Stage names:

Mihogi Shichitarô

Poetry names: Baikô, Sanshi

Existence: ???

Connection:

Uncle: Mihogi Gizaemon I

Disciples: Mihogi Gizaemon II, Mihogi Shichisaburô

Career:

11th lunar month of 1722: Shichitarô performs in Kyôto as a wakashugata in the kaomise drama "Senbon Matsu Tokiwa Yakata", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû and welcomes in Kyôto the Ôsaka star Anegawa Shinshirô I.

11th lunar month of 1724: Shichitarô becomes wakaonnagata and plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Izuminosuke's sister Ariake-no-Mae in the kaomise drama "Sanmen Daikoku Mangoku Dawara", which is produced by his uncle Mihogi Gizaemon I and stars Bandô Hikosaburô I, Arashi Sangorô I, Katayama Kozaemon, Somenoi Hanshirô, Matsumoto Tomojûrô I, Matsunami Hikojûrô, Fujikawa Heikurô, Sodeshima Genji, Tsugawa Kamon, Yamamura Utanosuke, Kirinami Onoe and Onoe Gonbê (who celebrates his shûmei).

Fall 1732: Shichitarô is expected to travel to Edo to perform at the Nakamuraza; he finally decides to stay in Kamigata.

Fall 1733: Shichitarô goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1733: Shichitarô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role of Okyô in the kaomise drama "Shigeri Matsu Kogane no Takaragura", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

Fall 1740: Shichitarô goes back to Kyôto.

Fall 1741: Shichitarô goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1741: Shichitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of the keisei Nayama in the kaomise drama "Genji Rokujûjô", which is produced by Anegawa Shinshirô I.

1st lunar month of 1742: Shichitarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1744: Shichitarô plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the role the widow Okuni in the kaomise drama "Azuma Soga Fujimi no Sato", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I.

11th lunar month of 1745: Shichitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Yasaemon's spouse Otsune in the kaomise drama "Murakami Genji Kogane no Niiyakata", which is produced by Arashi Sanjûrô II.

12th lunar month of 1745: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, simultaneously in the three major theaters of the city, which starts a competition for the best performance; Shichitarô plays the role of Otatsu at the Kado no Shibai [casting].

Fall 1746: Shichitarô goes back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1746: Shichitarô plays in Kyôto the role of Osuma in the kaomise drama "Taihei Asahi no Shirahata", which is produced by Asao Motogorô I; his stage partners are Fujioka Daikichi, Sakurayama Shirosaburô II, Shinozuka Kazaemon, Yamanaka Heijûrô I and Tatsuoka Hisagiku.

11th lunar month of 1751: Shichitarô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of the hairdresser Ohana in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Asahi no Nishiki", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.

11th lunar month of 1754: Shichitarô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater in Kyôto the role of Izumi's wife Takanoya in the kaomise drama "Fûkigusa Aioi Genji", which is produced by Somematsu Matsujirô. This drama is in fact the first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet drama "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" [more details].

11th lunar month of 1756: Shichitarô plays in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Oniô Shinzaemon's wife Otowa in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Bimandai Kuniiri Kamakura Kagami", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû.

Comments:

Mihogi Shichitarô was a Kamigata onnagata actor, who was active in Kyôto or Ôsaka from the beginning of the 1720s to the middle of the 1760s. He was said to be equally at home in both sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He excelled in keisei, nyôbô, tsubone and mekake roles. He stopped acting around 1765.

Mihogi Shichitarô (left) and Sakakiyama Koshirô II (right) playing the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon's wife Otoha and Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Bimandai Kuniiri Kamakura Kagami", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1756 in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai

Prints & Illustrations