Guild: Hamamuraya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Sengyo

Blazon: the spray of tied cotton (yui wata)

Existence: 1715 ~ 13th day of the 11th lunar month of 1756

Connections:

Master: Segawa Takenojô I

Elder brother: Segawa Kikunojô I

Father-in-law: Iwai Hanshirô III

Disciples: Segawa Kikusaburô I, Segawa Somematsu

Career:

1715 ~ 1722: born in Unshû according to some sources. He starts his career at a very young age, along with his elder brother, as disciples of the actor Segawa Takenojô I who gives them the names of Segawa Kikujirô and Segawa Kikunojô. It is said Kikujirô appears on stage for the very first time in 1720 in Kyôto but there is no reference to his name in the chronicles.

11th lunar month of 1722: Kikujirô plays the wakashugata role of Tsurumatsu in the kaomise drama "Ôbashira Kogane no Sazare Ishi", which is produced in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater by his elder brother Segawa Kikunojô I.

1st lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Oshioyama".

8th lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the drama "Kawarayabashi no Naniwa Kadomatsu".

12th lunar month of 1723: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Kamejirô, a wakashugata iroko role, in the drama "Teono Hajime Kogane no Ishizue".

1st lunar month of 1724: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Princess Sakuragi, a wakaonnagata iroko role, in the drama "Keisei Futakamiyama".

11th lunar month of 1724: Kikujirô performs as a wakashugata in the kaomise drama "Ôjigawa Kogane no Mizuguruma", which is staged in the same theater.

11th lunar month of 1726: Kikujirô starts to work as a zamoto in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater but the program is not performed.

9th lunar month of 1727: Kikujirô produces the play "Ise Heiji Nennen Kagami" in Kyôto, starring Sakakiyama Koshirô I.

11th lunar month of 1727: Kikujirô reverts to wakaonnagata role, portraying Princess Kameyo in the kaomise drama "Masu Kagami Eitai Gura", which is produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater.

1st lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the drama "Keisei Sandaijin".

2nd lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Okura's daughter Otaka in Sawamura Bunji's drama "Keisei Makura Kagami"; his stage partners in the roles of Mori Saibê and his wife Okura are Fujikawa Heikurô and Asao Jûjirô I.

11th lunar month of 1728: Kikujirô plays the role of Kasane in the kaomise program "Daimyô Kogane no Uroko", which is produced by Sanogawa Mangiku at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater in Kyôto. His stage partners are Arashi San'emon III, Segawa Kikunojô I, Sakurayama Shirosaburô I, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Arashi Sangorô I and Nakamura Shingorô I.

11th lunar month of 1729: Kikujirô moves to Kameya Kumenojô's theater in order to perform in the kaomise program "Fukuju Yakata Wagô no Futabashira", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.

1st lunar month of 1730: Kikujirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. He plays in the same theater the role of Okume in the new year drama "Keisei Kinukakeyama".

11th lunar month of 1730: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Eiraku Shiki no Kogane".

1st lunar month of 1731: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Komatsu in the new year ni-no-kawari "Keisei Mikasayama".

11th lunar month of 1731: Kikujirô settles in Edo and plays the role of Okuni in the kaomise program "Higashiyama Dono Eiga Butai", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. Kikujirô's performance is a triumphant success. His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Yamamoto Hikogorô, Ichimura Takenojô IV, Sodesaki Iseno I, Hayakawa Shinkatsu, Sakata Hangorô I, Sanjô Kantarô II and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1732: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. Kikujirô plays the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the new year program "Shôchikubai Kongen Soga". This performance, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the fire set by the real Oshichi, is a triumphant success.

11th lunar month of 1732: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Tsuwamono Kongen Hiru-ga-Kojima".

1st lunar month of 1733: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the play "Sukeroku". His partner in the role of Sukeroku is Ichimura Takenojô IV.

11th lunar month of 1733: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Senju no Mae in the kaomise drama "Shôhon Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1734: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year sogamono drama "Nanakusa Nigiwai Soga". His partner in the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô is the Kamigata star Arashi San'emon III.

11th lunar month of 1734: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the rebel Abe no Munetô's wife Kisakata in the kaomise drama "Michinoku Yunzei Genji". His stage partner in the role of Abe no Munetô is Ôtani Hiroji I. Kikujirô's performance is a huge success.

1st lunar month of 1735: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Furiwakegami Hatsugai Soga".

11th lunar month of 1735: Kikujirô performs at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Kongen Nana Komachi".

1st lunar month of 1736: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Takarabune Bangaku no Gosho".

4th lunar month of 1736: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Kageyu's wife in the drama "Hobashira Taiheiki"; his stage partner in the role of Kageyu Saemon is Ôtani Hiroji I.

Summer 1736: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Onikage in the drama "Tôkaidô Yukumi Guruma". His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I (the thief Mokuzu no Sanpei), Segawa Kikunojô I (Sanpei's wife), Ichikawa Ebizô II (Gotô Saemon), Ichimura Takenojô IV (Oguri Hangan) and Ichikawa Danjûrô III (Ike no Shôji).

11th lunar month of 1736: Ôtani Hiroji I and the Segawa brothers, Kikunojô and Kikujirô, move to the Nakamuraza in order to perform in the kaomise program "Kuni no Tomi Sesshôseki".

1st lunar month of 1737: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Tegoshi no Shôshô in the new year program "Hatsu Hikage Maizuru Soga".

9th lunar month of 1737: the Nakamuraza organizes a special program to celebrate the coming Kamigata tour of Kikujirô, Segawa Kikunojô I and Ôtani Hiroji I. Kikujirô plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1737: Kikujirô settles in Kyôto and performs with his brother Kikunojô in the kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Kamiyo no Kagami", which is produced by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II (who celebrates his shûmei) at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater. Their stage partners are Anegawa Shinshirô I, Shinozuka Kazaemon, Yamanaka Heijûrô I, Arashi Sanshirô III and Somenoi Utamatsu.

2nd lunar month of 1738: the Segawa brothers perform in the same theater in the play "Shimada Kagekiyo", which is a big audience failure.

2nd lunar month of 1738: premiere in Kyôto of Matsuda Bunkôdô's drama "Yukihira Isonare Matsu"; Kikujirô plays the role of the ama Murasame [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1738: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Murasame in the drama "Yukihira Isonare Matsu".

11th lunar month of 1738: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Neko no Ko no Koneko".

5th lunar month of 1739: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is produced in Kyôto by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II for the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô at the Minamigawa no Shibai; Kikujirô plays the role of Chidori [casting].

11th lunar month of 1739: Kikujirô settles in Edo and plays the role of Shinzaemon's daughter Okiku in the kaomise program "Miyakozome Kaoru Hachinoki", which is staged at the Nakamuraza. His stage partners are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô II and Sawamura Sôjûrô I.

5th lunar month of 1740: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Ise no Oishi in the drama "Jokun'ô Mukaeshi".

11th lunar month of 1740: Kikujirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of the courtesan Katsuragi (Nagoya Sanza's lover) in the kaomise program "Kichirei Imagawajô", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Moheiji. Kikujirô's stage partners in the roles of Nagoya Sanza and Fuwa Banzaemon are Sawamura Sôjûrô I and Bandô Hikosaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora in the new year drama "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga". His stage partner in the role of Tora's lover Soga Jûrô is Ichimura Uzaemon VIII.

3rd lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Kikujirô, in duo with Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, achieves a great success in the same theater in a "Musume Dôjôji" dance.

8th lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ("The revenge of the outcast woman"). His performance is a great success.

11th lunar month of 1741: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the roles of the double of Ono no Komachi and Funawaka Gorô's wife in the kaomise program "Sugatae Onna Narihira".

1st lunar month of 1742: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Hata Emon's wife in the new year drama "Fuji Miru Sato Sakae Soga". The role of Hata Emon is played by Ôtani Hiroji I.

11th lunar month of 1742: Kikujirô moves to Ôsaka and plays the role of Murasame in the kaomise drama "Sangoku Denrai no Ishi", which is produced by Iwai Hanshirô III at the Kado no Shibai. His stage partners are Mimasu Daigorô I, Yamashita Kinsaku I and Mihogi Gizaemon I.

1st lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

2nd lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the drama "Renri no Higan Zakura".

5th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô performs one more time, in the same theater, the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi".

7th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the great role of Onna Narukami in the drama "Onna Narukami Furiwake Soga". He also play one more time the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi".

Fall 1743: Kikujirô and his disciple Segawa Somematsu go together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1743: Kikujirô performs at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Ishizue Taiheiki", which also celebrates the arrival in Edo of the actor Tamiya Jûzaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the roles of Akoya, the courtesan Miura no Takao and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year drama "Nanakusa Wakayagi Soga".

7th lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Okuni, the legendary woman who created Kabuki, in the drama "Kaibyaku Imagawajô".

11th lunar month of 1744: Kikujirô moves to the Nakamuraza, where his brother is the leading onnagata, and performs in the kaomise drama "Kachô Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Suketsune's daughter Shiragiku in the new year sogamono "Hagoromo Kotobuki Soga". The role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune is played by Ichikawa Sôzaburô I.

9th lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Osome in the drama "Higashiyama Dono Takara no Ishizue". His stage partner in the role of Hisamatsu, Osome's lover, is Sanogawa Ichimatsu I.

11th lunar month of 1745: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Suehiro Izu Nikki", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Fujikawa Heikurô and the shûmei of Ôtani Hiroemon II and Nakamura Denkurô II.

1st lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi's wife Kiku in the new year drama "Fuji no Yuki Mitsugi Soga".

6th lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Goheiji's wife in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

11th lunar month of 1746: Kikujirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Daizen's daughter Oyuki in the kaomise drama "Aioi Izu Nikki". This program celebrates the arrival at the Ichimuraza the Kamigata actors Iwai Hanshirô III and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Yatsuhashi in the new year drama "Tamakushige Yosooi Soga".

3rd lunar month of 1747: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Kikujirô plays the role of Matsuômaru's wife Chiyo [casting]. His stage partner in the role of Matsuômaru is Nakamura Sukegorô I.

5th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Onna Kan Shôjô Utsutsu no Narukami", whose plot and characters belong to the "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" world. His stage partner in the role of Matsuômaru (Chiyo's husband) is Nakamura Sukegorô I.

8th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Inu no Tsubone in the drama "Mangetsu Oguri Yakata".

11th lunar month of 1747: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Hasebe Chôbê's wife in the kaomise drama "Shusse Momijigari". His stage partner in the role of Hasebe Chôbê is Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1748: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Katsuragi in the new year drama "Mon-zukushi Nagoya Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and Nagoya Sanza are Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.

Spring 1748: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partner in the role of Matsuômarsu (Chiyo's wife) is Nakamura Sukegorô I.

11th lunar month of 1748: Kikujirô moves to the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Shunkan's sister in the kaomise program "Onna Moji Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is kantô-dai-jô-jô-kichi (leadoff - grand - superior - superior - excellent). Kikujirô plays in the same theater the roles of Shigetada's wife and Yaoya Oshichi in the new year program "Otoko Moji Soga Monogatari".

3rd lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Ie Zakura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Ebizô II (Sukeroku), Nakamura Shichisaburô II (the sake-seller) and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I (Ikyû).

6th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Kikujirô plays the role of Osono [casting].

9th lunar month of 1749: his elder brother Segawa Kikunojô I dies.

11th lunar month of 1749: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Hikoshichi's sister Shirotae in the kaomise drama "Onnô Taiheiki". His stage partner in the role of Ômori Hikoshichi is Nakamura Denkurô II.

1st lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is ô-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent). Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Koume in the new year program "Ôkazari Saiwai Soga".

4th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô's wife Karaito in the drama "Shigetada Kariba Nikki". His stage partner in the role of Kyô no Jirô is Ichikawa Ebizô II.

5th lunar month of 1750: Kôshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ran-no-Kata in the drama "Shio Mitsutama Kazaori Komachi".

9th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô takes part in the special program "Kanadehon Shijûshichiji" commemorating the first anniversary of the death of Segawa Kikunojô I.

11th lunar month of 1750: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Hotoke Gozen in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Wakaki no Ume Taira no Kiyomori".

1st lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the roles of Mankô and Osugi new year drama "Izu Kosode Shôbai Kagami".

7th lunar month of 1751: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna" in which Kikujirô plays the role of Shigenoi [casting].

9th lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô achieves a great success by playing the role of the courtesan Katsuragi in the play "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya", which is staged in the same theater. His stage partner in the role of Nagoya Sanza, Katsuragi's lover, is Sawamura Chôjûrô III.

11th lunar month of 1751: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Jônosuke's wife Asaoka in the kaomise program "Honryô Hachinoki-zome". His stage partner in the role of Akita Jônosuke is Matsumoto Kôshirô II.

1st lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô plays the role of Oniô Shinzaemon's sister in the new year sogamono "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga". He also performs at the end of the program the leading role of "Onna Narukami".

4th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the roles of Sagami, Iwa and Sugawaradayû in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". His stage partner in the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is Matsumoto Kôshirô II.

7th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Adachiya no Kurozuka in the drama "Moro Tazuna Ôshû Kuro". His stage partners are Matsumoto Kôshirô II (Abe no Sadatô), Nakamura Sukegorô I (Abe no Munetô) and Fujikawa Heikurô (Toriumi Gengorô).

11th lunar month of 1752: Kikujirô performs at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise program "Akazawayama Sumô Nikki".

1st lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Otokodate Hatsugai Soga".

9th lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Katakiuchi Iwao no Kikusui".

11th lunar month of 1753: Kikujirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Oguruma in the kaomise program "Kamuri Kurabe Yatsushi Kuronushi", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the actor Kasaya Matakurô I.

1st lunar month of 1754: Kikujirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Ofusa in the new year drama "Satsuki Matsu Soga no Tachibana".

3rd lunar month of 1754: the play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" is staged at the Ichimuraza but it is a commercial failure. Kikujirô performs the leading role of the drama "Onna Hinin Katakiuchi" ("The revenge of the outcast woman") and it's a success.

5th lunar month of 1754: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Fujitsubo no Naishi in the drama "San no Tomi Genji Rokujô Gayoi".

11th lunar month of 1754: great shûmei at the Nakamuraza. Matsumoto Kôshirô II and Matsumoto Kôzô take the respective names of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô III. Kikujirô plays the role of Mankô in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki".

1st lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Watônai's wife and the courtesan Kewaizaka no Shôshô in the new year program "Waka Midori Nishiki Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Watônai and Soga Gorô (Shôshô's lover) are Nakamura Sukegorô I and Ichikawa Yaozô I.

3rd lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Princess Taema in the drama "Narukami Shônin Kitayama Zakura" [print]; the role of the wicked priest Narukami is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô IV.

8th lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Matsubaya Somenosuke in the drama "Shida Chôja Bashira".

11th lunar month of 1755: Kikujirô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Mankô in the kaomise program "Kashiwagatôge Kichirei Sumô".

3rd lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô performs in the same theater in the drama "Gonin Otoko Toshidama Monzukushi Kakeai".

7th lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Shinjû Yoi Kôshin". His stage partner in the role of Hanbei is Ichimura Kamezô I.

11th lunar month of 1756: Kikujirô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, performing in the drama "Kaeribana Kon'ô Zakura", which celebrates the shûmei of Segawa Kikunojô II. Kikujirô falls suddenly ill and dies the 13th of this month. His tombstone is located in the precinct of the Daiunji Temple in the district of Oshiage.

Comments:

Segawa Kikujirô was an outstanding onnagata actor, who started his career in Kamigata and won fame for himself in Edo. Although he did not surpass his amazing brother Segawa Kikunojô I, he was excellent in courtesan, lover, chivalrous woman and Onna Karô roles and he was appreciated by the audience in both Jidaimono and Sewamono, especially in tragic or woman jealousy scenes. His elocution was impeccable.

Best roles: Yaoya Oshichi, the courtesan Agemaki ("Sukeroku"), Shigenoi, Ôiso no Tora, Kuzu-no-Ha, Onna Narukami, Onna Shunkan, the leading role of "Mugen no Kane".

The brothers Segawa Kikujirô I (standing) and Segawa Kikunojô I playing the roles of Fuwa Banzaemon and Nagoya Sanza in a print made by Torii Kiyomasu II

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Torii Kiyohiro in 1755