Stage names:
Ichikawa Ebizô III
Ichikawa Danjûrô IV
Matsumoto Kôshirô II
Matsumoto Shichizô I
Nickname: Kiba no Oyadama (the boss of Kiba, a famous district in Edo)
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry names: Sanshô, Hakuen, Kaigan (?), Goryû (?)
Existence: 1711 ~ 25 February 1778
Connections:
Grandfather: Ichikawa Danjûrô I
Father: Ichikawa Ebizô II (Danjûrô II)
Adopted father: Matsumoto Kôshirô I
Father-in-law: Iwai Hanshirô III
Son: Ichikawa Hakuen I (Danjûrô V)
Grandson: Ichikawa Momotarô
Great-grandson: Ichikawa Ebizô V (Danjûrô VII)
Great-great-grandson: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, Ichikawa Ebizô VII, Ichikawa Ebizô VIII, Ichikawa Komazô VI, Ichikawa Saruzô I, Ichikawa Kôzô
Disciples: Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Ichikawa Yaozô II, Ichikawa Kodanji II, Ichikawa Sôzaburô III, Ichikawa Jun'emon, Ichikawa Datezô I
Career:
1711: born in Edo in the district of Sakai-chô. His mother is the daughter of Fukuroya Genshichi, the owner of a chaya, and his illegitimate father is Ichikawa Danjûrô II. He is adopted by Izumiya Kanjûrô, the owner of a chaya, whose previous boss's wife was the elder sister of Ichikawa Danjûrô I.
1713: he is adopted by the actor Matsumoto Kôshirô I.
January 1719: he appears on stage for the first time, at the Moritaza, where he receives the name of Matsumoto Shichizô I, playing the role of Araoka Bunshin in the drama "Keisei Murasaki Tazuna". The role of Araoka Genta is played by his adopted father Matsumoto Kôshirô I.
March 1730: his adopted father Matsumoto Kôshirô I dies.
November 1735: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza. Ichikawa Danjûrô II gives his name to his adopted son and takes the name of Ichikawa Ebizô II. The actors Ichikawa Masugorô and Matsumoto Shichizô I respectively take the names of Ichikawa Danjûrô III and Matsumoto Kôshirô II. The new Kôshirô performs in the kaomise drama "Kongen Nana Komachi".
November 1736: Kôshirô moves to the Kawarazakiza and plays the role of Nagasaki Jirô in the kaomise drama "Jumpû Taiheiki".
January 1737: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono "Gozen Sumô Osana Soga".
November 1737: Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Munekiyo in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba". The line-up includes Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Tsuruya Namboku II and Tomizawa Montarô I.
January 1738: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year sogamono "Ukematsuri Mambai Soga".
May 1738: Kôshirô becomes jitsuaku.
Fall 1738: Kôshirô and Sawamura Sôjûrô I achieve together a great success by playing in the same theater the roles of Sasaki Ganryû and Tosa Jirô in the revenge play "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". It is said that Kôshirô broke 2 teeth while performing in a tachimawari scene. He negociated with the Ichimuraza management 100 ryô of compensation for each tooth, rising his yearly salary from 300 ryô to 500 ryô.
November 1738: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ashikaga Naoyoshi in the kaomise program "Mitsugibune Taiheiki".
January 1739: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year program "Hatsu Motoyui Kayoi Soga". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô III and Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.
November 1739: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ôtô no Miya in the kaomise drama "Tokiwagi Taiheiki".
February 1740: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the play "Sugatami Sumidagawa", commonly called "Nanatsu Men" (kabuki jûhachiban), in which Kôshirô plays the role of Kume no Heinai. This performance is a triumphant success.
November 1740: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Nikki Danjô Saemon in the kaomise program "Kichirei Imagawajô".
January 1741: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga".
March 1741: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
June 1741: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kawai Matagorô in the drama "Katakiuchi Mitsugumi Sakazuki".
July 1741: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Akuzenji in the drama "Yotsume Yui Katoku Sadame".
November 1741: Kôshirô moves to the Nakamuraza, where a great kaomise program is produced to celebrate the arrival in Edo of the actors Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Nakamura Shingorô I. Kôshirô plays the villain role of Kô no Moronô in Hayakawa Denshirô's drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki".
January 1742: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon and Yume no Ichirobei in the drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima".
July 1742: the play "Keisei Hangonkô" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza. Kôshirô plays the role of Fuwa Banzaemon [casting].
November 1742: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Itô Nyûdô in the kaomise drama "Keisei Akazawayama".
January 1743: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the ghost of Itô Nyûdô in the new year drama "Kadomidori Tokiwa Soga".
May 1743: special performance at the Nakamuraza related to the exhibition of a sacred image of Shôtoku Taishi in the Shitennôji Temple in the district of Yûshima. Kôshirô plays the roles of the ghost and the daughter of the minister Moriya in the drama "Yamato Morokoshi Aishô Kagami".
July 1743: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kantetsu in the drama "Kichirei Sasaki Abumi".
November 1743: Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon in the kaomise drama "Ishizue Taiheiki", which celebrates the return in Edo of Segawa Kikujirô I.
January 1744: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Tatsuyasha in the new year drama "Nanakusa Wakayagi Soga".
July 1744: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the warlord Yamana Sôzen in the drama "Kaibyaku Imagawajô".
November 1744: Kôshirô moves to the Moritaza, which was closed since Spring 1734, and plays the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and Ôyu no Koji in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Bandai no Watamashi". His stage partners are Tomizawa Tatsujûrô, Utagawa Shirogorô, Sakata Tôjûrô III, Tsuruya Namboku II, Nakajima Kanzaemon II, Sanogawa Senzô and Yamamoto Kyôzô.
February 1745: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Bandô Tarô in the new year drama "Haru Gasumi Omokage Soga".
November 1745: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Taira no Kagekiyo and Itô Nyûdô in the kaomise drama "Chikyôdai Izu Nikki".
January 1746: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kumasaka Chôhan and the bonze Sôjôbô in the new year drama "Gosho Ganoko Jûnidan".
May 1746: Kôshirô achieves a great success by playing the role of the priest Seigen, Sanshô Dayû and Dozaemon Denkichi in the drama "Higashiyama Eitai Kabuki", which is staged in the same theater.
November 1746: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the rebel Abe no Sadatô in the kaomise drama "Ôtorii Gojûshigun", which celebrates the arrival of Onoe Kikugorô I in the new line-up. The roles of Abe no Munetô (Sadatô's brother) and Hachiman Tarô (the enemy of the Abe brothers) are played by Tsuuchi Monzaburô and Utagawa Shirogorô.
January 1747: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kaba no Kanja Noriyori and Dozaemon Denkichi in the new year drama "Tsuma ha Morokoshi Yawaragi Soga". The roles of Yaoya Oshichi and Kichisaburô are played by Yamamoto Kyôzô and Sanogawa Senzô.
November 1747: Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the roles of Minamoto no Tametomo, disguised as a sweet sake seller, and an ogress in the kaomise drama "Shusse Momijigari". His stage partners are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Arashi Koroku I, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Segawa Kikujirô I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Ichimura Kamezô I and Ôtani Oniji I
January 1748: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and Kyô no Jirô in the new year drama "Mon Zukushi Nagoya Soga". His stage partners in the roles of the courtesan Katsuragi and Nagoya Sanza are Segawa Kikujirô I and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.
July 1748: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role Sasaki Ganryû in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima".
August 1748: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Sajima Hirofumi, disguised as the lawn-mower Gonzô, in the drama "Sandaizome Kanae Mondô".
November 1748: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Akaboshi Tarô and Beniya Shôbei in the kaomise drama "Hôkasô Yunzei Hachinoki".
January 1749: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kumasaka Chôhan in the new year drama "Hatsutora Kurama Genji".
May 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is performed for the first time at the Ichimuraza. Kôshirô plays the roles of Kakogawa Honzô and Ono Sadakurô.
November 1749: Kôshirô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the roles of Ashikaga Takauji and the ghost of Sagami Nyûdô in the kaomise drama "Onnô Taiheiki".
January 1750: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year program "Ôkazari Saiwai Soga".
May 1750: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Yamagaya Sashirô and Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the drama "Shio Mitsutama Kazaori Komachi".
November 1750: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Minamoto no Tametomo and Reishû no Gonku in the kaomise drama "Wakaki no Ume Taira no Kiyomori".
January 1751: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of the ghost of Akugenta Yoshihira and Dozaemon Denkichi new year drama "Izu Kosode Shôbai Kagami".
July 1751: the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza. Kôshirô plays the role of Ippei [casting].
September 1751: Kôshirô achieves a great success by playing the role of Yuigahama Sadayuki in the same theater in the play "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya".
November 1751: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Akita Jônosuke in the kaomise program "Honryô Hachinoki Zome". His stage partner in the role of Jônosuke's wife Asaoka is Segawa Kikujirô I.
January 1752: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon (Jûrô's retainer) in the new year sogamono "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga". The role of Soga Jûrô is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô II. Kôshirô also plays the role of the Azuma otokodate Banzuiin Chôbei in the drama "Hana Sugata Sampukutsui" (the second part (nibanme) of "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga"), sharing the stage with Fujikawa Heikurô (the Naniwa otokodate Akaushi Yasubei) and Nakamura Sukegorô I (the Ôshû otokodate Teppeki Shôhei) [print].
April 1752: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". His stage partner in the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami is Segawa Kikujirô I.
July 1752: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the rebel Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Moro Tazuna Ôshû Kuro"; the role of Abe no Munetô (Sadatô's brother) is played by Nakamura Sukegorô I.
November 1752: Kôshirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Senju Tarô in the kaomise drama "Ume Sakura Ninin Semimaru".
January 1753: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Amakawaya Gihei in the new year program "Haru Fukami Iroha Soga", which combines both the Soga Brothers and "Chûshingura" worlds.
July 1753: the play "Hirakana Seisuiki" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Kôshirô plays the roles of Matsuemon and Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu [casting].
November 1753: Kôshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Shioume Yoshiya Seibei in the kaomise program "Kamuri Kurabe Yatsushi Kuronushi", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the actor Kasaya Matakurô I.
January 1754: Kôshirô is listed as a jitsuaku actor in the Edo hyôbanki. He plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Suruga Jirô in the new year drama "Satsuki Matsu Soga no Tachibana". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Yaozô I and Ichimura Kamezô I.
March 1754: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of the fox Tadanobu in the play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is staged at the Ichimuraza but it is a commercial failure.
May 1754: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Hirofumi in the drama "San no Tomi Genji Rokujô Gayoi".
November 1754: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Matsumoto Kôzô take the respective names of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô III. The new Danjûrô plays the role of Okazaki Akushirô in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki".
January 1755: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô in the new year program "Waka Midori Nishiki Soga".
March 1755: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Narukami Jônin Kitayama Zakura" [print]; the role of Princess Taema is played by Segawa Kikujirô I.
June 1755: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Dozaemon Denkichi in the drama "Edo Kanoko Shôchikubai".
August 1755: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of the farmer Kinezô, Koyama Hangan and Kasane in the drama "Shida Chôja Bashira".
November 1755: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Tametomo in the kaomise drama "Arigatashi Yunzei Genji".
January 1756: the Nakamuraza and the Ichimuraza are destroyed in a fire.
February 1756: the Nakamuraza is rebuilt and Danjûrô plays the roles of Mioya, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Fuwa Banzaemon in the drama "Kotobuki Mimasu Soga" - "Mimasu" is the crest (3 squares fitting into each other and representing 3 measures of rice) of the Naritaya guild. His stage partners in the roles of Nagoya Sanza, Oniô Shinzaemon, Katsuragi (Sanza's lover) and Banzaemon's wife are Yamashita Matatarô I, Ichikawa Ebizô II, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I and Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
April 1756: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Daidôji Tenbatanosuke in the drama "Chôseiden Fudan Zakura". He also plays the eponymous role of the play Sukeroku, sharing the stage with Nakamura Kiyosaburô I (Agemaki) and Sawamura Sôjûrô II (Ikyû) but his performance is not well received by the audience.
July 1756: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Watônai in the drama "Zôho Kokusen'ya Gassen" (enlarged and revised version of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's "Kokusen'ya Gassen"). The performance is a commercial failure.
August 1756: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Osagawa Tsuneyo I (Sakuramaru), Nakamura Denkurô II (Umeômaru), Kasaya Matakurô I (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû), Nakajima Mihoemon I (Matsuômaru's master Fujiwara no Shihei) and Nakamura Tomijûrô I (Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo).
November 1756: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Fujiwara no Tadabumi, Taira no Masakado and Katô Shigemitsu ("Shibaraku" scene) in the kaomise drama "Masakado Shôzoku no Enoki", which celebrates the arrival of Arashi Tominosuke I in Edo.
January 1757: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, taibi section (the "final" section, created for Danjûrô and Ôtani Hiroji II), is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He also plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo, disguised as Monogusa Tarô, in the new year program "Nippon Zutsumi Tori no Ne Soga".
July 1757: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Yasunari and Gotô Byôei, disguised as Sanshô Dayû, in the dramas "Abe no Yasunari Inaba no Mitegura" and "Kiku Zukuri Kiredo no Iezuto". He falls ill during this performance.
November 1757: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Sasaki Gorô and the yakko Akampei in the kaomise drama "Onna Musha Kaijin Yashima". His stage partners in the roles of Sasaki Saburô and Sasaki Shirô are Onoe Kikugorô I and Ichikawa Yaozô I.
January 1758: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakugoku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme written in white (the "white extreme" is a rank below the "black extreme", which is the real "extreme" level) - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Kagekiyo and Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the new year program "Toki Tsukaze Irifune Soga". This program integrates Chikamatsu Monzaemon's "Sonezaki Shinjû", in which Danjûrô plays the role of Aburaya Kuheiji. His stage partners in the roles of Temmaya Ohatsu and Hiranoya Tokubei are Arashi Tominosuke I and Onoe Kikugorô I. He also plays the role of Kyûsaku in the drama "Osome Hisamatsu", sharing the stage with Segawa Kikunojô II and Nakamura Kiyosaburô in the roles of Osome and Hisamatsu.
September 1758: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Ono no Tôfû in the drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri". His stage partner in the role of Onui is Segawa Kikunojô II. Ichikawa Ebizô II dies the 24th of this month.
November 1758: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kôga Saburô and Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Kigoto no Hana Aioi Hachinoki", which welcomes the Kamigata actor Nakamura Utaemon I who left the Ichimuraza.
January 1759: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kagekiyo, disguised as Aragorô Mohei, Kinugasa Mimbunosuke and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Hatsugai Wada Zakamori". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô and Soga Jûrô are Ichikawa Yaozô I and Nakamura Shichisaburô II.
November 1759: Danjûrô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke, Watanabe Mimbu and Atake Jimbei in the kaomise drama "Okunizome Shusse Butai". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I, Nakamura Utaemon I, Bandô Hikosaburô II and Ichimura Kamezô I. Danjûrô and Omatsu, the adopted daughter of Iwai Hanshirô III and the widow of late Segawa Kikujirô I, celebrate their wedding the 16th of this month. It is said that the actor Bandô Sampachi I, who had also a crush on Omatsu and repudiated his first wife in order to marry her, lost this love competion against Danjûrô and quarreled seriously with him.
January 1760: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He performs in the same theater in the new year program "Furiwakegami Suehiro Genji".
February 1760: a fire breaks out in in the district of Kanda and spreads to Sûzaki in Fukagawa. It destroys both the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza. It is called "Akashiya no Kaji" (The Akashiya fire), based on the name of the shop where it started. Danjûrô has to take some unintended vacation during the rebuilding of the theater.
March 1760: Danjûrô plays in the rebuilt Ichimuraza the roles of Kagekiyo, Kyô no Jirô, Sanshô Dayû and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the drama "Soga Mannen Bashira", which includes the bombastic play "Kaneiri Gedatsu no Koromo" (commonly called "Gedatsu", a scene belonging to the kabuki jûhachiban collection). His stage partners are Ichimura Uzaemon VIII (Mankô, Oniô Shinzaemon, the ghost of Shôki), Ichimura Kamezô I (Soga Gorô, Soga Jûrô),Nakamura Utaemon I (Yamaoka Saburô), Onoe Kikugorô I (Danzaburô, Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Minamoto no Yoritomo), Sanogawa Ichimatsu I (Tora) and Anegawa Daikichi (Princess Hitomaru, Kewaizaka no Shôshô).
November 1760: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kamakura Gonnokami Kagemori and Miura Heitarô Kunitae in the kaomise drama "Ume Momiji Date no Ôkido". An unusual hyôbanki ranking actors' wifes is published under the title "Yakusha Nyôbô Hyôbanki" and Omatsu's rank is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
January 1761: Danjûrô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Edo Murasaki Kongen Soga".
March 1761: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners are Ichimura Kamezô I (Sukeroku), Segawa Kikunojô II (Agemaki) and Sawamura Sôjûrô II (Ikyû).
August 1761: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kumedera Danjô and Mikasamura Sukesaku in the dramas "Nishikidori Yamato Bunshô" and "Asama no Dake".
September 1761: a fire breaks out from the puppets theater Gekiza and destroys the Ichimuraza. Danjûrô has to take some unintended vacation during the rebuilding of the theater.
November 1761: Danjûrô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays several roles, including the great warrior Taira no Tomomori, in the kaomise drama "Nihongahana Hôgan Biiki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Raizô I.
February 1762: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hachiman no Saburô in the drama "Soga Biiki Nihon Zakura".
July 1762: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Ashiya Dôman in the drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Katsura no Mayuzumi", sharing the stage with Arashi Sankatsu (Tamamo-no-Mae) Ichikawa Raizô I (Miuranosuke) and Nakamura Denkurô II (Satô Norikiyo).
November 1762: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Endô Musha, Chinzei Hachirô and Kasaya Rokurobei in the kaomise drama "Nagi no Ha Izu no Sugatami". This performance celebrates the shûmei of 3 of his disciples, Takinaka Hidematsu II, Ichikawa Takejûrô and Matsumoto Chômatsu, who respectively take the names of Ichikawa Benzô I, Ichikawa Somegorô I and Matsumoto Shichizô II. Danjûrô plays also the role of the Deity Meguro no Fudô (the black eyes Fudô Myôô) in the "Fudô" scene, which is staged at the end of the program. The roles of Seitaka Dôji and Konkara Dôji, sitting close to Fudô Myôô, are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô III and Ichikawa Somegorô I.
February 1763: Danjûrô plays in the same theater several roles, including Kagekiyo, in the new year drama "Momo Chidori Ôiso Gayoi".
May 1763: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Tamba no Suketarô in the drama "Kôyasan Jayanagi", commonly called "Janayagi".
November 1763: Danjûrô plays in the same theater several roles, including Sanada Bunzô Masayasu, in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki". This performance celebrates the shûmei of 2 of his disciples, Nakamura Denzô I and Ichikawa Somegorô I, who respectively take the names of Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II.
February 1764: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo, disguised as Sazame Shichirô, in the new year drama "Hitokidori Harutsuge Soga". The roles of Akoya and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada are played by Hanakawa Ichinojô and Nakamura Shichisaburô II.
March 1764: Danjûrô makes a welcome speech for the arrival of Ichikawa Danzô III at the Nakamuraza. 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: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kan Shôjô, transformed into the God of Thunder, and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners in the role of Umeômaru (Matsuômaru's brother and Kan Shôjô's retainer), Sakuramaru (Matsuômaru's brother), Chiyo (Matsuômaru's wife), Fujiwara no Shihei (Matsuômaru's master) and Shiratayû (Matsuômaru's father) are Ichikawa Raizô I, Ichikawa Komazô II, Yoshizawa Goroichi I, Nakajima Mihoemon II and Nakamura Denkurô II. The performance is a big success and is extended up to the middle of June.
June 1764: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Saitô Tarozaemon in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".
August 1764: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kumedera Danjô 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.
November 1764: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ibaraki Chôbei, Taira no Yoshikado and the spirit of Taira no Masakado in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Ayame III.
January 1765: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Amatsukaze Nenriki Soga". The roles of Akoya and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada are played by Azuma Tôzô II and Nakamura Shichisaburô II.
May 1765: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kakogawa Honzô and Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
August 1765: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of the prostitutes-trader (zegen) Hachibei and Yoshiigahama no Tadanori in the drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya", which commemorates the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the death of Segawa Kikunojô I. His stage partners are Segawa Kikunojô II (the courtesan Katsuragi), Matsumoto Shichizô II (Katsuragi's daughter Omina) and Ichikawa Komazô II (Nagoya Sanzaburô).
November 1765: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Kujaku Saburô in the kaomise drama "Kagura Uta Amagoi Komachi", which celebrates the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô IV.
January 1766: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Sasaki Tarô, disguised as the wholesaler Date Yosaku, and Konnômaru in the new year drama "Kaidô Ichi Izu no Harugoma".
May 1766: premiere of the play "Yaoya Oshichi Koi no Edozome", which is staged at the Nakamuraza; Danjûrô plays the role of Noriyori; his stage partners in the roles of Yaoya Oshichi and Kichisaburô are Nakamura Matsue I and Ichikawa Benzô I.
November 1766: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza several roles, including the Kurozuka ogress, in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hana Kaijin Arasmusha", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Kirishima Gizaemon. His stage partners in the roles of Abe no Munetô, Abe no Sadatô and Hachiman Tarô are Matsumoto Kôshirô III, Kirishima Gizaemon and Bandô Hikosaburô II.
January 1767: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo, disguised as a sweet seller, in the new year drama "Hatsu Akinai Ômise Soga". The roles of Akoya and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada are played by Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III and Nakamura Shichisaburô II.
July 1767: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Tokaiya Gimpei, Taira no Tomomori and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
August 1767: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the wicked priest Narukami in the drama "Sono Namo Tsuki no Irobito" (similar to "Narukami"); the roles of Princess Taema, Hakuunbô (white cloud bonze) and Kokuunbô (dark cloud bonze) are played by Nakamura Matsue I, Arashi Otohachi I and Ichikawa Komazô II.
November 1767: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hata Rokurô Saemon, disguised as the tea seller Ichibei, in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Shizu no Furisode".
January 1768: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-goku-jô-jô-kichi (grand - extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Umezawa Kogorobei, Kazusa Gorobei and Taira no Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Fude Hajime Soga no Tamazusa". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari, the enemies of Kudô, are played by Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II (who also plays Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Kagekiyo's enemy).
April 1768: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Teraoka Heiemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Nakamura Shichisaburô II (Ôboshi Yuranosuke) and Segawa Kikunojô II (Okaru).
July 1768: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Matsunaga Daizen in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". His stage partners in the roles of Princess Yuki and Tôkichi are Segawa Kikunojô II and Nakamura Denkurô II.
August 1768: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Nanagusa Shirô, disguised as Tenjiku Tokubei, in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Kokyô no Torikaji".
November 1768: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Munekiyo and Kisanta in the kaomise drama "Ima o Sakari Suehiro Genji", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of Nakamura Utaemon I.
January 1769: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu", which includes a "Kamahige" scene.
November 1769: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Sanshô Dayû (4th time) and Sano Gentôta in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki".
January 1770: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kurizu no Rokurô and Kazusa Shichibyôei Kagekiyo, disguised as the farmer Kakezuri no Jûbei, in the new year drama "Kagamigaike Omokage Soga".
June 1770: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of the money broker Hachibei, the priest Renshôbô and Asari no Yoichi in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Chûkô Kagami".
September 1770: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the Deity Fûdô Myôô in a memorial performance for the the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the death of Ichikawa Ebizô II.
November 1770: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Ichikawa Danjûrô IV takes back his previous name of Matsumoto Kôshirô II and his son Matsumoto Kôshirô III receives the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô V. Kôshirô plays several roles, including Nagata no Tarô and the God of the Mountain, in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which also celebrates the arrival of Ichikawa Danzô III and Yamashita Kinsaku II at the Nakamuraza and the shûmei of the actors Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Ichikawa Benzô I and Nakamura Shichinosuke I, who respectively take the names of Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Nakamura Shichisaburô III.
January 1771: Kôshirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is murui (unequaled). Kôshirô portrays in the same theater the Deity Aizen Myôô and plays the seven roles of Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Sakaichô Soga no Nendaiki". The roles of Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover) and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada (Kagekiyo's enemy) are played by Yamashita Kinsaku II and Nakamura Shôchô.
July 1771: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Dozaemon Denkichi and the God of the Wind in the drama "Tamura Maro Nanae Gasane".
November 1771: Kôshirô, who decided to stay at the Nakamuraza while his son Ichikawa Danjûrô V moved to the Moritaza, plays the role of Ôtomo Sannô in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji".
January 1772: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kagekiyo, disguised as Ômi no Yawatanosuke, in the new year drama "Haru ha Soga Akebono Zôshi".
August 1772: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Maboroshi Takeemon in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
November 1772: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. The actors Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Komazô II and Ichikawa (or Matsumoto) Sumizô I respectively take the names of Ichikawa Ebizô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Ichikawa Komazô III. The new Ebizô plays the roles of Kuryû Saemon, the hag Aomugi (?), Nagasaki Kageyu Saemon and Shinozuka Gorô in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka".
January 1773: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Wada Yoshimori, the ghost of Miura Ôsuke and the warrior Taira no Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Wada Sakamori Eiga Kagami". The role of Akoya is played by Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III.
May 1773: Ebizô plays in the same theater the role of Watônai, disguised as Nanagusa Shirô, in the drama "Dainippon Ise no Kamikaze".
July 1773: Ebizô plays in the same theater the role of the express messenger Takumi in the drama "Keisei Kataokayama".
September 1773: Ebizô plays in the same theater the role of Kan Shôjô, transformed into the God of Thunder, in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1773: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the play "Gohiiki Kanjinchô", performed as a kaomise drama. Ebizô plays the roles of Benkei, Anewa no Heiji and Shigetada [casting]. This 46-days long performance, which is also the shûmei of Nakamura Rikô I, is a tremendous success.
January 1774: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Taira no Kagekiyo and Minamoto no Tametomo in the new year drama "Oatsuraezome Soga Hinagata". The roles of Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover) and Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada (Kagekiyo's enemy) are played by Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.
May 1774: big crisis at the Nakamuraza; several high-ranking actors, including Ebizô, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô IV leave the theater. Ebizô seizes this opportunity to take long vacation.
November 1775: Ebizô is back on stage, at the Ichimuraza, meeting up again Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV, who left the Moritaza. He plays the role of Hata Rokurô Saemon in the kaomise drama "Oyafune Taiheiki". This kaomise is a huge success, starting the 1st of November and ending the 15th December.
January 1776: Ebizô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, sôkantô section ("global leader"), is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the roles of Taira no Kagekiyo and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Kamuri Kotoba Soga no Yukari".
March 1776: Ebizô replaces Sakata Hangorô II in the role of the villain Ikyû in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsuzakura". The roles of Agemaki and Sukeroku are played by Iwai Hanshirô IV and Ichikawa Yaozô II (replaced because of illness by Ichimura Uzaemon IX). The performance is a huge success and extended up to June.
July 1776: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Matsuômaru and Kan Shôjô, transformed into the God of Thunder, in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Ichimura Uzaemon IX (Umeômaru), Ichikawa Yaozô II (Sakuramaru), Nakamura Noshio I (Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo), Sakata Hangorô II (Matsuômaru's father Shiratayû) and Nakajima Mihoemon II (Fujiwara no Shihei).
September 1776: Ichikawa Ebizô III appears on stage for the last time, making his isse ichidai speech on the stage of the Ichimuraza. He shaves his head, becomes a bonze called Zuinen and retires in the district of Kiba (Fukagawa).
October 1776: his grandson Momotarô dies at the age of 8.
February 1778: he dies the 25th of this month. His tombstone is located in the Aoyama Cemetery (Tôkyô).
Comments:
Ichikawa Ebizô III was a versatile actor, who excelled in playing jitsuaku or jitsugotoshi roles. It should be noted that he was not an aragotoshi as talented as Ichikawa Danjûrô I or Ichikawa Ebizô II and that he was also able to play onnagata roles. He reached the jô-jô-kichi rank in March 1741 and the goku-jô-jô-kichi rank in January 1760.
Ichikawa Ebizô III's best roles : Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami") and Taira no Kagekiyo.
Ichikawa Ebizô III is also the creator of three bombastic plays belonging to the kabuki jûhachiban collection: "Gedatsu" (March 1760), "Jayanagi" (May 1763) and "Kamahige" (January 1769).
"Considered a progressive, Ichikawa Danjûrô IV mixed with every class, realizing that the key to character portrayal is accurate observation of human beings. The realism he infused into his roles was an important development in his family style" (Samuel Leiter, "New Kabuki Encyclopedia").
Ichikawa Ebizô III was also the organizer of acting classes, which helped to polish the skills of actors like Nakamura Nakazô I or Matsumoto Kôshirô IV.
Ichikawa Danjûrô IV playing the role of Kagekiyo in the drama "Soga Moyô Aigo no Wakamatsu", staged at the Nakamuraza in January 1769 (print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô)
Prints and illustrations of Ichikawa Ebizô III
Print made by Torii Kiyomasu in 1752
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1755
Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1755
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô (1758~1760)
Print made by Torii Kiyotsune in 1763
Print made by Ippitsusai Bunchô in 1769
Print made by Katsukawa Shunkô
The Matsumoto Kôshirô line of actors
The Ichikawa Danjûrô line of actors
The Ichikawa Ebizô line of actors