Stage names:
Sawamura Kunitarô I
Sawamura Chôkichi
Other name: Shinrokan Ebimaro
Guilds: Tenmaya, Mikasaya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Kitô
Existence: 1739 ~ 2 July 1818
Connections:
Father: Sawamura Chôshirô I
Disciples: Sawamura Takegorô, Sawamura Kunizô, Sawamura Tôkichi, Sawamura Chidori, Sawamura Hinadori, Sawamura Kichimatsu, Sawamura Takichi (??)
Career:
1739 ~ 1748: born in Kamigata. His father Sawamura Chôshirô I is a disciple of the star Sawamura Sôjûrô I. He starts his career playing under the name of Sawamura Chôkichi. Later on, he takes the name of Sawamura Kunitarô I at an unknown date. Sadoshima Chôgorô I teaches him his dancing techniques.
November 1748: Kunitarô plays in Kyôto in the drama "Mitsu Uroko Asahi no Ume", which is produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô I. He also achieves a great success by performing a sambasô dance.
November 1750: Kunitarô becomes wakashugata and plays in the drama "Kaikei Wagô Hana Yakata", which is produced in Kyôto by Hayagumo Handayû. He achieves one more time a great success by performing a sambasô dance.
November 1751: Kunitarô achieves a great success by mixing Sadoshima Chôgorô I's dancing style and the aragoto style in the drama "Kyôganoko Asahi no Nishiki", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.
November 1753: Kunitarô becomes zamoto in Kyôto, working with the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô. He produces the kaomise drama "Futaba no Nishiki Midori no Onikage". His line-up includes the actors Somematsu Shichisaburô I, Sakata Tôjûrô III, Fujioka Daikichi, Imamura Shichisaburô II and Arashi Tominosuke I, Onoe Montarô and Bandô Sukesaburô. Kunitarô plays the role of the courtesan Shiragiku.
February 1755: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts puppet theater drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai as a kaomise drama; Kunitarô plays the role of Daroku's sister Onui [casting].
December 1755: Kunitarô plays the role of Honzô's daughter Konami in the drama "Homare Otoko Mandai Gura", which is produced in Kyôto by Naniwa Matsunosuke.
November 1756: Kunitarô becomes zamoto in Kyôto, working for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû; he produces the kaomise drama "Daimyô Bimandai Kuniiri Kamakura Kagami". He also produces from the 15th the drama "Kai Genji Sakura Gunbai".
November 1757: Kunitarô and Somematsu Matsujirô produce together the kaomise drama "Ôyashiro Musubu no Sanban Tsuzuki", staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû. They also produce the drama "Kitano no Goengi Sembon Ume".
January 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki", which is simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]; Kunitarô plays in the former theater the role of Kichô no Mae.
November 1758: Kunitarô and Somematsu Shichisaburô I coproduce at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Homare Musha Senri no Kachidoki".
November 1759: Kunitarô produces at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise program "Hônen no Miyako Mutsuki no Kotobuki", which celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Kichiemon I, Nakamura Jûzô II and Matsuya Shinjûrô.
May 1760: Kunitarô produces Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû" at the Minamigawa no Shibai, working with the nadai Hoteiya Umenojô. The roles of Hiranoya Tokubei and the courtesan Ohatsu are played by Arashi Sangorô II and Nakamura Kiyosaburô I.
November 1760: Kunitarô produces at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Ôshimadai Kitsune no Mukoiri".
November 1761: Kunitarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater Tatsuoka Hisagiku's kaomise drama "Mineiri Futaba Genji".
November 1762: Kunitarô coproduces with Onoe Montarô at the Minamigawa no Shibai the kaomise drama "Tenka Taihei Kogane no Kurairi".
November 1763: Kunitarô produces in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Shôchikubai Ôshimadai".
1764: Kunitarô and the playwright Sakurada Jisuke go together to Edo.
November 1764: Kunitarô achieves a great success at the Moritaza by playing in the kaomise drama "Gyosei Kanatami no Megumi"; his stage partners are Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroemon III, Morita Kan'ya VI and Osagawa Tsuneyo I.
Fall 1765: Kunitarô goes back to Ôsaka.
November 1765: Kunitarô plays the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Hana Yagura Kikigaki Taiheiki", which is produced by Anegawa Kikuhachi at the Wakadayû no Shibai.
December 1767: Kunitarô plays the role of Shizuka Gozen in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is staged for the first time at the Kado no Shibai [casting].
May 1770: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's Gidayû Kyôgen "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The play is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai; Kunitarô plays the role of Kagaribi [casting].
November 1770: Kunitarô settles in Kyôto and plays the role of Chigusa in the kaomise drama "Sakae Genji Gojin no Kachidoki", which is produced at the Kitagawa no Shibai by Mimasu Tokujirô I.
March ~ May 1771: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", produced by Mimasu Tokujirô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kunitarô plays the roles of Hinadori and Okiji [casting].
November 1773: Kunitarô goes back to Ôsaka and plays the role of Kyô no Tsukasa in the kaomise drama "Medetai Uchimashô", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1774: Kunitarô plays 3 roles in the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai.
January 1775: Kunitarô is kanjiku for the wakaonnagata actors in the Ôsaka hyôbanki.
Fall 1776: Kunitarô falls sick.
December 1776: Kunitarô plays the role of the courtesan Ohatsu in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Sonezaki Shinjû", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I at the Kado no Shibai for the nadai Ôsaka Tazaemon. The role of Hiranoya Tokubei is played by Ogawa Kichitarô I.
January 1777: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
April 1777: premiere of Namiki Gohachi's drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû", co-written with Nakamura Akei and Tatsuoka Mansaku, which is staged at the Kado no Shibai; Kunitarô plays the roles of Matsugae, Shôgetsuin, Izayoi and Tonami [casting].
September 1778: Kunitarô plays the roles of Tonami, Kakuju and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Ichiyama Tajirô at the Naka no Shibai; his stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon I (Matsuômaru), Arashi Kichisaburô I (Shiratayû, Genzô, Terukuni), Yamashita Kamenojô IV (Tatsuta, Haru), Nakamura Jiroza II (Hyôei, Mareyo), Arashi Shichisaburô II (Umeômaru), Bandô Iwagorô (Shihei, Shundô Genba), Mimasu Tokujirô I (Kan Shôjô, Chiyo) and Arashi Sangorô II (Sakuramaru).
November 1778: Kunitarô goes to Kyôto and plays the role of Okuni in the kaomise drama "Etari Kashikoshi Hangan Biiki", which is produced by Mimasu Jirokichi at the Minamigawa no Shiba.
January 1779: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1779: Kunitarô plays in the kaomise drama "Miyako Han'ei Nanshi no Hiraki Hajime", which is produced in Kyôto by Nakayama Ihachi I at the theater of Kameya Kumenojô and Hayagumo Chôdayû.
January 1780: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Oyoshi and the courtesan Meigetsu in the drama "Keisei Ôuchi Hinagata".
May 1780: Kunitarô goes to Edo to play at the Ichimuraza but the theater is in trouble and the shows are cancelled.
June 1780: Kunitarô goes on tour in the Sahara region (the eastern part of the current prefecture of Chiba - not the African desert!).
Fall 1780: Kunitarô goes back to Kyôto.
November 1780: Kunitarô plays the role of Yatsuhashi in the kaomise drama "Sono Uwasa Kiku no Hataage", which is produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
January 1781: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Otane and Princess Otozuru in the new year drama "Miyako no Hama Ogi".
March 1781: tour in Ise with Arashi Sangorô II.
June 1781: Kunitarô plays the roles of Osato, Shizuka Gozen and Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai. His main stage partner is Arashi Sangorô II, who plays the roles of Yasuke, Tokaiya Gimpei, Tadanobu and the fox Genkurô.
September 1781: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki"; his stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô I (Enju, Shigetada), Arashi Hinasuke I (Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka, Matsuemon, Higuchi no Jirô Kanemitsu), Arashi Sangorô II (Kajiwara Genta Kagesue), Shibazaki Rinzaemon II (Takatsuna, Gonshirô), Arashi San'emon VI (Ofude) and Anegawa Minato II (Oyoshi).
November 1781: Kunitarô plays 2 roles in the kaomise drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû", which is produced by Yamashita Yaozô I at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
January 1782: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Okaji in the drama "Keisei Chikugo-ga-Fuchi". He also plays at the end of the program the role of the courtesan Yûgiri, in duo with Arashi Sangorô II, who plays the role of Yûgiri's lover Izaemon.
March 1782: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Okaru and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Summer 1782: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
November 1782: Kunitarô goes to Ôsaka and takes part in the kaomise drama "Yamato Moji Sansai Zue", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by Fujikawa Sango.
January 1783: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is shi-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent).
July 1783: the play "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Kunitarô plays the role of Onoe [casting].
December 1783: Kunitarô plays the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is produced by Arashi Tanin at the Naka no Shibai. The death of the star Onoe Kikugorô I casts a pall over the performance.
January 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi"; Kunitarô plays the roles of Princess Yayoi, Komaki and Osai [casting].
April 1784: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
May 1784: Kunitarô and Arashi Sangorô II go together to Kyôto.
Fall 1784: Kunitarô and Arashi Sangorô II perform together in the dance "Chô no Michiyuki", which is produced in Kyôto by Nakayama Raisuke II.
January 1785: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is hakudai-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).
Fall 1785: tour in the Bicchû province (western part of the current prefecture of Okayama).
November 1785: Kunitarô plays in the drama "Hôjô Jiraiki", which is produced in Kyôto by Arashi Hidenosuke I. He suddenly falls sick and can't perform in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
January 1786: short stay in Ôsaka; Kunitarô plays the roles of Kureba and Hanazono in the new year drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi", which is produced by Arashi Umanosuke at the Horie Ichigawa no Shibai.
February 1786: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Misao Gozen in the drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi". He also plays the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Yûgiri no Tsuki", in duo with Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, who plays the role of Yûgiri's lover Izaemon.
August 1787: Namiki Gohei's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", which was premiered in March 1787 at the Naka no Shibai [casting], is staged for the first time in Kyôto; Kunitarô plays the role of Ichimisai's elder daughter Osono [casting].
January 1789: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is dai-jô-jô-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).
May 1789: Kunitarô plays 3 roles in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen", which is produced by Kameya Kikunojô in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.
Summer 1789: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Sodehagi in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
Fall 1789: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Princess Tatsuta and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
January 1790: Kunitarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
January 1791: Kunitarô goes to Edo and plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Maizuru in the drama "Shunshoku Edoe Soga".
March 1791: Kunitarô goes back to Ôsaka and plays 3 roles in the drama "Katakiuchi Hinin no Jitsuroku", which is produced by Asao Sennosuke at the Naka no Shibai.
July 1791: Kunitarô plays the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is staged at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka).
August 1791: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Tonami and Yae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1791: Kunitarô plays in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shuten Dôji", which is produced by Hanagiri Tomimatsu at the Naka no Shibai and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Sawamura Sôjûrô III. He also plays the roles of Tonase and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
January 1792: Kunitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
February 1792: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû".
April 1794: Kunitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Chiyo and Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
September 1794: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Hanazono in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".
November 1794: Kunitarô plays 2 roles in the drama "Kana Utsushi Azuchi Mondô", which is produced by Nakayama Yosaburô II at the Naka no Shibai.
February 1795: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Tokiwa in the drama "Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki".
March 1795: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Kumagai's wife Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.
April 1795: Kunitarô and Ichikawa Danzô IV move together to Kyôto; Kunitarô plays the roles of Okaru, Osono and Oishi in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is produced at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater.
July 1795: Kunitarô goes back to Ôsaka and plays at the Kado no Shibai 2 roles in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".
August 1795: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Kaoyo, Orei and Otaka in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
September 1795: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Tokubei's wife in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Kikigaki Ôrai"; the role of Tenjiku Tokubei is played by Arashi Koroku III.
October 1795: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".
November 1795: Kunitarô plays the role of Akashi no Ohama in the kaomise drama "Ichiban Yari Tôkai Suzuri", which is produced by Fujikawa Hachizô III in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai.
January 1796: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the new year drama "Keisei Hana no Ôminato", commonly called "Tôjin Goroshi".
April 1796: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Yodomachi no Kata and Ishikawa Goemon's wife in the drama "Hade Kurabe Ishikawazome"; the role of Ishikawa Goemon is supposed to be played by Arashi Koroku III but he dies at the end of March and is replaced by his son Arashi Hinasuke II. The troupe moves to Kyôto and performs the same play in May at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
Summer 1796: Kunitarô plays in Kyôto the role of Kosan in the drama "Sugata Kurabe Deiri no Minato". He also plays the roles of Kiku-no-Mae and Fuji-no-Kata in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also plays the difficult role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki".
November 1796: common kaomise program for the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto) and the Kado no Shibai (Ôsaka); Kunitarô plays the roles of the fox Okiku and Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Yama Katsura Asahi no Menbako", which is staged in Kyôto from the 5th and in Ôsaka from the 18th and celebrates the shûmei of Onoe Koisaburô I.
January 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
February 1797: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the roles of Chidori no Mae and the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Momo Chidori Naruto no Shiranami"; The role of Yûgiri's lover Fujiya Izaemon is played by Arashi Sangorô II.
March 1797: Kunitarô plays in the same theater 2 roles in the drama "Hanawasakura Ako no Shiogama", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kanadehon Chûshingura" world. After this production, the troupe moves to Kyôto.
April 1797: Kunitarô plays at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Miyako in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
May 1797: the troupe is back to Ôsaka and Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Asakusa Reigenki".
June 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie".
July 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Kita-Horie Ichigawa no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". He also plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Koman in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
August 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Okatsu in the drama "Chikagoro Kawara no Tatehiki".
September 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the drama "Asakusa Reigenki".
October 1797: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the drama "Tsuma Gasane Kansukejima".
November 1797: Kunitarô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Namboku Yuki no Miyako".
January 1798: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the new year drama "Keisei Hana no Daimonbi".
February 1798: Kunitarô plays in the same theater 3 roles in the drama "Zôho Hôjô Jiraiki".
March 1798: Kunitarô plays the roles of Umegae and Otaka in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku", which are staged in the precinct of the Tenjin shrine in the district of Tenma (Ôsaka). He also plays the role of the courtesan Yûgiri, in duo with Arashi Sangorô III, who plays the role of Yûgiri's lover Izaemon.
August 1798: Kunitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kinshôjo and Komutsu in the drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen". He also plays the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
September 1798: Kunitarô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Oen in Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai".
October 1798: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Onami in the drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari". He also plays the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
November ~ December 1798: Kunitarô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Tokiwa Gozen in the kaomise drama "Tsuki Yuki Hana no Kaomise". He also plays the role of Yojirô's mother in the drama "Chikagoro Kawara no Tatehiki". The troupe moves to Ôsaka to perform the same kaomise program at the Kado no Shibai. Kunitarô also plays the roles of Kampei's mother and Osono in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
January 1799: Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai 3 roles in the new year drama "Keisei Yuki Miru Yama".
April 1799: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki". The troupe moves to the Horie no Shibai to perform the same play.
May 1799: Kunitarô plays at the Horie Ichigawa no Shibai the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba". From the 21st, he plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Kakuju and Tonami in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
June 1799: the troupe moves to Kyôto and performs at the Minamigawa no Shibai in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".
September 1799: Kunitarô is back at the Kado no Shibai and plays 3 roles in the drama "Karanishiki Akiba Monogatari".
November 1799: Kunitarô plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Otaka in the kaomise drama "Tatetôsu Gishi no Ishizue", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kanadehon Chûshingura" world. He also plays the role of Oishi in the drama "Medetai Uchimashô".
March 1800: Kunitarô plays the role of Umegae in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki", which is staged in the precinct of the Inaba Yakushiji temple in Kyôto.
April 1800: Kunitarô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Oishi, Owai and Okita in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
August 1800: Kunitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Hanazono in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".
October 1800: Kunitarô plays in the same theater in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen".
November 1800: Kunitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu are performed by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Matsumoto Yonesaburô I.
January 1801: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Onoe in the drama "Tsugiawase Koshiji no Meiboku", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world.
April 1801: Kunitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the drama "Ehon Chûshingura".
October 1801: Kunitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa". The troupe moves to the Minamigawa no Shibai without Kunitarô (who needs to rest) to perform the same play.
March 1802: Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
September 1802: Kunitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai 2 roles in the drama "Ehon Taikôki". He also plays the role of Oran in the drama "Gishinden Yomikiri Kôshaku".
December 1802: Kunitarô plays at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the role of Tokiwa in the drama "Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki".
March 1803: Kunitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kôbei's wife in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku"; the role of Kôbei is played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.
May 1803: Kunitarô plays in the same theater the role of Shunkan's wife Azumaya in the drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima"; the role of Shunkan is played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.
July 1803: Kunitarô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai in the drama "Ehon Chûshingura".
November 1803: Kunitarô plays the role of Onami in the kaomise drama "Hatsu Yagura Kogane no Manmaku", which is produced by Nakamura Noshio III at the Kado no Shibai. The troupe moves to the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai (Ôsaka) in December to perform the same program for 10 days.
January 1804: Kunitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Keisei Hako Denju".
October 1804: Kunitarô plays the role of the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba", which is produced by Anegawa Kamesaburô at the Naka no Shibai; the role of Tabakoya Genshichi (in reality Sakata Tokiyuki) is played by Arashi Sangorô III.
April 1805: Kunitarô appears on stage for the last time, celebrating his isse ichidai performance by playing the role of Ono no Komachi in the drama "Kotobuki Sekidera Komachi", which is produced by Arashi Torasaburô at the Kado no Shibai.
May 1805: Kunitarô shaves his head and retires from the world. As a monk, he takes the name of Shinrokan Ebimaro.
July 1818: Shinrokan Ebimaro dies in Ôsaka; his tombstone is located in the precinct of the En'yûji temple.
Comments:
Sawamura Kunitarô I was an outstanding onnagata actor, who spent most of his career (second half of the eighteenth century) in Kamigata, reaching the jô-jô-kichi and goku-jô-jô-kichi ranks in 1777 and 1790.
Sawamura Kunitarô I's best roles: Oginoya Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamamba"), Osono ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Kakuju ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Onoe ("Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie), Otaka ("Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku"), the courtesan Yûgiri, Hanazono ("Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi"), Chidori/Umegae ("Hirakana Seisuiki").
Sawamura Kunitarô I as depicted in an illustration from the book "Santo Yakusha Omokage Zukushi" (1784)
The Sawamura Kunitarô line of actors