Edo ^[3] (according to some sources, he died the 13th ^[4] instead of the 8th ^[1]).

Comments:

Asao Yoroku II was a 19th century jitsuaku/katakiyaku actor, who was trained in Kamigata but who spent the best years of his career in Edo, where he was appreciated in supporting villain roles. If we look at "Kanadehon Chûshingura", his master Asao Yoroku I performed the prestigious role of Kô no Moronô, whereas Asao Yoroku II performed roles like Ono no Kudayû.

[1] The 8th day of the 10th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Bunkyû era was the 29th of November 1862 in the western calendar.

[2] The 9th day of the 12th lunar month of the 4th year of the Kaei era was the 31st of December 1851 in the western calendar.

[3] His tombstone was located in the precincts of the Honryûji temple in the district of Imado.

[4] The 13th day of the 10th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Bunkyû era was the 4th of December 1862 in the western calendar.

Asao Yoroku II playing the role of Soreiichi (?) in the play "Hanagatami Gojûsan Tsugi",
which was staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1860 at the Moritaza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III)

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1857

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1858

The Yamamura Takumi line of actors

The Asao Yoroku line of actors