Stage names:
Ichikawa Danzô III
Ichikawa Danzaburô II
Ichikawa Jirôza
Bandô Jirosaburô
Other name: Matsutarô
Guild: Mikawaya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry name: Shikô
Existence: 1719 ~ 24 June 1772
Connection:
Master: Ichikawa Danzô I
Adopted sons: Ichikawa Danzô IV, Ichikawa Marukame
Disciples: Ichikawa Monzaburô I, Ichikawa Onoe, Ichikawa Jinnosuke, Ichikawa Shôzô, Ichikawa Shunzô, Ichikawa Otokichi, Ichikawa Monzô, Ichikawa Ryûzô
Career:
1719: born in Edo. His father, Bandô Matabei, is an employee of the Moritaza.
1730~1739: he becomes disciple of the playwright Bandô Tasuke, who gives him the name of Bandô Jirosaburô. Later on, he joins Bandô Matakurô II and leaves the Bandô clan afterwhile to become a disciple of the actor Ichikawa Danzô I, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Jirôza.
November 1739: Ichikawa Jirôza is adopted by Ichikawa Danzô I and takes the name of Ichikawa Danzaburô II.
April 1740: his adopted father Ichikawa Danzô I dies.
October 1740: his adopted father's son Ichikawa Danzô II dies.
November 1740: Ichikawa Danzaburô II takes the name of Ichikawa Danzô III at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Murayama Hikoshirô in the drama "Miyabashira Taiheiki".
November 1741: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Nabari no Hachirô in the kaomise program "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of 3 Kamigata actors (Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I and Nakamura Shingorô I) and the return of the Edo actor Ôtani Hiroji I.
January 1742: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima".
November 1742: Danzô moves to the Kawarazakiza and plays in the kaomise drama "Gaijin Taiheiki", which celebrates the return and the arrival in Edo of the actors Ichikawa Ebizô II and Onoe Kikugorô I.
November 1743: Danzô moves with Ichikawa Ebizô II to the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Murakami Hikoshirô in the kaomise drama "Funayosooi Mitsugi Taiheiki".
Fall 1744: Danzô and Tatsuoka Hisagiku go together to Ôsaka.
November 1744: Danzô plays the role of Danzaburô in the kaomise drama "Azuma Soga Fujimi no Sato", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I at the Ônishi no Shibai.
January 1745: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).
September 1745: Danzô plays the role of Sakon Tarô in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami" , which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I at the Ônishi no Shibai; his stage partners are Bandô Toyosaburô I (Abe no Yasuna), Nakamura Jûzô I (Dôman), Nakayama Shinkurô I (Yokampei), Arashi Shichigorô I (Yakampei, Shôgen) and Yoshizawa Ayame II (Kuzu-no-Ha).
November 1745: Danzô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of the yakko Kunisuke and Yojûrô in the kaomise drama "Tônai Tarô Danjiri Roppô", which is produced by Arashi San'emon IV.
November 1746: Danzô moves to the Naka no Shibai and plays the role of Benkei in the kaomise drama "Genji Musha Hinode Ôgi", which is produced by Danzô's disciple Ichikawa Ryûzô.
November 1747: Danzô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Nejigane Kimbei in the kaomise drama "Kogane Hana Michinoku Jikki".
August 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Naka no Shibai; Danzô plays the roles of Tokaiya Gimpei, Taira no Tomomori and Kawatsura Hôgen [casting].
November 1748: Danzô moves to Kyôto and plays the roles of Kuramigawa Mansaku and Murakami Hikoshirô in the kaomise drama "Mitsu Uroko Asahi no Ume", which is produced at the nadai Miyako Handayû's theater by the zamoto Somematsu Shichisaburô I. His stage partners are Fujioka Daikichi, Iwata Somematsu, Yamanaka Heijûrô II, Miogi Shichitarô and Ôtani Hirohachi I.
January 1749: Danzô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
November 1749: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Nambu Tatewaki in the kaomise drama "Imosegura Kogane no Ishizue".
November 1750: Danzô goes back to Ôsaka and plays 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Tachibana Gojûyongun", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by Iwata Somematsu. His stage partners are Arashi Shichigorô I, Bandô Toyosaburô I, Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II and Kirishima Gizaemon.
February 1751: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of the wicked priest Narukami and Kumedera Danjô in the drama "Narukami Fûdô Kitayama Zakura"; the role of Princess Taema is played by Iwata Somematsu.
November 1751: Danzô moves to Kyôto and plays the roles of Hashidate Ikkaku and the kannushi Ukyô in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Asahi no Nishiki", which is produced at Miyako Handayû's theater by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô II. His stage partners are Sawamura Kunitarô I, Sakakiyama Koshirô II, Sakakiyama Danshirô I, Anegawa Daikichi, Sasao Otojûrô, Someyama Sôjûrô, Takenaka Hyôkichi, Yamamoto Koheiji, Hanayama Ichinojô and Arashi Ugenta.
September 1752: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Issun Tokubei in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners are Yamamoto Koheiji (Danshichi Kurobei), Sakakiyama Koshirô II (Tsuribune Sabu), Sakakiyama Danshirô I (Mikawaya Giheiji, Sagaemon), Sakakiyama Shirotarô II (Otatsu) and Arashi Ugenta (Okaji).
November 1752: the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Naka no Shibai; Danzô plays the role of Kumagai Jirô Naozane [casting].
November 1753: Danzô moves to the Kado no Shibai and plays the role of Ogata Umanojô in the kaomise drama "Kashû Narihira Ishi".
January 1754: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1754: Danzô moves to the Ônishi no Shibai and plays the role of Odagiri Jûnai in the kaomise drama "Uda Genji Asahi no Menbako", which is produced by Wakayama Bunshichi.
December 1754: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Kikuchi Higonosuke in the drama "Keisei Imagawajô".
November 1755: Danzô plays the role of Kamata Hyôe in the kaomise drama "Gempei Ôgi Awase", which is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by Anegawa Shinshirô II.
December 1755: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Kusunoki Masayuki in the drama "Kayou Kami Kuruwa Nikki".
August 1756: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Fûdô Kitayama Zakura"; the role of Princess Taema is played by Sanjô Namie.
November 1756: Danzô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of Yamazumi Shinanosuke in the kaomise drama "Ukematsuri Hôrai Yakata", which is produced by Somematsu Matsujirô at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
January 1757: Danzô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
March 1757: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of the wicked priest Narukami, the deity Fudô Myôô and Kumedera Danjô in the drama "Narukami Fûdô Kitayama Zakura". His stage partners are Nakamura Kumetarô I (Princess Taema), Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II (Kisakata Gozen), Arashi Sangorô II (the priest Kokuun ("black cloud"), Bun'yanosuke) and Somematsu Shichisaburô (Mimbu).
January 1758: Danzô goes back to Ôsaka and plays the role of x in the role of the warrior Taira no Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Gempei Chitose no Matsu", which is produced by Kirinoya Hidematsu at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1758: Danzô moves to the Naka no Shibai and plays the role of Watanabe no Tsuna in the kaomise drama "Shitennô Chikara Kurabe", which is produced by Arashi Kichisaburô I.
January 1759: Danzô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, "Kurokichi Shitennô" section ("the big four with the excellent character written in black"), is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). The 3 others actors, who belong to this "big four" section, are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I and Yamashita Matatarô I.
July 1759: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of the yakko Rampei in the drama "Yamatogana Ariwara Keizu".
December 1759: Danzô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of the yakko Goippei in the drama "Bandai Fueki Hôrai Yakata", which is produced at the Kitagawa no Shibai by Arashi Hinasuke I.
February 1760: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Kikuchi Samanosuke, the boatman Gimpei, Yoshimi Hikojiro and the deity Fudô Myôô in the drama "Keisei Sajikigatake".
November 1760: Danzô plays in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Kiku Nagashi Kokka Taiheiki", which is produced by Nakamura Senzô.
Fall 1761: Danzô goes back to Edo after 17 seasons spent in Kamigata. He travels with the actor Ôtani Hiroemon I and Nakamura Matsue I.
November 1761: Danzô achieves a great success at the Moritaza by playing the role of Aoto Saemon, the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene, in the kaomise drama "Kamisono Ubanzei Hachinoki". His stage partners are Tomizawa Tatsujûrô, Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Sawamura Otoemon II, Sawamura Kijûrô I, Anegawa Daikichi, Ôtani Hirohachi I and Morita Kan'ya VI.
January 1762: Danzô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
April 1762: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1762: Danzô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays in the kaomise drama "Kisoe Uta Sakae Komachi", which celebrates the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroji III.
November 1763: Danzô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of the superhero in the "Shibaraku" scene of the kaomise drama "Shikai Nami Yawaragi Taiheiki".
March 1764: Danzô suddenly quits the Ichimuraza and moves to the Nakamuraza. He is welcomed by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV. Both actors perform together for the first time, Danjûrô in the role of Kagekiyo and Danzô in the role of Kumagai Tarô. The performance is a big success.
May 1764: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The production is a big success and is extended up to the middle of June.
June 1764: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Nagai Uma-no-Kami Nobuaki in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".
August 1764: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Ohara no Manbei in the "Kenuki" scene, which is included in the "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima" drama, staged to commemorate the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the death of Ichikawa Ebizô II. He also plays the role of Shunkan in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima".
November 1764: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Watanabe no Tsuna and Sakata Kintoki in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame III.
May 1765: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Fall 1765: Danzô goes to Kyôto.
November 1765: Danzô plays in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Asahi no Ôgi", which is produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô II and Yamashita Kyônosuke at the Minamigawa no Shibai.
January 1766: Danzô plays in the same theater in the new year drama "Keisei Shinonome Zakura".
July 1766: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Katagiri Tatewaki and Sarushima Sôta in the drama "Keisei Sumidagawa".
Fall 1766: Danzô goes back to Edo, travelling with the actors Kirishima Gizaemon, Bandô Sampachi I and Takeda Minosuke.
November 1766: Danzô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Arajishi Iwaonosuke and Fuwa Banzaemon in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Tsuitachi". The roles of Nagoya Sanza (Banzaemon's rival in love) and the courtesan Katsuragi are played by Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Segawa Kikunojô II.
January 1767: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon, Satô Shirô Tadanobu and the deity Fudô Myôô in the new year drama "Soga Yawaragi Soga".
February 1767: first Kabuki adaptation, at the Ichimuraza, of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku"; Danzô plays the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke [casting].
July 1767: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Tokaiya Gimpei, Taira no Tomomori and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". He also plays the role of Kumedera Danjô in the bombastic drama "Kenuki".
November 1767: Danzô moves to the Moritaza and plays the roles of Sanada Yoichi and Sanada Bunzô in the kaomise drama "Sanada no Yoichi Banjaku no Iezuto", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Yamashita Kyônosuke.
April 1768: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Harunaga and Hisayoshi in the drama "Shusse Taiheiki".
November 1768: Danzô, following the advices of the playwright Sakurada Jisuke, moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the roles of Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa (the superhero of the "Shibaraku" scene), Miura Heitayû and Chôryô in the kaomise "Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe".
January 1769: Danzô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent). He is the kanjiku of the tachiyaku actors.
May 1769: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Kakogawa Honzô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1769: Danzô plays in the same theater the roles of Watanabe no Tsuna and Urashima Rokurô in the drama "Ichi no Tomi Seiwa Nendaiki".
Fall 1769 ~ Fall 1770: Danzô's name does not appear on the Edo theaters banzuke. He may be either sick or on tour.
November 1770: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Hayata and Munekiyo in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which celebrates the shûmei of Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Nakamura Shichisaburô III.
January 1771: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year drama "Sakaichô Soga no Nendaiki".
April 1771: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1771: Danzô plays in the same theater the role of Yoemon in the drama "Tamura Maro Nanae Gasane".
November 1771: Danzô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Han'ya Gorô, a thief and Iwato Saemon in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji".
January 1772: Danzô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing in the new year drama "Haru ha Soga Akebono Zôshi".
Comments:
Ichikawa Danzô III was an outstanding tachiyaku, who won fame for himself in both Edo and Kamigata, excelling in budôgoto, aragotoshi or jitsugotoshi roles. He was also able to occasionally play katakiyaku roles and was equally at home in jidaimono or sewamono dramas. It was said that his acting skills and favourite roles (for example Narukami) were similar to the ones of late Ichikawa Ebizô II.
Ichikawa Danzô III in a print made by Katsukawa Shunshô
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni (1862~1863)
The Ichikawa Danzaburô line of actors
The Ichikawa Danzô line of actors