Stage names:

Ôtani Hiroji II
Ôtani Oniji I
Bandô Matatarô III
Ôtani Bunzô
Ôtani Heizô

Other name: Tatsumatsu Bunshichi

Nicknames:

Surugaya Jicchô
Naka no Jicchô
Hiroji Jicchô

Guild: Surugaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Tôshû, Jicchô

Existence: 1717 ~ 2 June 1757

Connections:

Masters: Ôtani Hiroji I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII

Disciples: Ôtani Hiroji III, Ôtani Hiroemon III

Career:

1717 ~ 1735: born in Edo. He is the son of the puppeteer Tatsumatsu Buzaemon. He starts his career as a disciple of the actor Ôtani Hiroji I, who gives him the name of Ôtani Heizô. After a quarrel with his master, he is back in the puppets worlds and learns the art with master Tatsumatsu Kôsuke, who gives him the name of Tatsumatsu Bunshichi. After a few years, he reconciliates with Ôtani Hiroji I and goes back to the Kabuki world, receiving the name of Ôtani Bunzô.

1736: he becomes disciple of the actor Ichimura Takenojô IV.

November 1736: Ôtani Bunzô takes the name of Bandô Matatarô III at the Ichimuraza.

November 1743: reconciliation with Ôtani Hiroji I; Bandô Matatarô III is back in the Ôtani clan and takes the name of Ôtani Oniji I at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Funa Yosooi Mitsugi Taiheiki".

January 1746: Oniji's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

May 1747: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Oniji plays the role of Matsuômaru [casting]. His master Ôtani Hiroji I dies the 25th of this month.

November 1748: Ôtani Oniji I takes the name of Ôtani Hiroji II at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Aoto Saemon in the drama "Hôkasô Yunzei Hachinoki".

February 1757: Hiroji appears on stage for the last time, playing the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon and Shigenoi Saemon in the drama "Some Tazuna Hatsuuma Soga", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. He dies in June 1757.

Comments:

Ôtani Hiroji II was a talented tachiyaku, who reached fame between 1746 and 1757. It is said that his acting skills were similar to his master's ones but that his looks and personal apperance surpassed his master's ones.

Ôtani Hiroji II playing the role of Kawazu Saburô Sukeyasu in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)

Print made by Torii Kiyomasu in 1747

Print made by Torii Kiyonobu in 1749

The Ôtani Hiroji line of actors