Stage names:
Bandô Mitsugorô III
Bandô Minosuke I
Morita Kanjirô II
Bandô Mitahachi I
Nickname: Eiki no Oyagata (the boss of the Eiki district)
Guild: Yamatoya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry name: Shûka
Existence: 1775 ~ 27 December 1831
Connection:
Great-grandfathers: Morita Kan'ya V, Nakamura Jûsuke I
Grandfather: Morita Kan'ya VI
Father: Bandô Mitsugorô I
Adoptive father: Morita Kan'ya VIII
Father-in-law: Ogino Izaburô II
Adopted sons: Morita Kan'ya X, Morita Kan'ya XI, Bandô Shûka I
Career:
1775: born in Edo. His father is the actor Bandô Mitsugorô I and his mother is Morita Kan'ya VI's daughter.
November 1778: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Moritaza, receiving the name of Bandô Mitahachi I.
1782: Bandô Mitahachi I takes the name of Bandô Minosuke I.
April 1782: His father Bandô Mitsugorô I dies.
January 1783: Bandô Minosuke I takes the name of Morita Kanjirô II.
November 1793: Morita Kanjirô II takes back the name of Bandô Minosuke I.
November 1799: Bandô Minosuke I takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô III at the Nakamuraza, playing in the kaomise drama "Tametomo Yumiya no Oyafune". At the same time, Bandô Mitsugorô II takes the name of Ogino Izaburô II at the Ichimuraza.
August 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbei Shôjin Manaita"; Mitsugorô plays the role of Shirai Gompachi [casting].
November 1806: Mitsugorô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Yuki no Michinoku".
July 1807: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Reigen Kanaegadake", whose plot and characters belong to the "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" world. His stage partner in the role of Osono is Iwai Hanshirô V.
November 1808: premiere at the Moritaza of "Yamato Gana Iro no Nana Moji". This program is made up of seven dances: "Kanjo" (the court lady), "Saru Mawashi" (le dresseur of singes), "Inaka Musume" (a country girl), "Sotoba Komachi", "Genta", "Momotarô" and "Sambasô". All the roles are played by Mitsugorô.
March 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Mitsugorô plays the role of the sumô wrestler Shirafuji Genta [casting]. The play ends with a Tomimoto-based dance called "Kaze Sasou Kane mo Yotsudake", starring Mitsugorô, Iwai Hanshirô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.
May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Mitsugorô plays the roles of Takahashi Yajûrô, Magoshichi and Gappô [casting].
August 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Chigusa no Hana Iro no Yozakari". Mitsugorô dances in duo with the onnagata Iwai Hanshirô V. This dance is commonly called "Yamato Dango".
September 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the 3-role hengemono "Mata Atarashiku Mitsu no Sakazuki", which is performed by Mitsugorô. One of the roles, "Kairaishi", is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire.
March 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke II's 7-role Tokiwazu-based hengemono "Shichimai Tsuzuki Hana no Sugatae", a program made up of of seven dances: "Nyo San no Miya", "Kajiwara Genta", "Shiokumi" (the salt-making girl), "Sarumawashi" (a monkey showman), "Gannin Bôzu" (a bonze), "Rôjo" (an old woman) and "Kan'u" (a Chinese warlord). All the roles are played by Mitsugorô. The dances "Gannin Bôzu" and "Shiokumi" are still part of the current repertoire; the former is staged under the title "Ukare Bôzu".
July 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Mitsugorô plays the role of Kazusanosuke Tsunehiro [more details].
May 1812: Mitsugorô plays the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Ichimuraza.
September 1812: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Kakuju and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
March 1813: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 12-role hengemono "Shiki no Nagame Yosete Mitsudaiji", made up of twelve dances, one for each month of the lunar calendar. All the roles are played by Mitsugorô, including the Bonito seller, which is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire under the title "Katsuo Uri".
March 1814: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater all the roles of a 12-roles dance program called "Osete Mitsu Matamo Jûniji". Just like in March 1813, this great program is made up of twelve dances, one for each month of the lunar calendar:
| Month | Role |
| SHI (month of the Mouse) | Komatsu Biki |
| CHÛ (month of the Cow) | Oharame (the woman from Ohara) |
| IN (month of the Tiger) | Uirô Uri (the medecine-seller) |
| BÔ (month of the Rabbit) | Kachikachi Yama |
| SHIN (month of the Dragon) | Otohime (Princess Oto) |
| SHI (month of the Snake) | Enoshima Zatô |
| GO (month of the Horse) | Ôji Mairi |
| BI (month of the Sheep) | Kami Ginuta |
| SHIN (month of the Monkey) | Saru Tahiko |
| YÛ (month of the Rooster) | Niwatori Musume (the Rooster Daughter) |
| JIYUTSU (month of the Dog) | Yotsudake Bushi |
| GAI (month of the Wild Boar) | Nitta no Shirô |
April 1814: Mitsugorô plays the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is performed in the same theater.
May 1814: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi Kurobei in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". His stage partners are Onoe Matsusuke II (Issun Tokubei) and Suketakaya Takasuke II (Tsuribune Sabu).
June 1814: Mitsugorô plays the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which is staged in the same theater. His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi is Nakamura Utaemon III.
July 1814: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of the cook Kisuke in "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". The roles of Okon and Mitsugi are played by Fujikawa Tomokichi II and Onoe Matsusuke II.
August 1814: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Karaki Masaemon and Uematsu Unai [Utagawa Kunisada I print] in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".
September 1814: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki. His stage partners in the roles of Akoya and Iwanaga Saemon are Nakamura Matsue III and Nakamura Utaemon III.
November 1814: Mitsugorô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Ninin Mukomi Kurai Sadame".
April 1815: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Kajiwara Genta in "Hirakana Seisuiki".
May 1815: Mitsugorô moves temporarily to the the Kawarazakiza to play in the premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" (commonly called "Oroku to Gantetsu", in English "The female Seigen"), starring also Iwai Hanshirô V, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.
June 1815: Mitsugorô is back at the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Gengobei in the drama "Godairiki Iro no Minato", whose plot and characters belong to the "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime" world. His stage partners in the roles of Koman and Sangobei are Nakamura Matsue III and Ichikawa Ichizô I.
July 1815: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Danshichi Kurobei in the drama "Otokodate Iromo Yoshiwara" (very similar to "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"). His stage partners are Onoe Baikô III (Issun Tokubei) and Ichikawa Ichizô I (Tsuribune Sabu).
September 1815: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
November 1815: Mitsugorô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Shitennô Oedo no Kaburaya".
July 1816: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Teraoka Heiemon, Kakogawa Honzô and Kazuemon in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
September 1816: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
November 1816: Mitsugorô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Fuwa Nagoya Yuki no Tategase", playing among others the role of Nagoya Sanza [Utagawa Toyokuni I print]. His stage partner in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon is Matsumoto Kôshirô V.
April 1817: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Abe no Munetô in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".
August 1817: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Haniu Yoemon in the drama "Tsuizen Kasane Ôgi".
September 1817: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Naruto Ginjûrô [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Manma to Shûbi Naruto no Shiranami".
November 1817: Mitsugorô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Hana to Yuki Wagô Taiheiki".
April 1818: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance "Sono Sugata ha Hana no Utsushie", ending a program called "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku" (nibanme). Mitsugorô, his Kamigata rival Nakamura Shikan I and the great onnagata Iwai Hanshirô V play together. This dance, commonly called "Mitsu Ningyô" (literally "The three puppets"), is still in the current Kabuki repertoire.
May 1818: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Motome and Daihanji no Kiyosumi in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
August 1818: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Kinugawa Tanizô and Yoemon in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki". The role of Kasane is played by Iwai Hanshirô V.
November 1818: Mitsugorô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku". He plays the roles of Miuranosuke, Kumasaka Tarô and Tamaya Shimbei in the play "Ise Heiji Hiiki no Kamikaze".
March 1819: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of the vile Iwafuji in the drama "Yayoi no Hana Onna Hinagata", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world. His stage partners are Nakamura Shikan I (Ohatsu) and Nakamura Daikichi I (Onoe).
April 1819: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Matsuômaru and Kakuju in the great drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
May 1819: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Issun Tokubei in "Natsu Matsuri Yomiya no Tateire", whose plot and characters belong to the "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" world. His stage partners are Nakamura Shikan I (Danshichi Kurobei) and Seki Sanjûrô II (Tsuribune Sabu).
July 1819: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Sonobe no Hyôei in "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".
September 1820: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 7-role hengemono "Setsugekka Nagori no Bundai". All the seven dances are played by Mitsugorô. Three dances ("Asazuma Bune", "Makasho" and "Tama Usagi") are still part of the current Kabuki repertoire. He also plays the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". All these items are in fact his onagori kyôgen for he was about to depart from Edo to play in Ôsaka.
November 1820: premiere at the Tamagawaza of the dance "Mon Uri", which is performed in the dance program "Hana Momiji Shinô Kôshô". The main role is played by Mitsugorô.
December 1820: Mitsugorô settles in Ôsaka.
January 1821: Mitsugorô plays the roles of Oda Harunaga, Sanemori and Iwafuji in the dramas "Ehon Taikôki", "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki" and "Keisei Kagamiyama", which are produced by Nakamura Matsuyo at the Kado no Shibai. His main stage partner is his Kamigata rival Nakamura Utaemon III.
March 1821: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Iruka and Fujiwara no Tankai in the drama "Imoseyma Onna Teikin". His stage partners are Arashi Koroku IV (Omiwa, Koganosuke), Nakamura Utaemon III (Fukashichi, Sadaka) and Nakamura Matsue III (Hinadori).
May 1821: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Yuranosuke, En'ya Hangan and Jûtarô in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku". He also plays the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", which is played at the end of the program.
June 1821: Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", is revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Mitsugorô plays the role of the sumô wrestler Shirafuji Genta [casting]. He also plays the role of Saitô Bettô Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".
July 1821: Mitsugorô plays in Nagoya at the Tachibana no Shibai. He plays among others the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" act of the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".
August 1821: Mitsugorô performs in the same theater the roles in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
September 1821: Mitsugorô performs in the same theater in the dramas "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", "Awa no Naruto no Shiranami" and "Kuruwa Bunshô".
October 1821: Mitsugorô performs in the same theater in the dramas "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".
November 1821: Mitsugorô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of Yuranosuke in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.
December 1821: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama". His stage partners are Nakamura Karoku I (Onoe) and Bandô Jûtarô (Ohatsu).
January 1822: Mitsugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the roles of Matsuômaru, Terukuni, Kakuju and Kan Shôjô in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Nakamura Kanesuke at the Kado no Shibai.
February 1822: the rivalry between Mitsugorô and Nakamura Utaemon III reaches its climax when both actors play simultaneously the prestigious larger-than-life role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". Nakamura Utaemon III performs it at the Naka no Shibai and Mitsugorô at the Kado no Shibai. Mitsugorô's stage partners are Ichikawa Danzô V (Hisayoshi) and Arashi Koroku IV (Sonoo no Kata). Mitsugorô also plays the role of Kago no Jimbei in the drama "Tsuyu no Chô Kuruwa no Meigetsu". This great performance ends his successful 13-months stay in Kamigata.
March 1822: Mitsugorô is back in Edo. He plays 3 roles in the drama "Yorimasa Yumiya no Ie Zakura", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
May 1823: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Umeômaru, Kan Shôjô, Kakuju and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
August 1823: premiere at the Moritaza of the dance "Yamagaeri", in which Mitsugorô plays the main role.
August 1824: Mitsugorô plays the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Fukashichi and Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Ichimuraza.
September 1824: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of the sumô wrestler Nuregami Chôgorô in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partner in the role of the rival sumô wrestler Hanaregoma Chôkichi is Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.
November 1824: Mitsugorô performs in the same theater in the kaomise program "Yamatogana Heike Monogatari".
January 1825: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Soga Jûrô, Gorohachi and Kurofune Chûemon in the new year sogamono "Satsuki no Fuji Soga Hatsuyume". His stage partners in the roles of Kudô Suketsune's wife Nagi no Ha and Soga Gorô are Iwai Hanshirô V and Seki Sanjûrô II.
March 1825: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the eponymous role of the drama "Monogusa Tarô". He also plays the role of Hanbei in the love story "Shiikake no Sode Ukina no Kaemon", in duo with Iwai Hanshirô V in the role of Hanbei's lover Kohina.
May 1825: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the roles of Yasuke, Tadanobu, the fox Genkurô, Suke-no-Tsubone and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
July 1825: Mitsugorô plays in the same theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".
November 1825: Mitsugorô performs in the same theater in the kaomise program "Azuma Dairi Kabuki no Shôgatsu".
June 1826: Mitsugorô performs at the Ichimuraza in a 3-role Kiyomoto-based hengemono titled "Mata Koko-ni Kabuki no Hanadashi". The 3 roles are Take-no-Uchi no Sukeneya (a legendary character famous for his extraordinary long life), a fisherman fighting a giant octopus and a tekomai festival dancer. The fisherman and the dancer are nowadays independent dances, which are staged under the respective titles of "Ami Uchi" and "Omatsuri".
May 1828: Mitsugorô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Shiratayû, Kakuju and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
August 1831: Mitsugorô triumphes at the Ichimuraza by playing in "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan" and "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
November 1831: Mitsugorô appears on stage for the last time, at the Kawarazakiza, playing in "Matsu o Chikara Tomoe no Fuji Nami". He falls seriously ill and dies in December.
Comments:
Bandô Mitsugorô III was one of the best tachiyaku of the Bunka (1804~1818) and Bunsei (1818~1830) eras and a great dancer who was excellent in the quick-changes multi-roles dances. He was also famous for his acting rivalry with the Kamigata actor Nakamura Utaemon III (street-fights between groups of fans were not unusual according to the chronicles).
Bandô Mitsugorô III's best roles: Kumagai Jirô Naozane ("Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"), Saitô Bettô Sanemori ("Gempei Nunobiki no Taki"), Nuregami Chôgorô ("Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"), Matsuômaru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Fujiya Izaemon ("Yoshidaya"), Hayano Kampei ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Miyagi Asojirô ("Asagao Nikki"), Kinugawa Tanizô/Arajishi Otokonosuke ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Kameya Chûbei ("Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai"), Tomomori/Tadanobu ("Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura").
Bandô Mitsugorô III playing the role of the warrior Hayakawa Yukikage in a print made by Utagawa Kunisada between (1825~1835)
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1798
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1811
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada (1815 ~ 1820)
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1815
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1817
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1819
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1820
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1820
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1822
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1824
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1825
Print made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1832
The Bandô Minosuke line of actors
The Bandô Mitsugorô line of actors