Stage names:
Mimasu Seibei
Mimasu Daigorô III
Yoshizawa Kamezô
Guild: Kyômasuya, Ôsakaya, Iseya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry names: Kikaku, Yukô
Existence: 1782 ~ 17 October 1824
Connections:
Father: Mimasu Daigorô II
Master: Yoshizawa Iroha I (Ayame V)
Sons: Mimasu Yoshisaburô, Mimasu Daigorô IV
Grandsons: Mimasu Gengorô I, Mimasu Gengorô II
Career:
1782: born in Kyôto.
1788: he becomes disciple of the actor Yoshizawa Iroha I, who gives him the name of Yoshizawa Kamezô.
1788 ~ 1800: Kamezô starts his career performing in children-actors troupe and, later on, plays in the Ôsaka minor theaters (hama shibai).
July 1793: his father Mimasu Daigorô II dies.
Fall 1800: Kamezô goes to Kyôto.
November 1800: Yoshizawa Kamezô, thanks to the patronage of his master Yoshizawa Iroha I, takes the name of Mimasu Daigorô III at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing the role of Dankurô in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which is produced by Kataoka Ainosuke I.
September 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Daigorô plays the role of Tokuemon [casting].
February ~ March 1802: Daigorô replaces the star Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who falls ill, in the role of Yoshikata in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is produced by Anegawa Kamesaburô at the Kado no Shibai.
June 1804: tour in Nagoya with Bandô Hikosaburô III, Nakamura Daikichi I, Bando Jûtarô I, Segawa Hamajirô and Nakamura Utagorô; Daigorô plays at the Wakamiya no Shibai the roles of Amakawaya Gihei, Ishidô Umanojô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1804: Mimasu Daigorô III takes the name of Mimasu Seibei.
February 1806: the play "Kamakura Sandaiki" is staged for the first time in Kyôto, in the precincts of the Inaba Yakushi temple. The main roles are played by Yamashina Jinkichi II (Princess Toki), Bandô Jûtarô (Miuranosuke) and Seibei (Takatsuna).
August 1810: his master Yoshizawa Ayame V dies.
June 1813: Mimasu Seibei takes back the name of Mimasu Daigorô III.
November 1813: Daigorô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Ono no Sadakurô and Yakushiji Jirozaemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1814: Daigorô plays at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Igami no Gonta in the "Sushiya" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura"; the roles of Yasuke, Osato and Yazaemon are played by Nakayama Bunshichi III, Ogino Kinshi II and Asao Kunigorô III.
Summer 1816: Daigorô goes to Edo.
August 1816: Daigorô plays at the Kiriza the roles of Tôma Hashizô and Ningyôya Kôemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Tengajaya-Mura".
January 1817: Daigorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).
Fall 1817: Daigorô goes back to Kamigata.
November 1817: Daigorô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Yurugi Saemon in the drama "Azuma Kagami Utsusu Nishikie".
January 1818: Daigorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).
Fall 1824: Daigorô goes to Edo, where his son Mimasu Gennosuke I lives.
October 1824: Daigorô is supposed to play in the Ichimuraza kaomise program in November but suddenly falls ill and dies in Edo.
Comments:
Mimasu Daigorô III was a tachiyaku and katakiyaku actor, who spent most of his career in Kamigata minor theaters (hama shibai). He was not a popular actor but he played an important role by transmitting the art of his line to his son Mimasu Daigorô IV, who became one of the best Kamigata actors from the 1830's to the end of the 1850's.
Mimasu Daigorô III portraying Ningyôya Kôemon in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)
The Mimasu Daigorô line of actors
