CHIKUGOZA - ÔNISHI NO SHIBAI

Names

Chikugoza
Chikugo no Shibai
Ônishi no Shibai

City

Ôsaka

History

January 1742: premiere at the Ônishi no Shibai of the play "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which is produced by Sadoshima Chôgorô I and stars Ichikawa Ebizô II with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Narukami, Kumedera Danjô, Fûdô Myôô	Ichikawa Ebizô II
Princess Taema	Onoe Kikugorô I
Hayashi Dennai	Yamamoto Kyôshirô I
Hata no Mimbu, Hakuunbô (the Buddhist monk white cloud)	Sadoshima Chôgorô I
Takino	Yamashita Kinsaku I
Bun'ya Toyohide, Harukaze's concubine Koiso	Shibazaki Taminosuke
Hayagumo no Ôji	Nakamura Jiroza I
Yatsurugi Gemba	Arashi Shichigorô I
Ishihara Sehei	Yamanaka Heijûrô II
Ono no Harukaze	Bandô Toyosaburô I
Harukaze's sister Nishiki no Mae	Yamatogawa Akashi

December 1745: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is staged at the Ônishi no Shibai for the first time, produced by Arashi San'emon IV with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Danshichi Kurobei	Nakayama Shinkurô I
Issun Tokubei	Sakurayama Shirosaburô II
Tsuribune Sabu	Arashi Shimpei I
Otatsu, Okaji	Arashi Koroku I
Mikawaya Giheiji	Fujikawa Hanzaburô II

The same play is simultaneously produced at the Naka no Shibai [casting], Kado no Shibai [casting] and Ônishi no Shibai.

December 1768: the play "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" is simultaneously staged at the Ônishi no Shibai and the Naka no Shibai. The actors Arashi Hinasuke I and Nakayama Bunshichi I, compete for the best performance in the role of Nuregami Chôgorô and the title of Ôsaka best tachiyaku. "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by Yamashita Yaozô I with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
The sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô	Arashi Hinasuke I
Hanaregoma Chôkichi	Fujikawa Hachizô I
Hashimoto Jibuemon, Okô	Arashi Kichisaburô I
Jûjibei	Nakayama Raisuke I
Azuma	Sawamura Kunitarô I
Oseki, Yogorô	Arashi San'emon V

5 February 1827: a fire breaks out in the Kado no Shibai, destroying the Naka no Shibai, Ônishi no Shibai and Kadomaru no Shibai.

August 1841: great performances of the Edo star Onoe Kikugorô III at the Ônishi no Shibai; he plays the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô, Hayano Kampei and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also plays the roles of Sakuramaru, Takebe Genzô and Kan Shôjô in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Okaru, Tonami and Yae are played by Arashi Tokusaburô III.

September 1841: Onoe Kikugorô III plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Tokubei and Kikuichi in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Ikoku Banashi". He also plays the roles of Oiwa, Kohei and Yomoshichi in "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

November 1843: Arashi Tokusaburô III takes the name of Arashi Rikan III at the Ônishi no Shibai.

February 1847: Nakamura Shibazô I takes the name of Nakamura Gizaemon at the Chikugo no Shibai.

August 1852: premiere at the Chikugo no Shibai of the dance "Ayatsuri Sambasô"; the role of Sambasô is performed by Arashi Rikaku II.

May 1854: Ichikawa Danzô VI plays for the first time the role of Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima", which is staged at the Chikugo no Shibai. His stage partners are Nakamura Tamashichi I (Chidori) and Arashi Rikaku II (Senoo Tarô).

Printemps 1860: Nakamura Jakuemon I becomes zagashira at the Chikugo no Shibai and successfully produces the drama "Hime Kurabe Futaba Ezôji".

April 1871: Nakamura Umenosuke joins the star Arashi Rikan IV and takes the name of Arashi Kitsusaburô IV, playing 3 roles in the drama "Katakiuchi Midô Mae", which is staged at the Chikugo no Shibai.

1872: Jitsukawa Enjaku I becomes zagashira at the Chikugo no Shibai.

October 1873: premiere at the Chikugo no Shibai of Katsu Genzô II's drama "Kimi-wa-Fune Nami no Uwajima", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Yanbe Seibei, the yakko Dôsuke	Nakamura Fukusuke III
Wake Sanzaemon, Okaku	Nakamura Shichigasuke

Ehon banzuke for the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which was produced by the zamoto Nakayama Ushimatsu and staged at the Ônishi no Shibai in 1801