Stage names:
Onoe Kikugorô IV
Onoe Baikô IV
Onoe Eizaburô III
Onoe Kikushi
Nakamura Tatsuzô
Nakamura Kachô
Nickname: Baikô Kikugorô
Guild: Otowaya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry names: Baikô (4), Kikushi, Baifu
Existence: 1808 ~ 28 June 1860
Connections:
Father-in-law and adoptive father: Onoe Kikugorô III
Master: Nakamura Karoku I
Adopted sons: Onoe Eizaburô IV, Onoe Baikô (Jitsukawa Enjaku I)
Career:
1808 ~ 1830: born in Ôsaka. He starts his career as a disciple of Nakamura Karoku I, who gives him the names of Nakamura Kachô and Nakamura Tatsuzô at unknown dates.
January 1831: he gets married with the daughter of the star Onoe Kikugorô III.
March 1831: Tatsuzô is adopted by his father-in-law, receives the name of Onoe Kikushi and settles in Edo with his new adoptive father.
August 1831: Onoe Kikushi takes the name of Onoe Eizaburô III at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Osode in Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".
September 1839: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of the Kiyomoto-based dance "Shimero Yare Iro no Kakegoe", which is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire under the title "Kanda Matsuri". It stars Eizaburô, Sawamura Tosshô I and Ichikawa Ebizô V.
March 1842: Eizaburô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of Akoya in the drama "Kagekiyo". His stage partners are Ichikawa Ebizô V (Kagekiyo) and Ichikawa Kuzô II (Shigetada).
October 1842: Eizaburô takes part in the opening ceremony of the newly-built Nakamuraza in the district of Asakusa Saruwaka-chô, playing in the drama "Kinryûzan Chikai no Ishizue", which is produced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XII; his stage partners are Iwai Tojaku, Sawamura Tosshô II, Arashi Kichisaburô III, Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Osagawa Tsuneyo IV, Arashi Izaburô II and Ichikawa Danzaburô V.
June 1843: Eizaburô plays at the Kawarazakiza the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Mayoi no Kumoiro ni Narukami"; the role of the wicked priest Narukami is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.
January 1846: Onoe Eizaburô III and Onoe Kikunosuke I take the respective names of Onoe Baikô IV and Onoe Eizaburô IV at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Nazorae Soga Ôe Yamairi".
April 1847: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of the dance-drama "Shiki no Hina Asakusa Hakkei" (commonly called "Kyô Ningyô"); Baikô plays the role of the spirit of the doll [casting].
April 1849: his adoptive father Onoe Kikugorô III dies.
March 1853: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi" (commonly called "Kirare Yosa"); Baikô plays the role of Otomi [casting]. This performance is a huge success.
September 1854: Baikô achieves a great success at the Naka no Shibai (Ôsaka) by playing the roles of Masaoka, Kasane, Yorikane and Takao in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".
September 1855: Onoe Baikô IV takes the name of Onoe Kikugorô IV at the Ichimuraza, playing the roles of Masaoka, Kasane and Yorikane in the drama "Ki no Shita Kage Masago no Date Zome", whose plots and characters are similar to the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".
July 1857: premiere at Ichimuraza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Ami Moyô Dôro no Kikukiri", commonly called "Kozaru Shichinosuke". The roles of Shichinosuke and Takigawa are played by Ichikawa Kodanji IV and Kikugorô.
April 1860: Kikugorô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kaoyo, Kaoru, Tonase and Osono in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Comments:
Onoe Kikugorô IV was the only actor in this prestigious lineage to play mainly onnagata roles. His best role was the wet nurse Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".
Onoe Kikugorô IV playing the role of Masaoka in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" (print made in 1860)
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1839
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1850
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1851
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1859
The Onoe Eizaburô line of actors
The Onoe Baikô line of actors
The Onoe Kikugorô line of actors
