Stage names:
Ichikawa Benzô II
Ichikawa Omezô I
Ichikawa Bennosuke
Guild: Takinoya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Kaigan, Shinsha
Existence: 1781 ~ 7 June 1833
Connection:
Father: Ichikawa Monnosuke II
Brothers: Ichikawa Monkichi, Ichikawa Takinosuke
Master: Ichikawa Danjûrô V
Sons: Ichikawa Monnosuke III, Ichikawa Monnosuke IV
Career:
November 1784: he makes his first appearance on stage, at the Kiriza, where he receives the name of Ichikawa Bennosuke and plays with his master Ichikawa Danjûrô V in the drama "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura".
November 1789: Ichikawa Bennosuke takes the name of Ichikawa Omezô I at the Nakamuraza, playing two roles in the drama "Komachimura Shibai no Shôgatsu".
January 1796: premiere at the Kiriza of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Omezô plays the role of Kanaya Kingorô [casting].
September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Omezô plays the roles of Todoroki Dengoemon and the yakko Tomohei in the former theater [casting].
June 1797: the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" is revived for the first time, at the Kiriza; Omezô achieves a great success by playing the role of Kuronushi [casting]. He also plays the roles of Yuranosuke and Jûtarô in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
January ~october 1800: tour in Ise and in Kamigata.
November 1800: Omezô goes back to Edo and achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing four roles in the kaomise drama "Genji Kumo Kogane no Kumadori".
June 1802: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is produced for the first time at the Kawarazakiza; Omezô plays the role of Danshichi Kurobei [casting].
November 1804: Omezô plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of Watanabe Tsuna, Usui Sadamitsu, Sakata Kintoki and Urabe Suetake in the kaomise drama "Shitennô Momiji no Edoguma", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Arashi Dampachi.
March 1805: Omezô plays in the same theater the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura", which is staged to commemorate the the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of late Ichikawa Danjûrô VI; the roles of the courtesan Agemaki and Ikyû are played by Nakayama Tomisaburô I and Onoe Matsusuke I.
May 1807: Omezô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune in the bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene; the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari is played by Bandô Mitsugorô III.
July 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Omezô plays the role of Fudesuke [casting].
October 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; Omezô plays the role of Yoshidaya Kizaemon [casting].
January 1812: Omezô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He is also the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.
January 1814: premiere at the Moritaza of the Nagauta-based dance "Shôfudatsuki Kongen Kusazuri"; Omezô plays the role of Kobayashi no Asaina [casting].
January 1818: Omezô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku/katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
1819: tour in Kamigata.
January 1823: Omezô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent).
March 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Omezô plays the role of Honjô Sukedayû [casting].
June 1824: Omezô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Midaroku in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He retires and takes the name of Ichikawa Benzô II (his father Ichikawa Monnosuke II's third stage name).
Comments:
Ichikawa Omezô I was a talented tachiyaku actor of the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. He was particularly appreciated by the Edo audience in aragotoshi and jitsugotoshi roles. He became a great jitsuaku in his latter years.
Ichikawa Omezô I in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I (1798~1800)
Print made by Tôshûsai Sharaku in 1794
Print made by Enkyô Kabukidô in 1796
The Ichikawa Omezô line of actors