Stage names:
Bandô Mitsugorô VI
Bandô Kichiya I
Nicknames:
Aba Mitsu ("pockmarked Mitsu")
Kichiya Mitsugorô
Guild: Yamatoya
Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)
Poetry names: Shûka, Shûzan
Existence: 1846 ~ 11 September 1873
Connection:
Father: Bandô Shûka I
Adopted son: Bandô Shûka II
Career:
May 1850: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Nakamuraza, where he receives the name of Bandô Kichiya I and plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha's child in the classic "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
February 1851: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke III Kiyomoto-based dance "Akegarasu Hana no Nureginu", commonly called "Urazato Tokijirô"; Kichiya plays the role of a kamuro [casting].
March 1855: his father Bandô Shûka I dies.
May 1856: shûmei at the Moritaza; Bandô Kichiya I takes the name of Bandô Mitsugorô V, playing in the drama "Shinbutai Iroha no Kakizome".
August 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Sakura Sôshi Gonichi no Bundan", a revised version of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi"; Mitsugorô plays the role of Princess Kaoru [casting].
October 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Zôho Futatsu Domoe"; Mitsugorô plays the roles of the keisei Usugumo, Katanaya daughter Ohana [casting].
June 1863: Mitsugorô plays at the Moritaza the roles of Yamakawaya Gonroku and the female thief Hanaoka, who holds 5 different names and disguises (Kaminari no Onaru, Gokuin Osen, Hotei no Oichi, Annozaka no Odaka and Karigane no Obun), in the drama "Sono Na Nomi Kariganezome". This parodic play is in fact the female version of the famous "Karigane Gonin Otoko" (an Ôsaka sewamono whose heroes are 5 thieves called Kaminari Shôkurô, Gokuin Sen'emon, Hotei Ichiemon, An no Heibei and Karigane Bunshichi) and is therefore nicknamed "Karigane Gonin Onna". His father Bandô Shûka I performed in a very similar play in May 1853. Mitsugorô also plays several roles in the Tokiwazu/Fujimoto/Kiyomoto/Nagauta-based hengemono "Yorite Mitsu Ôyomiya no Hanadashi", which commemorates the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of late Bandô Mitsugorô III.
August ~ September 1868: Mitsugorô plays the roles of Ono no Komachi and the courtesan Sumizome (in reality the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree) in the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To", which is coproduced by both the Moritaza and the Nakamuraza. His stage partners are Nakamura Nakazô III (Sekibei/Kuronushi) and Nakamura Fukusuke III (Yoshimine Munesada).
July 1869: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kichisama Mairu Yukari no Otozure". The 2 leading roles are played by Onoe Kikugorô V and Mitsugorô.
November 1869: Mitsugorô becomes tateonnagata at the Nakamuraza and plays 3 roles in the drama "Iga Ueno Homare no Shorô". He also plays the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". His stage partner in the role of Fujiya Izaemon is Nakamura Shikan IV.
March 1870: premiere at the Nakamuraza of "Ume Goyomi Tatsumi no Sono", an adaptation to Kabuki by Kawatake Mokuami and Segawa Jokô III of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi"; Mitsugorô plays the role of the geisha Yonehachi [casting].
August 1870: Mitsugorô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Okaru, Ichimonjiya Odai and Toda no Tsubone in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
September 1872: Mitsugorô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Ono no Komachi in the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To". His stage partners are Nakamura Shikan IV (Sekibei/Kuronushi), Onoe Kikugorô V (the courtesan Sumizome, the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree) and Iwai Shijaku III (Yoshimine Munesada).
February 1873: Mitsugorô agrees for a 240 ryô yearly contract with the Murayamaza. He moves there and plays in the drama "Sakai no Taikô.
July 1873: Mitsugorô appears on stage for the last time, at the Murayamaza, playing in the drama "Kao ni Momiji Mitsugumi Sakazuki". He falls ill and dies in September.
Comments:
Bandô Mitsugorô VI was a talented and promising wakaonnagata and the worthy heir of his outstanding father Bandô Shûka I. Unfortunately he died young at the age of 27.
Bandô Mitsugorô VI was in fact Bandô Mitsugorô V during his career but the Kabuki world decided to give posthumously this prestigious name to his father, who became the fifth of the line and his son the sixth.
Bandô Mitsugorô VI playing the role of Shinobu in the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which was staged in May 1870 at the Nakamuraza
Print made by Utagawa Yoshitora
Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1870
Print made by Toyohara Kunichika in 1877
The Bandô Mitsugorô line of actors