Stage names:

Ichikawa Raizô II
Ichikawa Hinazô
Ichikawa Iwazô 0.1

Guild: Kashiwaya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Hakusha

Existence: 1754 ~ 7th day of the 1st lunar month of 1778 ^[1]

Connection:

Father: Ichikawa Raizô I

Son/adopted son/disciple (?): Ichikawa Iwazô 0.2 ^[3]

Career:

Born in Edo in 1754. Son of Ichikawa Raizô I, he received the names of Ichikawa Iwazô. No record of any stage performance under this name ^[3].

11th lunar month of 1763: he received the name of Ichikawa Hinazô and made his debut on stage in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he performed as an iroko in the kaomise drama "Daijôbu Takadachi Jikki", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichikawa Yaozô II and Ichikawa Komazô II.

12th day of the 4th lunar month of 1767 ^[2]: his father Ichikawa Raizô I died in Edo.

5th lunar month of 1769: he took the name of Ichikawa Raizô II at the Nakamuraza, where he played the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Edo Zakura Sono Omokage", which commemorated the 2nd anniversary (3rd memorial service) of the passing away of his late father Ichikawa Raizô I; the roles of Agemaki and Ikyû were played by xxx and xxx.

11th lunar month of 1769: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hanasakae Hachinoki".

11th lunar month of 1770: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza the role of Munekiyo's wife Shirotae in the kaomise drama "Nue no Mori Ichiyô no Mato", which celebrated the shûmei of Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Nakamura Shôchô, Ichikawa Monnosuke II, Nakamura Shichisaburô III and Bandô Sanpachi II.

11th lunar month of 1771: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji".

11th lunar month of 1772: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Ôyoroi Ebidô Shinozuka".

11th lunar month of 1773: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Gohiiki Kanjinchô".

11th lunar month of 1774: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Ama no Iwato".

11th lunar month of 1775: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana Zumô Genji Biiki".

11th lunar month of 1776: Raizô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise".

11th lunar month of 1777: Raizô moved to the Moritaza, where he played the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke in the kaomise drama "Hito no Kuni Yori Mitsugi no Irifune" which celebrated the return to Edo of the actor Sawamura Sôjûrô III. This was his last appearance on stage. He fell ill and had to stop acting.

7th of the 1st lunar month of 1778 ^[1]: Raizô died in Edo.

Comments:

Ichikawa Raizô II was a promising wakashugata actor, who unfortunately died in his prime.

[1] The 7th day of the 1st lunar month of the 7th year of the An'ei era was the 3rd of February 1778 in the western calendar.

[2] The 12th day of the 4th lunar month of the 4th year of the Meiwa era was the 9th of May 1767 in the western calendar.

[3] Another iroko/koyaku held the name of Ichikawa Iwazô between 1774 and 1778. He was recorded as performing only at the Nakamuraza, where Ichikawa Raizô II was also active between 1774 and 1777. Was the second Ichikawa Iwazô the son, the adopted son or the disciple of Ichikawa Raizô II?

The Actors Ichikawa Raizô II as Kojirô Masahira (right) and Ichikawa Danzô IV as Doi no Yatarô (left), in the Play Kaomise Ama no Iwato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1774
Artist: Katsukawa Shunkô
Date: 1769–1779
The Art Institute of Chicago (print in the public domain)

Prints & Illustrations

The Ichikawa Raizô line of actors