Stage names:

Yamashita Matashirô I
Fujikawa Matashirô

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Ôgai

Existence: 1661 ~ 9 August 1736

Connection:

Masters: Yamashita Hanzaemon (Kyôemon I), Fujikawa Buzaemon I

Adopted son: Yamashita Kinsaku I

Disciple: Yamashita Ugenta I

Son-in-law: Nakamura Shingorô I

Career:

Before 1690: he starts his career as a disciple of Fujikawa Buzaemon I, who gives him the name of Fujikawa Matashirô.

1691: he becomes a disciple of Yamashita Hanzaemon and changes his the name to Yamashita Matashirô I.

January 1695: Matashirô plays in Ôsaka the role of Ogata Hachirô Tokikuni in the drama "Jingû Kôgô", which is produced by Arashi San'emon II.

Fall 1696: Matashirô goes to Edo.

November 1696: Matashirô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Tamanaga Heinojô in the drama "Keisei Natorigawa"; his stage partners are Mizuki Tatsunosuke I, Miyazaki Denkichi and Tanishima Mondo.

February 1697: Matashirô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô (superior).

1698: Matashirô goes back to Ôsaka.

March 1701: Matashirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior). He shares the same rank with Kataoka Nizaemon I, Osagawa Jûemon, Shibazaki Rinzaemon I, Sakurayama Shôzaemon I, Takioka Hikoemon and Murayama Heijûrô I.

Winter 1711 (January?): Matashirô appears on stage for the last time, in Kyôto, playing the role of Suminoe Mondo in the new year drama "Onna Shôjô". He retires and takes the tonsure in an Ôsaka Temple, calling himself Sôkan.

March 1711: Matashirô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).

18 January 1717: his second master Yamashita Kyôemon I dies.

3 March 1729: his first master Fujikawa Buzaemon I dies.

9 August 1736: the priest Sôkan dies in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Yamashita Matashirô I was a Kamigata tachiyaku actor, who made a 20-year long career from the beginning of the 1690s to the beginning of the 1710s. He was quite popular but preferred to retire at the age of 50 to become a Buddhist priest and enjoy more than 25 years of peacefulness. As an actor, he excelled in budôgoto roles and yatsushi dances. His wife was the sister of Iwai Hanshirô III.

The mon of Yamashita Matashirô I