ICHIKAWA EBIZÔ V

Stage names:

Ichikawa Hakuen II
Ichikawa Danjûrô VII
Ichikawa Ebizô V
Ichikawa Shinnosuke I

Others names:

Ichikawa Jukai I
Matsumoto Kôshirô
Hatagaya Jûzô
Naritaya Shichizaemon II

Guild: Naritaya

Line number: GODAIME (V)

Poetry names: Sanshô, Jukai (1), Hakuen

Existence: 1791 ~ 23 March 1859

Connections:

Great-great-great-grandfather: Ichikawa Danjûrô I

Great-great-grandfather: Ichikawa Ebizô II (Danjûrô II)

Great-grandfather: Ichikawa Ebizô III (Danjûrô IV)

Grandfather: Ichikawa Hakuen I (Danjûrô V)

Adopted father: Ichikawa Danjûrô VI

Sons: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Ichikawa Danjûrô IX, Ichikawa Ebizô VII, Ichikawa Ebizô VIII, Ichikawa Komazô VI, Ichikawa Enzô I, Ichikawa Kôzô

Disciples: Ichikawa Kodanji III, Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Ichikawa Ebijûrô I, Ichikawa Ebijûrô IV, Ichikawa Sumizô III, Ichikawa Shinsha I (Monnosuke V), Ichikawa Omezô II, Ichikawa Dankurô I, Ichikawa Suminojô, Ichikawa Sadanji 0.2, Ichikawa Raizô V, Ichikawa Danshirô III

Career:

1791: born in Edo. His father is the owner of a shibai jaya but it is said that he was a musician and a low-ranking samurai. His mother is the daughter of the star Ichikawa Danjûrô V.

August 1794: he appears on stage for the first time, receiving the name of Ichikawa Shinnosuke I.

1797: Ichikawa Shinnosuke I becomes Ichikawa Ebizô V.

June 1798: Ebizô plays at the Nakamuraza 2 famous koyaku, Rokukimi and Antoku Tennô, in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

May 1799: his adopted father Ichikawa Danjûrô VI dies.

November 1800: he is officially designated as the next holder of the prestigious name of Ichikawa Danjûrô.

October 1806: his grandfather Ichikawa Hakuen I dies.

1807: Ichikawa Ebizô V takes the name of Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.

May 1808: Danjûrô plays the roles of Senzaki Yagorô and Ôdate Samanosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.

July 1808: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Toki-mo Kikyô Shusse no Ukejô"; Danjûrô plays the role of Yasuda Sakubei [casting].

March 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Danjûrô plays the role of Tsugawa Katsujirô [casting].

May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Danjûrô plays the roles of Kojima Rimpei and the yamabushi priest Masuhôin [casting].

February 1811: Danjûrô plays for the first time the prestigious role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura", which is staged at the Ichimuraza; his stage partners in the roles of the courtesan Agemaki and Ikyû are Iwai Hanshirô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

July 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Danjûrô plays the role of Wada Gorô [more details].

September 1812: Danjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Umeômaru and Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Matsuômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Segawa Rokô IV.

March 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English "The seven roles of Osome"). The seven roles are played by Iwai Hanshirô V; Danjûrô plays the roles of Kyûsaku and the sarumawashi Sajibei [casting].

April 1813: Danjûrô plays the role of the warrior Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki", which is staged at the Moritaza.

June 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of the 8-role hengemono "Mata Koko-ni Sugata Hakkei"; the 8 roles are performed by Danjûrô. One of them, the one for the view "wild goose swooping down upon Katata in Autumn" ("Katata no Rakugan" in Japanese), has survived and became an independent popular dance item in the Kabuki repertoire, known under the titles of "Ômi no Okane", "Danjûrô Musume" (the Danjûrô Girl) or "Sarashima" (the Cloth-bleaching Girl).

January 1814: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). Premiere at the Moritaza of the Nagauta-based dance "Shôfudatsuki Kongen Kusazuri"; Danjûrô plays the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune [casting].

March 1814: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", which is commonly called "Onna Seigen", at the Ichimuraza. Danjûrô plays the roles of Yoshida Matsuwakamaru, Iwafuji and Shimobe Gunsuke.

May 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the 12-role hengemono "Manete Mimasu Shiki no Wazaogi", which is performed by Danjûrô. One of the roles, "Tombi Yakko", is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire.

July 1814: Danjûrô plays for the first time at the Ichimuraza the role of the smuggler Genkai Nadaemon in the play "Imaori Hakata no Irifune", which is very similar to "Kezori". His stage partners are Seki Sanjûrô II (Komachiya Sôshichi) and Ichikawa Dannosuke III (the courtesan Hakata Kojorô).

March 1815: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kumagai Tarô and Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

April 1815: the actors Danjûrô, Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Iwai Hanshirô V and Seki Sanjûrô II move to the Kawarazakiza, which is about to reopen.

May 1815: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" (commonly called "Oroku to Gantetsu", in English "The female Seigen") at the Kawarazakiza. Danjûrô plays the roles of Omamori Dembei and Sano Jirôzaemon.

August 1815: Danjûrô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of Tadanobu and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". His stage partner in the role of Shizuka Gozen in the michiyuki "Michiyuki Hatsune no Tabi" is the onnagata Segawa Tamon.

September 1815: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kampei, Ichimonjiya Saibei and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Segawa Tamon (Okaru), Iwai Kumesaburô II (Oishi, Osono) and Seki Sanjûrô II (En'ya Hangan, Teraoka Heiemon).

July 1816: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Ichimonjiya Saibei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The role of En'ya Hangan is played by Onoe Kikugorô III.

March 1817: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Danjûrô plays the roles of the priest Seigen, Tsurigane Gonsuke (in reality Shinobu no Sôta) and Inanoya Hanbei [casting].

February 1818: the play "Kamakura Sandaiki" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Danjûrô plays the role of Miuranosuke [casting].

April 1819: Danjûrô plays at the Tamagawaza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, En'ya Hangan, Hayano Kampei, Momoi Wakasanosuke, Ono no Sadakurô, Tonase and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His main stage partners are Matsumoto Kôshirô V (Kô no Moronô, Teraoka Heiemon, Kakogawa Honzô), Segawa Kikunojô V (Okaru, Oishi) and Iwai Hanshirô V (Osono).

April 1820: Danjûrô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue and Hatakeyama Shigetada in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". The role of Chidori is played by Ichikawa Monnosuke III.

May 1821: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Hayano Kampei and Ishidô Umanojô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

March 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Danjûrô plays the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon, Banzui Chôbei and Teranishi Kanshin [casting].

May 1823: Danjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Matsuômaru and Terukuni in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Chiyo, Umeômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Segawa Kikunojô V, Seki Sanjûrô II and Onoe Kikugorô III.

July 1825: Danjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Senzaki Yagorô, Ishidô Umanojô and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

July 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's ghost play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; Danjûrô plays the role of Tamiya Iemon [casting].

September 1825: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu"; Danjûrô plays the roles of Sasanoya Sangorô (in reality Tokuemon's son Sentarô) and Itô Genshin (in reality Senzaki Yagorô) [casting].

January 1826: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).

September 1826: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon and Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu in the drama "Hirakana Seishuiki". The roles of Chidori and Ofude are played by Iwai Shijaku I and Iwai Kumesaburô II.

May 1827: Danjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka in the "Senjin Mondô" scene of the drama "Hirakana Seishuiki". The roles of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue, Chidori and Enju are played by Bandô Mitsugorô III, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Kataoka Nizaemon VII.

July 1827: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke, Teraoka Heiemon, Ono no Sadakurô, Ôwashi Bungo, Kakusuke, Ishidô Umanojô and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

September 1827: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô". His stage partners are Iwai Kumesaburô II (Otoku), Bandô Hikosaburô IV (Utanosuke), Ichimura Uzaemon XII (Shurinosuke) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Shôgen).

December 1827: Danjûrô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon and Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu in the drama "Hirakana Seishuiki".

May 1828: Danjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Matsuômaru and Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

October 1829: Danjûrô plays under the name of Ichikawa Hakuen the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kampei and Ono no Sadakurô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is performed at the Shukuin no Shibai in Sakai. His stage partner in the role of Okaru is Fujikawa Tomokichi II.

January 1830: Danjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).

July 1831: Danjûrô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Rokuyata in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kumagai's wife Sagami is played by Segawa Kikunojô V.

September 1831: Danjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

March 1832: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Naritaya guild. Ichikawa Danjûrô VII takes back the name of Ichikawa Ebizô V and his son Ichikawa Ebizô VI, who is only 9 years old, becomes Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII. Ebizô plays the roles of Sarushima Sôta, Iwafuji and Yoshida Matsuwakamaru in Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome". He also plays the prestigious role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners in the roles of the courtesan Agemaki and Ikyû are Iwai Hanshirô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

April 1832: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of the boatman Matsuemon, Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu and Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki". He also plays the role of Soga Gorô in the short and bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne". The role of Soga Jûrô is played by Ichimura Uzaemon XII.

November 1832: Ebizô moves to the Kawarazakiza and plays several roles, including Narita Gorô and Ashigarayama no Yamamba, in the kaomise program. His son Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII plays for the first time the leading role of the "Shibaraku" scene.

March 1833: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kampei, Momoi Wakasanosuke, Teraoka Heiemon and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

February 1836: Ebizô plays at the Moritaza the roles of Genzô, Yuranosuke, Oniô Shinzaemon, Tanuki no Kakubei, Izu no Jirô, Hisaage Zenji, Matsuômaru, Kakogawa Honzô, Ômi no Tôta, Kakuju, Oishi, Soga Mankô, Terukuni, Ishidô Umanojô, Tempaizan no Kan Shôjô, Ôwashi Bungo, Taira no Kagekiyo, the wooden statue of Kan Shôjô, the statue of Fudô Myôô and Momoi Wakasanosuke in the drama "Sugawararyû Kanagaki Soga", which mixes the worlds of "Kanadehon Chûshingura", "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" and the Soga brothers.

April 1836: premiere at the Moritaza of the drama "Hakkenden Uwasa no Takadono"; Ebizô plays the roles of Ôtsuka Shinjirô, Fukami Katsugorô, Inuta Kobungo, Inuyama Dôsetsu, Inuzuka Shino, Inumura Kakutarô, Aboshi Samojirô, Tsuchida Dotarô and the wicked priest Narukami [casting].

January 1838: Ebizô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which is included in the new year program "Fude Hajime Mazebari Soga". The role of Kumagai's wife Sagami is played by Ichikawa Danzô V.

March 1839: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of the dance program "Shiki no Nagame Maru-ni-I no Toshi", which is made up of four dances dedicated to the four seasons and stars Ebizô, Sawamura Tosshô I and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII. The autumn dance, "Yashiki Musume", is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire.

September 1839: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of the Kiyomoto-based dance "Shimero Yare Iro no Kakegoe", which is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire under the title "Kanda Matsuri". It stars Ebizô, Sawamura Tosshô I and Onoe Eizaburô III.

March 1840: Première of the dance-drama "Kanjinchô" at the Kawarazakiza; Ebizô plays the role of Benkei [more details].

August 1840: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi", a revised version of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Hakata Kojorô Nami Makura"; Ebizô plays the role of Kezori Kuemon [casting].

April 1841: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Midaroku, the yakko Tagohei and Rakujinsai in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Yoshitsune is played by his son Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.

November 1841: Ebizô plays in the same theater the roles of Kakuju, Umeômaru and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". The roles of Matsuômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Nakamura Utaemon IV and Sawamura Tosshô I.

March 1842: Ebizô plays the eponymous role of the play "Kagekiyo", which is staged at the Kawarazakiza. His stage partners are Ichikawa Kuzô II (Shigetada) and Onoe Eizaburô III (Akoya).

Summer 1842: Ebizô is arrested and accused of violating the sumptuary laws. His sumptuous villa is destroyed and he is banished from Edo.

November 1843: Ebizô plays the roles of Kakuju and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.

November 1844: Ebizô plays the roles of Kakuju and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai. The roles of Umeômaru and Sakuramaru are played by Ichikawa Ebijûrô IV and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I.

November 1845: Ebizô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kumagai's wife Sagami is played by Nakamura Tomijûrô II.

February 1847: Ebizô plays the role of Yoshitsune in le michiyuki and the "Shi-no-Kiri" act of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is performed at the Kado no Shibai (Ôsaka). His stage partners are Arashi Kichisaburô III (Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan), Ichikawa Kodanji IV (Tadanobu) and Arashi Rikaku II (Shizuka Gozen).

May 1847: Ebizô plays the roles of Yoshitsune, Igami no Gonta and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in Kyôto in the play "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is produced at the Kitagawa no Shibai by the nadai Kameya Kumenojô and Hayagumo Chôdayû. His stage partners are Ichikawa Kodanji IV(Tadanobu) and Arashi Rikaku II (Shizuka Gozen).

September 1848: Ebizô plays the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai. The role of Osono is played by Arashi Rikan III. Ebizô also plays the roles of Kakuju and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

November 1848: Ebizô plays the roles of Kakuju and Matsuômaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is staged in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

March 1850: Ebizô plays at Kawarazakiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kumagai's wife Sagami is played by Onoe Kikujirô II.

July 1852: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Ebizô plays the role of Yashagorô [casting].

September 1852: Ebizô plays at Kawarazakiza the role of Midaroku in the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by his son Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.

January 1853: Ebizô plays at the Kado no Shibai the eponymous role of the play "Kagekiyo". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô VI (Akoya) and Kataoka Gadô II (Shigetada).

May 1853: Ebizô plays one more time the eponymous role of the play "Kagekiyo" in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

April 1854: tour in Nagoya at the Wakamiya no Shibai. He plays under the name of Naritaya Shichizaemon the eponymous role of the play "Kagekiyo".

August 1854: a few days after his triumphant arrival in Ôsaka, his son Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII commits suicide in his inn.

June 1855: tour in Nagoya, where he plays under the name of Matsumoto Kôshirô.

November 1855: he plays the roles of Dankurô and Saisaki Iga no Kami in the play "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which is staged in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai.

1856: he takes one more time the name of Ichikawa Ebizô V.

January 1857: Ebizô plays for the last time the role of Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", which is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai. The roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune are played by Ichikawa Ebijûrô IV and Ichikawa Kôzô.

January 1859: Ebizô plays at the Nakamuraza but he suddenly falls ill and needs to rest a few weeks.

March 1859: Ebizô is supposed to play in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" but he has a relapse and dies the 23rd of this month.

Comments:

Ichikawa Ebizô V was an outstanding tachiyaku and the most popular actor of the nineteenth century.