Stage names:
Takekawa Ichizô
Kataoka Ichizô I
Fujikawa Kanezô
Fujikawa Kanesaburô
Nickname: Katachi
Guilds: Matsushimaya, Temmaya, Takedaya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Gajô, Gashô
Existence: 1792 ~ 22 July 1862
Connection:
Father: Fujikawa Kanekurô
Master: Kataoka Nizaemon VII
Brothers: Fujikawa Ryûzô, Fujikawa Yoshio
Disciples: Kataoka Ichizô II, Kataoka Rojaku
Career:
1792: born in Kamigata. He is the third son of the low-ranking katakiyaku actor Fujikawa Kanekurô. He starts to learn the art with his father, who gaves him the name of Fujikawa Kanesaburô. Later on, he takes the name of Fujikawa Kanezô.
1810: he becomes disciple of the star Kataoka Nizaemon VII and receives the name of Kataoka Ichizô I.
Fall 1829: Ichizô goes to Edo.
November 1829: Ichizô plays at the Ichimuraza 4 roles in the drama "Chijinyû Koko-ni Yorimitsu".
Spring 1834: Ichizô goes back to his native Kamigata.
May 1834: Ichizô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Wada no Hyôe Hidemori in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".
January 1836: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Hana no Ani Tsubomi no Yatsufusa" Ichizô plays the roles of Yamashita Sakuzaemon Sadakane, Nukasuke and Aboshi Samojirô [casting].
January 1840: Ichizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
March 1845: Ichizô plays at the Chikugo no Shibai the role of Tôma Saburôemon in the drama "Ehon Tengajaya-Mura". His stage partners are Nakamura Shibazô I (Motoemon), Arashi Rikaku II (Yasuke), Sawamura Kitô II (Somenoi) and Nakamura Shikan III (Iori).
March 1847: Ichizô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Abe no Munetô in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon". His stage partners are Arashi Rikan III (Sodehagi), Mimasu Daigorô IV (Abe no Sadatô), Jitsukawa Enzaburô I (Minamoto no Yoshiie) and Arashi Wasaburô II (Okimi).
January 1848: Ichizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
July 1848: Ichizô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
September 1848: Ichizô plays in the same theater the role of Tôyata in the drama "Tôyata Monogatari".
August 1849: Ichizô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Kujaku Saburô in the drama "Ise Monogatari".
January 1850: Ichizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1851: Ichizô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Abe no Sadatô in the drama "Sodehagi Saimon". His stage partners are Arashi Rikaku II (Abe no Munetô), Nakamura Tomijûrô II (Sodehagi) and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I (Hachiman Tarô).
October 1858: Kataoka Ichizô I takes the name of Takekawa Ichizô in Ôsaka at the Unagidani no Shibai, playing the role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Kamagafuchi".
January 1859: Ichizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, "a threesome of veterans" section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent). The two others actors in this trio are Arashi Sankô II and Ichikawa Sukejurô.
October 1859: he takes back the name of Kataoka Ichizô I at the Chikugo no Shibai, playing the role of Midaroku in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".
1860 ~ Spring 1862: Ichizô is on sick leave.
May 1862: Ichizô appears on stage for the last time, at the Kado no Shibai, playing in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". He retires and dies a few months later, the 22nd of July 1862
Comments:
Kataoka Ichizô I was an outstanding katakiyaku, jitsuaku and fukeyaku actor, who started his career in hama shibai, did a successful stay in Edo from 1829 to 1834 and achieved fame for himself in Ôsaka from the forties to the sixties of the eighteenth century.
Kataoka Ichizô I playing the role of Satsushima Denzô in the drama "Shida Yakata Mitsugi no Funauta", which was staged in September 1832 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Utagawa Kunisada I)
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1830
Print made by Utagawa Hirosada in 1851
The Kataoka Ichizô line of actors