Stage names:

Ichikawa Monzaburô II
Nakayama Ihachi II
Mizuki Seizô

Guilds: Mikawaya ^[4], Harimaya ^[3]

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Shisei ^[1], Shisei ^[1], Shisei ^[2]

Existence: ??? ~ 1831 (?)

Connection:

Masters: Ichikawa Danzô IV, Nakayama Raisuke II

Career:

Before 1780: date of birth unknown. He started his career in Ôsaka hama shibai, performing under the name of Mizuki Seizô.

1st lunar month of 1780: Seizô was recorded for the first time in an Ôsaka hyôbanki.

1st half of the 1780s: he joined the Nakayama clan, becoming a disciple of Nakayama Raisuke II.

11th lunar month of 1784: he received the name of Nakayama Ihachi II in Kyôto at the Nishi no Shibai, where he worked as a zamoto on Tatsuoka Mansaku's kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ôshimadai", in which he played the role of the fox Sankurô.

8th lunar month of 1787: Namiki Gohê's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", which was premiered in the 3rd lunar month of 1787 at the Naka no Shibai [casting], was staged for the first time in Kyôto; Ihachi played the role of Sagohei [casting].

11th lunar month of 1793: his master took the name of Nakayama Bunshichi II in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.

19th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1798 ^[5]: his master Nakayama Bunshichi II died in Ôsaka.

Summer of 1798: he became a disciple of Ichikawa Danzô IV and settled in Edo with his new master.

10th lunar month of 1798: he took the name of Ichikawa Monzaburô II in Edo at the Moritaza.

11th lunar month of 1801: Monzaburô played at the Kawarasakiza the role of Ono no Yoshizane in the kaomise drama "Meika no Toku Mimasu no Tamagaki".

Winter 1802: his master Ichikawa Danzô IV went back to Kamigata, leaving Monzaburô in Edo.

8th lunar month of 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbê Shôjin Manaita", which commemorated the 1st anniversary of the passing away of his father Matsumoto Kôshirô IV; Monzaburô played the role of Sonohara Samon [casting].

9th day of the 10th lunar month of 1808 ^[6]: his second master Ichikawa Danzô IV died in Ôsaka.

3rd lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Fukumori Kyûsuke I's drama "Sono Mukashi Koi no Edo-zome"; Monzaburô played the role of Oshichi's mother Otake [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Monzaburô played the role of Oshun's mother Okaya [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English 'The Seven Roles of Osome'). The seven roles were played by Iwai Hanshirô V; Monzaburô played the role of Aburaya Taroshichi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Modoribashi Sena-ni Gohiiki"; Monzaburô played the roles of Tada no Manjû and Musashi Gorô Okiyo [more details].

3rd lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", commonly called "Onna Seigen"; Monzaburô played the role of the Shinkiyomizu chief priest Todorokibô [more details].

7th lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's natsu kyôgen "Imaori Hakata no Irifune"; Monzaburô played the role of Kanzakiya Chôemon [casting].

1st lunar month of 1816: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Nazoraete Fujigane Soga"; Monzaburô played the role of Nitta Shirô Tadatsune [casting].

7th lunar month of 1821: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Kumoi no Hareginu", which mixed the sekai of Gion no Nyôgo, the Two Shinbê ("Ninin Shinbê") and Tamamo-no-Mae; Monzaburô played the role of Abe Yasuchika [more details].

6th lunar month of 1827: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi"; Monzaburô played the role of Akabaneya Gorosaku [casting].

11th lunar month of 1829: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kin no Zai Sarushima Dairi"; Monzaburô played the role of Ikuta Shichirô [more details].

1st lunar month of 1831: Monzaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

1831: Monzaburô most likely died in Edo.

Comments:

Ichikawa Monzaburô II was born and trained in Kamigata and he was active in Edo as a supporting tachiyaku actor from the end of the 1790s to the beginning of the 1830s.

[1] His haimyô when he was Ichikawa Monzaburô II.

[2] His haimyô when he was Nakayama Ihachi II.

[3] His yagô when he was Nakayama Ihachi II.

[4] His yagô when he was Ichikawa Monzaburô II.

[5] The 19th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 10th year of the Kansei era was the 4th of April 1798 in the western calendar.

[6] The 9th day of the 10th lunar month of the 5th year of the Bunka era was the 26th of November 1808 in the western calendar.

The actors Sawamura Gennosuke I (first from left) and Ichikawa Monzaburô II (first from right) playing the roles of Nuregami Chôgorô and Okô in the "Hikimado" act of the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki", which was staged in the 6th lunar month of 1805 at the Ichimuraza

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Monzaburô line of actors

The Nakayama Ihachi line of actors