Stage names:

Ogino Izaburô II
Bandô Mitsugorô II
Onoe Monzaburô I
Onoe Tôzô

Other name: Gunkô

Guild: Yamatoya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Shochô, Riyû, Zekô

Existence: 1750 ~ 3 October 1829

Connections:

Masters: Bandô Mitsugorô I, Onoe Montarô

Son: Ogino Izaburô III

Son-in-laws: Onoe Kikugorô III, Bandô Mitsugorô III

Career:

1750 ~ 1774: born in Kyôto. He starts his career in a troupe of children-actors led by Onoe Montarô, performing under the stage name of Onoe Tôzô. He spends the first years of his career playing in the precincts of temples and shrines in Kamigata (miyaji shibai). Tôzô becomes tachiyaku in 1770. He takes later on the names of Onoe Monzaburô and Onoe Monzaburô I at unknown dates:

Fall 1774: Monzaburô goes to Edo.

November 1774: Monzaburô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Ama no Iwato".

January 1775: Monzaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).

November 1775: Monzaburô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Yawata Saburô in the kaomise drama "Hana Zumô Genji Biiki".

1781: Monzaburô becomes disciple of the actor Bandô Mitsugorô I.

April 1782: his master Bandô Mitsugorô I dies.

November 1785: Onoe Monzaburô I takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô II at the Kiriza, playing seven roles in the kaomise drama "Otokoyama Furisode Genji".

November 1790: Mitsugorô plays at the Kawarazakiza two roles in the drama "Daidan Kanjinchô".

January 1796: premiere at the Kiriza of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Mitsugorô plays the role of Shinraku Kanjûrô [casting].

September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Mitsugorô plays the role of the yakko Sagohei in the former theater [casting].

November 1799: Bandô Mitsugorô II takes the name of Ogino Izaburô II at the Ichimuraza, reviving a name not held since February 1748. The new Izaburô celebrates his shûmei by playing the roles of Harada Rokurô, Yatsubashi Jirozaemon and Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Utsukushiki Yuki no Sekai". At the same time, Bandô Minosuke I takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô III at the Nakamuraza.

August 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbei Shôjin Manaita"; Izaburô plays the role of Shirai Kanzaemon [casting].

October 1806: Izaburô achieves a great success at Nakamuraza by playing the prestigious roles of Satô Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". This is his farewell performance before going to Kamigata.

November 1806: Izaburô and his son Onoe Monzaburô II go to Ôsaka.

December 1806: Izaburô plays the role of Onchi Sakon at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Ôsakazuki Asahi no Hôrai", which is produced by Yoshizawa Minosuke. His stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô IV, Kataoka Nizaemon VII, Nakamura Utaemon III and Nakamura Noshio III.

January 1808: Izaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

June 1808: tour in Nagoya; Izaburô performs at the Tachibana no Shibai.

Fall 1808: Izaburô goes back to Edo.

November 1808: Izaburô plays 3 roles at the Moritaza in the drama "Hana to Mitsu Yuki no Kusunoki".

January 1809: Izaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He is the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

September 1812: Izaburô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Hayato in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

March 1817: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Izaburô plays the roles of Yamada Gunjibei and Awazu Rokurosaemon Toshikane [casting].

March 1820: premiere at the Tamagawaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sakura Butai Maku no Datezome"; Izaburô plays the roles of Watanabe Gekizaemon [casting].

1820: Izaburô shaves his head, takes the name of Gunkô and retires from the world.

Comments:

Ogino Izaburô II was a talented tachiyaku actor, whose forte were wagotoshi, sabakiyaku and oyajigata roles. He played an important role in the transmission of art and techniques from Bandô Mitsugorô I to his son Bandô Mitsugorô III.

Ogino Izaburô II (bottom right) and Segawa Kikusaburô I (top left) playing the roles of Harada Rokurô and Princess Tamatoyo in the drama "Utsukushiki Yuki no Sekai", which was staged in November 1799 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)

Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku in 1794

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1810

The Bandô Mitsugorô line of actors