Stage names:

Morita Kan'ya XI
Bandô Mitsugorô IV
Bandô Minosuke II

Other name: Morita Zekô

Nickname: Yoi Mitsu (Mitsu the drunkard)

Guilds: Kinojiya, Yamatoya

Line number: JÛICHIDAIME (XI)

Existence: 1802 ~ 18 November 1863

Connections:

Adopted father: Bandô Mitsugorô III

Adopted sons: Morita Kan'ya XII, Morita Entarô

Career:

November 1803: he makes his first appearance on stage, at the Nakamuraza, where he receives the name of Bandô Minosuke II and plays in the drama "Kareki ni Hana Gorishô Hachinoki".

November 1828: Minosuke plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Kumasaka Chôhan, Ise no Saburô, a boatman, Iwate Sakingo and Akugenta Yoshihira in the drama "Mitsugi no Yuki Genji Hiiki"; his yearly salary is 550 ryô.

January 1830: Minosuke's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

27 December 1831: his adopted father Bandô Mitsugorô III dies.

March 1832: Bandô Minosuke II takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô IV at the Nakamuraza, playing 3 roles in the drama "Sakura Doki Onna Gyôretsu". He also performs one of the 2 leading roles in the premiere of the 3-part Kiyomoto-based dance "Yayoi no Hana Asakusa Matsuri", sharing the stage with Nakamura Shikan II. This dance is still sometimes performed in its entirety but the first part, "Sanja Matsuri" is frequently staged independently.

September 1832: Mitsugorô and Nakamura Utaemon IV alternately play the roles of Fujiya Izaemon and the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.

November 1832: Mitsugorô becomes zagashira at the Ichimuraza, playing 2 roles in the drama "Bandô Musha Tsunagate Hajime".

1833: Mitsugorô becomes the assistant of the zamoto Morita Kan'ya X for the management of the Moritaza.

April 1836: premiere at the Moritaza of the drama "Hakkenden Uwasa no Takadono"; Mitsugorô plays the roles of Satomi Yoshizane and Higashiyama Yoshimasa [casting].

Fall 1837: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

1838 ~ 1843: Mitsugorô goes on tour in almost all the provinces of Japan.

11 July 1838: Morita Kan'ya X dies.

December 1838: Mitsugorô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi".

January 1839: Mitsugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).

November 1843: Mitsugorô is back in Edo and plays at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Wakatonobara Sharin no Ôyose", which commemorates the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the death of Bandô Mitsugorô III. He also plays at the end of the program the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi".

January 1848: Mitsugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent).

November 1850: Bandô Mitsugorô IV takes the name of Morita Kan'ya XI at the Ichimuraza, playing in the drama "Go Taiheiki Date no Masugata".

August 1851: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi" (commonly called "Sakura Giminden"); Kan'ya plays the roles of Asakura Tôzaemon, Ôsawa Hayato and Takaoka Kazue [casting].

May 1856: Kan'ya reopens the Moritaza, which was closed since 1837.

9 January 1858: a fire breaks out in the third floor of the Moritaza and burns the theater to ashes.

November 1858: the newly-rebuilt Moritaza reopens; Kan'ya changes the ideogram for Mori in both his name and his theater name:

You need a Japanese Language Kit installed within your system in order to be able to read the characters

October 1863: Kan'ya produces "Sangoku Yôbuden", his last Kabuki production at the Moritaza. He dies the 18th November 1863.

Comments:

Morita Kan'ya XI was both a tachiyaku actor and the zamoto of the Moritaza (from 1856 to 1863). He was tall, handsome and, as an actor, excelled in sewamono dramas. He was also a talented jitsuaku and an outstanding dancer.

In his Mitsugorô years, he was both a stage partner and a rival (for the title of Edo best tachiyaku) for Nakamura Shikan II, imitating the glorious rivalry of Bandô Mitsugorô III and Nakamura Utaemon III.

Morita Kan'ya XI playing the role of Saitô Tarozaemon Toshiyuki in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi" (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III in 1860)

Prints of Morita Kan'ya XI

Print made by Utagawa Kuniyasu in 1829

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1833

Print made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1834

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1835

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1860

The Morita Kan'ya line of actors and theater managers

The Bandô Mitsugorô line of actors

The Bandô Minosuke line of actors