Stage names:
Ôtani Tomoemon V
Ôtani Hiroji V
Ôtani Shidô
Ôtani Tomomatsu
Guild: Akashiya
Line number: GODAIME (V)
Poetry names: Shidô, Shiyû, Jicchô
Existence: 1833 ~ 1 February 1873
Connections:
Father: Ôtani Tomoemon IV
Career:
November 1838: he makes his first appearance on stage, receiving the name of Ôtani Tomomatsu and playing at the Kawarazakiza in the drama "Tokimekuya Heike no Yozakari".
1857: tour in the provinces of Suruga and Ise with his father Ôtani Tomoemon IV.
November 1857: Tomomatsu plays for the first time the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which is staged at the Moritaza.
Spring 1859: Tomomatsu plays in Nagoya in the precinct of the Seijuin temple. Then he moves to the Kamigata.
August 1859: Tomomatsu plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
September 1860: Tomomatsu plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
December 1864: Tomomatsu plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai in Ôsaka the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
1865: Ôtani Tomomatsu takes the name of Ôtani Tomoemon V.
August 1865: Tomoemon plays at the Moritaza the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara". His stage partners are Nakamura Shikan IV (Abe no Munetô) and Ichikawa Kuzô III (Hachiman Tarô).
August 1865: Tomoemon is back in Edo; he plays at the Moritaza in the drama "Toki mo Yaya Minori no Komabiki".
April 1867: Tomoemon plays at the Moritaza the role of Motoemon in the drama "Tengajaya-Mura". His stage partners are Sawamura Tosshô II (Hayase Iori), Iwai Shijaku II (Somenoi), Matsumoto Kinshô II (Hayase Genjirô), Nakamura Nakazô III (Mansuke) and Nakamura Shikan IV (Yasuke, Tôma Saburôemon). The role of Motoemon was the best role of his father.
August 1869: Ôtani Tomoemon V takes the name of Ôtani Shidô at the Moritaza.
January 1870: Ôtani Shidô takes the name of Ôtani Hiroji V.
March 1870: premiere at the Nakamuraza of "Ume Goyomi Tatsumi no Sono", an adaptation to Kabuki by Kawatake Mokuami and Segawa Jokô III of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi"; Hiroji plays the role of the geisha Adahachi [casting].
February 1871: Hiroji plays at the Naka no Shibai (Ôsaka) in the drama "Keisei Hanae no Ai".
April 1871: Ôtani Hiroji V takes back the name of Ôtani Tomoemon V and holds it up to his death in February 1873.
November 1871: Tomoemon plays for the last time the roles of Sodehagi and Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which is staged at the Temma no Shibai in Ôsaka. His stage partners are Ichikawa Danjirô (Abe no Munetô) and Arashi Kitsusaburô IV (Hachiman Tarô).
January 1872: Tomoemon plays at the Chikugo no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki". His stage partners are Arashi Hinasuke VII (Shigetada), Arashi Rikan IV (Iwanaga) and Jitsukawa Enjaku I (Hanzawa Rokurô).
August 1872: Tomoemon plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Motoemon in the drama "Tengajaya-Mura". His stage partners are Jitsukawa Enjaku I (Hayase Iori, Kôemon), Arashi San'emon X (Somenoi), Nakamura Fukusuke III (Hayase Genjirô) and Ichikawa Aragorô III (Tôma Saburôemon).
Comments:
Ôtani Hiroji V was an overweight actor, able to play tachiyaku, katakiyaku, oyajigata or onnagata, in both jidaimono and sewamono.
Ôtani Tomoemon V playing the role of the warrior Taira Tomomori at the Moritaza in July 1867
Print made by Utagawa Yoshitoyo in 1864
Print made by Utagawa Yoshiiku (1870~1871)
Print made by Utagawa Yoshitaki in 1872
The Ôtani Hiroji line of actors
The Ôtani Tomoemon line of actors