Stage names:
Bandô Hikosaburô I
Bandô Kikumatsu I
Shinozuka Kikumatsu
Other name: Bandô Shinsui I
Guild: Yorozuya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Shinsui (1)
Crest: a crane spreading its wing in a circle
Existence: 1693 ~ 1 January 1751
Connection:
Master: Bandô Matatarô I
Uncle: Shinozuka Jirozaemon I
Son: Bandô Hikosaburô II
Son-in-law: Onoe Kikugorô I
Disciples: Bandô Manzô, Bandô Toyosaburô I
Career:
1693 ~ 1706: according to some sources, he is the nephew of the tachiyaku Shinozuka Jirozaemon I. According to others, he is from a samurai family settled in Fushimi in the Yamashiro province (southern part of the current Kyôto prefecture). There are also some who make the assumption that he was born in the Sagami province. In short, we're not sure about his origins. His first stage name is Shinozuka Kikumatsu. He becomes disciple of Bandô Matatarô I and receives the name of Bandô Kikumatsu I.
28 February 1704: his master Bandô Matatarô I dies.
Fall 1706: Kikumatsu, his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I and his uncle's son Shinozuka Shômatsu go together to Ôsaka.
November 1706: Kikumatsu plays the eponymous role of the kaomise drama "Kantô Koroku", which is produced by his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I at Ôsaka Tazaemon's theater.
November 1707: Bandô Kikumatsu I takes the name of Bandô Hikosaburô I, playing the role of Kanehira in the drama "Hyakuma Yamamba", which is staged in the same theater.
November 1711: Hikosaburô settles in Kyôto and plays the role of Fukushima Naniwanosuke in the drama "Mannen Gura", which is produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I and Sodesaki Karyû at the nadai Kameya Kumenojô's theater.
November 1714: Hikosaburô is back in Ôsaka and plays the role of Ôgiri Jinnojô in the drama "Bandai-ga-Ike no Tsurukame", which is produced by Arashi Sanjûrô I at the nadai Shioya Kuroemon's theater.
November 1715: Hikosaburô is back in Kyôto and plays the role of Noge Kisaburô in the drama "Manpô Chitose no Matsu", which is produced by Yamatoya Jimbei III at the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô's theater.
November 1717: Hikosaburô plays the role of Godai Saburô in the play "Ômu Gaeshi Momotose Gitsune", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I at the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater. His stage partners are Onoe Samon, Kirinami Takie, Sawamura Otoemon I, Sakakiyama Koshirô I and Bandô Matajûrô I.
23 January 1718: his uncle Shinozuka Jirozaemon I dies.
February 1718: First Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Nihon Furisode Hajime", which is produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; Hikosaburô plays the role of Somin Shôrai [casting].
November 1719: Hikosaburô is back in Ôsaka and plays the role of Tomihara Isenosuke in the drama "Kogane no Mitsu Gashiwa", which is produced by Kaneko Kichizaemon at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1723: great kaomise in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai to celebrate the arrival of the Edo star Ôtani Hiroji I. The zamoto Arashi San'emon III produces the drama "Kogane no Hanagata" in which Hikosaburô plays the role of Gennai.
January 1724: Arashi San'emon III produces in the same theater a great program made up of 4 plays in which Hikosaburô plays the roles of Soga Gorô and Kokusen'ya [casting].
November 1724: Hikosaburô settles in Kyôto and plays the role of Naniwa Irienosuke in the kaomise drama "Sanmen Daikoku Mangoku Dawara", which is produced by the zamoto Miogi Gizaemon I at the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.
November 1725: Hikosaburô performs in the drama "Senzai Gura Sangai Matsu", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi Jûjirô at the nadai Kameya Kumenojô's theater. His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I and Segawa Kikunojô I.
January 1726: his rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1726: Hikosaburô plays in the kaomise drama "Shinzô Kishi no Himematsu", which is produced by Sanogawa Mangiku at the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.
November 1727: Hikosaburô is back in Edo after 23 years spent in Kamigata. He plays the role of Naoe Yamatonosuke in the kaomise drama "Goshozome Kôyô Gunki", which is staged at the Ichimuraza.
January 1728: his rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1729: great kaomise at the Nakamuraza starring the 4 tachiyaku Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Hikosaburô, who play together in the drama "Ume Goyomi Konrei Nagoya".
Fall 1730: The actors Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ogino Izaburô I and Hikosaburô perform together in the drama "Meigetsu Gonin Otoko" ("Five men under the August moon"), which is staged in the same theater [casting].
November 1730: Hikosaburô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Aoto Saemon in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Tokiwa Hachinoki".
November 1735: Hikosaburô settles in Ôsaka and plays the role of Kasai Gombei in the kaomise drama "Toyo no Asahi Eitaigura", which is produced by the zamoto Iwai Hanshirô III at the Naka no Shibai.
January 1736: his rank in Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1736: Hikosaburô plays the role of Hirose Jûnai in the play "Banshû Onna Narihira", which is produced by Yoshizawa Ayame II at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1737: Hikosaburô is back in Edo and plays the role of Ashikaga Matatarô in the drama "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. The line-up includes Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Tsuruya Namboku II and Tomizawa Montarô I.
Fall 1738: Hikosaburô plays in the same theater the role of Tsukimoto Mushanosuke in the drama "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima". He leaves Edo and goes to Ôsaka in the company of the actor Tsuuchi Monzaburô.
November 1738: Hikosaburô plays with Segawa Kikunojô I in the kaomise drama "Kusunoki Yakata Sennen Gitsune", which is produced in Ôsaka by Yoshizawa Ayame II at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1740: Hikosaburô is back in Edo. He plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô", confronting Sawamura Sôjûrô I in the role of Nagoya Sanza in a great "Sayaate" scene.
November 1744: Hikosaburô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Satô Tsuginobu in the kaomise drama "Tono Zukuri Genji Jûnidan".
November 1745: Hikosaburô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Ômori Hikoshichi in the kaomise drama "Onna Kusunoki Yosooi Kagami". His stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô I, Yoshizawa Ayame II and Onoe Kikugorô I.
January 1749: his rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
May 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is performed for the first time at the Ichimuraza; Hikosaburô plays the leading role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke.
November 1749: Hikosaburô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Soga Tarô in the drama "Yoritomo Gumbai Kagami".
Comments:
Bandô Hikosaburô I was a tachiyaku actor who made an outstanding career during the first half of the eighteenth century. He was excellent in jitsugotoshi or budôgoto roles. He won fame for himself in both Edo and the Kamigata area. He was one of the 4 stars called Shitennô ("the big four", this expression comes from the four Deva kings in Buddhism) by the Edo audience (the three others were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Sawamura Sôjûrô I and Ôtani Hiroji I).
Bandô Hikosaburô I (left) and Sodesaki Miwano I (right)
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni (1862~1863)
The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors