Stage names:
Bandô Iwagorô
Bandô Tôgorô
Bandô Kunisaburô
Guilds: Awaya, Kamiya
Poetry name: Ganshi
Existence: 1732 ~ 17 August 1795
Connection:
Master: Bandô Matakurô II
Brother: Bandô Kunigorô I
Adopted son: Bandô Jutarô I
Career:
1732: born in Ôsaka. He is considered as a disciple of Bandô Matakurô II but he is effectively trained by his elder brother Bandô Kunigorô I.
19 June 1734: his master Bandô Matakurô II dies.
1740s ~ 1750s: he takes the name of Bandô Tôgorô at an unknown date and performs in hama shibai or in travelling troupes.
November 1756: he makes his debut in ôshibai, takes the name of Bandô Iwagorô and performs as a katakiyaku at the Ônishi no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ômatsu Kyokusuke Tanzen Roppô".
November 1767: Iwagorô plays at the Naka no Shibai in Temmaya Kyûshichi's kaomise drama "Shitennô Maizuru Ôgi"; his stage partners are Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Mimasu Daigorô I, Nakamura Kichiemon I, Fujikawa Hachizô I, Arashi Kichisaburô I, Fujimatsu Sanjûrô, Nakamura Noshio I, Somegawa Konobei I, Anegawa Daikichi and Nakamura Senzô.
December 1770: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari"; Iwagorô plays the role of Yamana Tomoenojô [casting].
September 1778: Iwagorô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Shihei and Shundô Genba in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by the zamoto Ichiyama Tajirô; his stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon I (Matsuômaru), Arashi Kichisaburô I (Shiratayû, Genzô, Terukuni), Yamashita Kamenojô IV (Tatsuta, Haru), Sawamura Kunitarô I (Tonami, Kakuju, Yae), Arashi Shichisaburô II (Umeômaru), Nakamura Jiroza II (Hyôei, Mareyo), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Kan Shôjô, Chiyo) and Arashi Sangorô II (Sakuramaru).
December 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke's drama "Tengajaya-Mura" [casting]. A similar play is staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up is open between the 2 theaters; Iwagorô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Satô Motoemon [casting].
January 1782: Iwagorô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
September 1783: the play "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku" is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Iwagorô plays the roles of the yakko Sukehei and Sakurada Rinzaemon [casting].
January 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Iwagorô plays the roles of Kikyôya Saibei and Hayashi Kenmotsu [casting].
May 1784: the play "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami", which was originally written in October 1776 by Suga Sensuke for the puppet theater, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time by Namiki Gohei I, and staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Iwagorô plays the roles of Sôbei and Hansai [casting].
November 1786: Iwagorô becomes zamoto and produces at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Neko Shakkyô Fûki no Hanabusa".
March 1787: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", a play similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" which is produced by Iwagorô; Iwagorô plays the role of Onoemon [casting].
November 1791: he is supposed to perform at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise program but he falls ill and has to retire.
1792: he settles in the Honkakuji Temple in the district of Nakaderamachi (Ôsaka).
17 August 1795: Iwagorô dies in Ôsaka. His tombstone is located in the precinct of the Honkakuji Temple.
Comments:
Bandô Iwagorô was an Ôsaka actor, who made most of his career during the second half of the 18th century in his native city. He was specialized in katakiyaku or jitsuaku roles and was equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was tall and became the tôdori of the Kado no Shibai a few years before his death.
The actors Mimasu Tokujirô I (left) and Bandô Iwagorô (right) playing the roles of Kaoyo Gozen and Kô no Moronô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged in December 1775 at the Naka no Shibai