Line number: SHODAI (I)
Existence: 1687 ~ 4 November 1741
Connections:
Masters: Sawamura Chôjûrô I, Sawamura Kodenji I
Career:
1687 ~ 1710: born in Kamigata. He starts his career as a disciple of the actor Sawamura Kodenji I, who gives him the name of Sawamura Otoemon I. Later on, he becomes disciple of Sawamura Chôjûrô I.
Spring 1710: Otoemon plays in the drama "Keisei Chikubu Shima", which is produced in Kyôto by Yamashita Kamenojô I; his stage partners are Kataoka Nizaemon I and Sawamura Chôjûrô I.
January 1713: Otoemon plays the role of Ageya Chôzaemon in the drama "Keisei Haru no Akebono", which is produced in Kyôto by Sawamura Chôjûrô I and Sodesaki Karyû.
November 1712: Otoemon settles in Ôsaka and takes part in the kaomise produced by the zamoto Mitsuyama Shichisaburô for the nadai Matsumoto Nazaemon; he plays the role of Mikinojô in the drama "Inari Daimyô Shintaku no Kamado".
November 1713: Otoemon achieves a great success by playing the role of Shikanojô in the drama "Ôminato Kogane no Izumi", which is produced by Yamamoto Hikogorô for the nadai Ôsaka Kuzaemon.
November 1717: Otoemon goes back to Kyôto and becomes katakiyaku; he plays the role of the villain Harata Kuranojô in the kaomise drama "Ômu Gaeshi Momotose Gitsune", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû; his stage partners are Shibazaki Rinzaemon I, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Sakakiyama Koshirô I, Onoe Samon, Kirinami Takie and Bandô Matajûrô I.
February 1718: First Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Nihon Furisode Hajime", which is produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; Otoemon plays the role of Prince Mikumano [casting].
November 1718: Otoemon goes back to Ôsaka; and plays the role of Onozaka Daihachi in the kaomise drama "Suehiro Chôja Bandaigura", which is produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I at the Ônishi no Shibai.
November 1721: Otoemon achieves a great success by playing two roles in the kaomise drama "Onna Genji Musha Sugoroku", which is produced by Takeshima Kôzaemon II at the Naka no Shibai.
Spring 1722: Otoemon becomes jitsuaku.
November 1722: Otoemon plays the role of Ichiyô Daizenmaru in the drama "Odori Hotei", which is produced by Takeshima Kôzaemon II at the Naka no Shibai.
November 1723: Otoemon plays the role of Tezuka Yasaemon in the kaomise "Kogane no Hanagata", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi San'emon III at the Kado no Shibai and celebrates the arrival in Ôsaka of the Edo star Ôtani Hiroji I.
January 1724: Otoemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the 4 sogamono produced to celebrate the new year [casting].
November 1725: Otoemon becomes tachiyaku, moves to the Ônishi no Shibai and plays in the kaomise drama "Gokoku Jôju Naniwa no Yakata", which is produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.
February 1726: Otoemon plays in the same theater the role of the yakko Sadahachi in the drama "Sankô Taiheiki".
November 1726: Otoemon moves to the Naka no Shibai and plays the role of Tottori Gen'emon in the kaomise drama "Hakoiri Daikoku Gane", which is produced by Kaneko Kichizaemon.
January 1727: Otoemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1727: Otoemon becomes zamoto, working with the nadai Matsumoto Nazaemon. He produces at the Ônishi no Shibai the kaomise drama "Watamashi Yatsumune Gura". His line-up includes the actors Ogino Yaegiri I, Nakamura Sôjûrô, Sugiyama Kanzaemon and Imamura Shirojûrô.
1728: Otoemon is replaced by Sanogawa Hanazuma I for the zamoto position.
November 1728: Otoemon plays the role of Kagokaki Tarôbei in the kaomise drama "Kunkoku Ôe no Kishi", which is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by Sanogawa Hanazuma I.
November 1729: Otoemon goes back to Kyôto and takes part in the kaomise produced by the nadai Daikokuya Takenojô and the zamoto Arashi Koroku I; Otoemon plays the role of Yamaoka Gonzô in the drama "Yomeiri Shichigosan".
January 1730: Otoemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1730: Otoemon goes back to Ôsaka and plays in the drama "Kunkoku Ôe no Kôbai", which is produced by Asao Motogorô.
November 1731: Otoemon plays the role of Chûgen Bansuke in the kaomise drama "Aioi Kigenjô", which is produced by Arashi Kokuseki at the Kado no Shibai.
November 1732: Otoemon plays the role of Fujioka Man'emon in the kaomise drama "Mitsu no Hama Kogane no Irie", which is produced by Arashi San'emon III at the Kado no Shibai.
March 1733: the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Otoemon plays the roles of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Taira no Kagekiyo [casting].
November 1733: Otoemon moves to the Naka no Shibai and plays the role of Shigaragi Jônosuke in the kaomise drama "Genji Rokujûjô", which is produced by the zamoto Iwai Hanshirô III.
Fall 1735: Otoemon goes to Kyôto.
November 1735: Otoemon plays at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the role of Kôsuke in the kaomise drama "Ôkamado Miyako no Ichigura", which is produced by Yamamoto Kyôzô.
December 1735: Otoemon plays in the same theater the role of Hôjô Tatewaki in the kaomise drama "Onna Tokimasa Gunpô Hinagata".
November 1739: Otoemon plays the role of Ôuchi Kamon in the kaomise drama "Muromachi Dono Chôhô Denki", which is produced by Sanogawa Ichimatsu I for the nadai Miyako Mandayû; his stage partners are Yamanaka Heijûrô II (Nikki Danjô), Ôtani Hiroji I (Ise no Saburô) and Onoe Kikugorô I (Enju).
December 1740: Otoemon appears on stage for the last time, at the Kado no Shibai, playing the role of Mochizuki Saemon in the drama "Katakiuchi Deguchi no Yanagi", which is produced by Nakamura Jûzô I. He suddenly falls ill and dies in Ôsaka in November 1741.
Comments:
Sawamura Otoemon I was an excellent tachiyaku and katakiyaku, who made a great career in Kamigata during the second half of the 18th century. He was endowed with a great voice and he was able to perfectly deliver his lines. Jitsuaku and jitsugotoshi roles were his forte.
Sawamura Otoemon I (left) and Asao Motogorô (right) playing the roles of Kôsuke and Okura in the kaomise drama "Ôkamado Miyako no Ichigura", which was staged in November 1735 in Kyôto