Stage names:
Yoshizawa Ayame IV
Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III
Yoshizawa Man'yo II
Yoshizawa Goroichi I
Yamashita Ichigorô
Yamashita Koshikibu
Guild: Tachibanaya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry names: Kokai, Shunsui, Hakô
Existence: 1737 ~ 28 September 1792
Connections:
Adopted father: Yoshizawa Ayame II
Sons: Matsumoto Yonesaburô I, Nakayama Kojûrô VII
Disciples: Yoshizawa Goroichi II, Yoshizawa Kônosuke, Yoshizawa Mikizô
Career:
1737 ~ 1745: born in Kamigata. He starts his career as a disciple of the actor Yamashita Matatarô I, receiving the names of Yamashita Koshikibu and Yamashita Ichigorô at unknown dates. Then, he joins Yoshizawa Ayame II, who gives him the name of Yoshizawa Goroichi I.
November 1745: Goroichi and his master go together to Edo and play at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Onna Kusunoki Yosooi Kagami".
November 1752: Goroichi goes back to Kamigata; he plays in the drama "Tenka Taiheiki", which is produced in Kyôto by Arashi San'emon IV at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
November 1753: Yoshizawa Goroichi I takes the name of Yoshizawa Man'yo II, playing the role of Princess Hayasaki in the drama "Nakatomi Sandaijin", which is produced by Ichimura Sanohachi at the Naka no Shibai.
February 1754: Man'yo plays the role of Konami in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced in the same theater. The role of Konami's mother Tonase is played by Yoshizawa Ayame II.
July 1754: his master Yoshizawa Ayame II dies.
November 1754: Man'yo goes to Edo and takes back the name of Yoshizawa Goroichi I, performing at the Nakamuraza.
November 1764: Yoshizawa Goroichi I takes the name of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Hanauri Osue (the flower-selling girl Osue) in the drama "Wakaki no Hana Suma no Hatsuyuki".
January 1766: Sakinosuke's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1774: Sakinosuke plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Tabatanosuke's wife Osaki in the drama "Chigo Sakura Jûsan Gane".
November 1774: Yoshizawa Ayame III dies.
September 1775: Sakinosuke plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami", his farewell performance before leaving Edo.
Fall 1775: Sakinosuke goes back to Kamigata, after 22 seasons spent in Edo.
November 1775: Sakinosuke achieves a great success in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, playing the role of Kaoyo in the drama "Hachitanashi Hyaku Monogatari", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I.
January 1776: Sakinosuke's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
October 1776: Sakinosuke plays in the same theater the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
November 1776: Sakinosuke goes to Edo and plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Naniwazu in the drama "Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi".
July 1778: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; Sakinosuke plays the roles of Nikki Danjô's wife Urafuji, Kisakata Gozen, Saichi's wife Nayotake, Yarite Omiya and Izumo no Okuni [casting].
November 1778: Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III takes the name of Yoshizawa Ayame IV at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Onoe in the drama "Motomishi Yuki Sakae Hachinoki".
November 1781: Ayame performs at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Mukashi Otoko Yuki no Hinagata".
January 1787: Ayame goes back to Ôsaka; he plays 2 roles in the drama "Keisei Sakura no Jindate", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô II at the Ônishi no Shibai.
September 1787: Ayame appears on stage for the last time, performing in Ôsaka at the Horie Ichigawa no Shibai; his name does not appear anymore in the banzuke up to his death in September 1792.
Comments:
Yoshizawa Ayame IV was a talented wakaonnagata, able to play in both jidaimono and sewamono. The roles of samurais or merchants spouses were his forte.
Yoshizawa Ayame IV was the only member of this line to spend more than half of his career in the Edo theaters.
Yoshizawa Ayame IV in a print made by Katsukawa Shunkô
Print made by Katsukawa Shunshô in 1769
The Yoshizawa Sakinosuke line of actors
The Yoshizawa Ayame line of actors