| IWAI HANSHIRÔ VIII |
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Stage names:
Nickname: Shidô Hanshirô Guild: Yamatoya Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII) Poetry names: Shidô, Baiga, Shijaku, Tojaku, Enji Existence: 1829 ~ 19 February 1882 Connections: Great-great-grandfather: Sawamura Sôjûrô II Great-grandfathers: Iwai Hanshirô IV, Sawamura Sôjûrô III Grandfathers: Iwai Hanshirô V, Segawa Rokô IV Father: Iwai Hanshirô VII Father-in-law: Nakamura Kanzaburô XII Adopted sons: Iwai Kumesaburô IV, Iwai Shijaku III, Iwai Shijaku IV Disciples: Iwai Matsunosuke III (?), Iwai Matsunosuke IV, Iwai Komurasaki III, Iwai Kiyosa, Iwai Shigematsu, Iwai Kiyotarô V (?) Career: 1829: born in Edo in the district of Sumiyoshi-chô. 11th lunar month of 1829: he made his first stage appearance at a very early age, receiving the name of Iwai Hisajirô II at the Nakamuraza. 11th lunar month of 1832: great shûmei for the Iwai clan at the Nakamuraza. Iwai Hanshirô V, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Iwai Hisajirô II respectively took the names of Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Hanshirô VI and Iwai Kumesaburô III. They performed together in Segawa Jokô II's kaomise drama "Goban Tadanobu Yuki no Kuroshiro" and their stage partners were Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Nakamura Shikan II, Ichikawa Yaozô IV and Sawamura Tosshô I. 8th day of the 4th lunar month of 1836 [1]: Iwai Hanshirô VI died in Edo. 1st day of the 4th lunar month of 1845 [2]: his father Iwai Hanshirô VII died in Edo. 6th day of the 4th lunar month of 1847 [3]: his grandfather Iwai Hanshirô V died in Edo. 1851: Kumesaburô became tateonnagata at the Kawarasakiza and he was the stage partner of Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII. 4th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the Tokiwazu-based dance "Kioi Jishi Kabuki no Hanakago", commonly called "Kioi Jishi", starring Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Bandô Takesaburô I, Onoe Kikujirô II and Kumesaburô. 8th lunar month of 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi" (commonly called "Sakura Giminden"); Kumesaburô played the roles of the shirabyôshi Katsuragi and Ashikaga Mitsuuji [casting]. 7th lunar month of 1852: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Kumesaburô played the roles of Princess Tagoto, Asazawaya Kishigawa and Princess Teruta [casting]. 3rd lunar month of 1854: Kumesaburô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Fujiya Izaemon (Yûgiri's lover) was played by Kataoka Gadô II. 2nd lunar month of 1859: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kosode Soga Azami no Ironui" (commonly called "Izayoi Seishin"); Kumesaburô played the roles of Tora Gozen, Budayû's daughter Oryû, the Ôgiya yûjo Izayoi (later Hakuren's mekake Osayo) and the female karuwazashi Tachibana Koiwa [casting]. 9th lunar month of 1859: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's Kiyomoto-based dance "Jitsugetsusei Chûya no Oriwake", commonly called "Ryûsei"; the leading roles were played by Kawarasaki Gonjûrô I, Ichikawa Kodanji IV and Kumesaburô. 1st lunar month of 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Sannin Kichisa Kuruwa no Hatsugai"; Kumesaburô played the roles of Ojô Kichisa and Chôjiya Hitoe [casting]. 3rd lunar month of 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji"; Kumesaburô played the roles of Ohatsu, Onoe II and Oryû [casting]. 7th lunar month of 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Hachiman Matsuri Yomiya no Nigiwai" (commonly called "Chijimiya Shinsuke"); Kumesaburô played the role of Miyokichi [casting]. 3rd lunar month of 1862: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishikie" (commonly called "Shiranami Gonin Otoko"); Kumesaburô played the role of Akaboshi Jûzô [casting]. 2nd lunar month of 1864: Iwai Kumesaburô III took the name of Iwai Shijaku II at the Nakamuraza, performing in the drama "Mukashi Banashi Homare Soga". He also performed in the dance-dramas "Ume Sakura Mitsugumi Sakazuki" and "Tôkaidô Meisho Karakuri". 3rd lunar month of 1870: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kusunoki-ryû Hanami no Makuhari" (commonly called "Keian Taiheiki" or "Marubashi Chûya"); Shijaku played the roles of Shigejirô's sister Fujie, the ghost of Princess Nadeshiko and the yuna Kofuji (in reality Kurobê's sister Ofuji) [more details]. 10th lunar month of 1870: Shijaku played at the Moritaza the roles of Otane and Nureginu in the drama "Yosetemitsu Renjô Kidan", whose plot and characters were similar to the classic "Honchô Nijûshikô". 11th lunar month of 1870: Shijaku played at the Moritaza the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô" (performed under the title "Koremo Katamimaru Izaemon"). The role of Fujiya Izaemon (Yûgiri's lover) was played by Sawamura Tosshô II. 2nd lunar month of 1872: Iwai Shijaku II and Iwai Hisajirô III respectively took the names of Iwai Hanshirô VIII and Iwai Kumesaburô IV [5] at the Moritaza; Hanshirô played the roles of Isonami and Omatsu in the drama "Kaikeizan Sakiwake Genji". Hanshirô also played the roles of Yoshitsune [7] and Agemaki [8] in the dramas "Kanjinchô" and "Sukeroku Yukari no Yaezakura". This program was very successful and it was staged up to the 23rd day of the 4th lunar month. 5th lunar month of 1872: Hanshirô played at the Moritaza the role of Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". 9th ~ 10th lunar months of 1872: the Moritaza was relocated in the district of Shintomi-chô. Hanshirô took part in the opening program in the 10th lunar month, performing the drama "Sangoku Musô Hisago no Gunsen". He also played the role of Kinshôjo in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen". 10th lunar month of 1872: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's zangirimono "Tsuki no En Masu no Igaguri"; Hanshirô played the role of Otomi [casting]. March 1873: Hanshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Osan in the shinjûmono "Hanabiraki Kasa no Rokuro"; the role of Osan's lover Mohê was played by Onoe Kikugorô V. June 1873: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Tsuyu Kosode Mukashi Hachijô", commonly called "Kamiyui Shinza"; Hanshirô played the role of Okuma [casting]. 5 October 1873: his adopted son Iwai Shijaku III died. 1874: Hanshirô became zagashira at the Nakamuraza. June 1874: Hanshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the courtesan Umegawa in Segawa Jokô III's shinjûmono "Koi no Tayori Misao no Kanabumi"; the role of Umegawa's lover Kameya Chûbê was played by Nakamura Sôjûrô. October 1874: Hanshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the courtesan Koman in the drama "Gochûmon Satsuma Jôfu" (similar to Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"); the roles of Sangobê and Gengobê were played by Nakamura Shikan IV and Nakamura Sôjûrô. March 1875: Hanshirô played at the Nakamuraza the role of Shizuka Gozen in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". October 1875: premiere at the Nakamuraza and the Shinboriza of Takeshiba Kinsaku I's drama "Minori no Aki Seishô Denki"; Hanshirô played the role of Uji-no-Kata [more details]. 1877: tour in Nagoya with Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. October 1878: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jitsugetsusei Kyôwa Seidan"; Hanshirô played the roles of Rokubê's daughter Okoro, Aoi Gozen and Kihachi's nyôbô Omaki [casting]. January 1879: Hanshirô played at the Shintomiza the roles of Konami and Oishi in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also played the roles of Ono no Komachi, the courtesan Sumizome, the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree and Yoshimine Munesada (role rotation everyday) in the drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To". February 1879: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ningen Banji Kane no Yo no Naka"; Hanshirô played the role of Oran's niece Okura [casting]. 16 July 1879: Hanshirô took part in the gala night at the Shintomiza in the honor of the General Ulysses S. Grant [more details]. 23 May 1880: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Arimatsuzome Sumô Yukata"; Hanshirô played the roles of Omichi's daughter Omaki and Takao's spouse Owaka [more details]. January 1881: Hanshirô played at the Shintomiza the roles of Shizuka Gozen, Kosen and Osato ("Sushiya") in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura". March 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's masterpiece "Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana"; Hanshirô played the roles of Namiji and Michitose [casting]. June 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's jidaimono "Youchi Soga Kariba no Akebono"; Hanshirô played the role of Kisegawa no Kametsuru [casting]. July 1881: Hanshirô played at the Shintomiza the role of Fukushimaya Osono in the drama "Kodaigata Shinzome Yukata" [print]. November 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono drama "Shima Chidori Tsuki no Shiranami"; Hanshirô played the role of Benten Oteru, later Mochizuki's wife Oteru [casting]. January 1882: Hanshirô appeared on stage for the last time, in Tôkyô at the Saruwakaza, where he performed for a few days in the dramas "Sumidagawa Tsukige no Harukoma", "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri" and "Mitsu no Asa Hatsuyu no Shimenawa". He suddenly fell seriously ill. 19 February 1882: Hanshirô died in Tôkyô [4]. Comments: Iwai Hanshirô VIII, who was both tall and good-looking, was an excellent onnagata, especially in the sewamono roles, and considered as the worthy heir of his grand-father Iwai Tojaku. He costarred the best tachiyaku from the last years of the Edo period to the first years of Meiji: Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Kataoka Nizaemon VIII, Bandô Hikosaburô V, Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Nakamura Shikan IV, Onoe Kikugorô V and Ichikawa Danjûrô IX. He was one of the last true Edo onnagata. "The eighth Hanshirô who appeared with these actors was the son of the seventh, and was born in Ôsaka [6]. He was extremely effeminate in manner, a true onnagata of the old school, and was known for his good deeds, always assisting his pupils, and kindly disposed to his servants and the menials of the theatre. An award of merit was given him by the Government, as an example to others of a good citizen and loyal subject." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan") [1] The 8th day of the 4th lunar month of the 7th year of the Tenpô era was the 22nd of May 1836 in the western calendar. [2] The 1st day of the 4th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kôka era was the 6th of May 1845 in the western calendar. [3] The 6th day of the 4th lunar month of the 4th year of the Kôka era was the 20th of May 1847 in the western calendar. [4] Iwai Hanshirô VI's tombstone was located in the cemetery of the Jôshinji Temple in the district of Fukagawa. [5] At the same time, Iwai Hanshirô VIII's adopted son Arashi Eizaburô took the name of Iwai Shijaku III at the Nakamuraza [6] A mistake in Zoë Kincaid's book "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan" as Iwai Hanshirô VIII was born in Edo. [7] The roles of Benkei and Togashi were played by Kawarasaki Sanshô and Ichikawa Sadanji I. [8] The roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû were played by Kawarasaki Sanshô and Nakamura Nakazô III. |
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Iwai Hanshirô VIII playing the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Shi-no-Kiri" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was performed in January 1881 at the Shintomiza (print made by Toyohara Kunichika) Print made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1852 Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1852 Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1855 (courtesy of V.) Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1859 Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1860 Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1869 Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1871 Print made by Shôsai Ginkô in 1874 Print made by Morikawa Chikashige in 1881 The Iwai Hisajirô line of actors The Iwai Kumesaburô line of actors The Iwai Shijaku line of actors The Iwai Hanshirô line of actors |
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