Stage names:
Shibazaki Rinzaemon I
Shibazaki Rinnosuke I
Yamamoto Shinanojô
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Existence: ??? ~ 1722
Connection:
Son: Shibazaki Rinnosuke II
Disciples: Shibazaki Rinnosuke III, Shibazaki Kikuemon, Shibazaki Momotarô, Shibazaki Tamijûrô, Shibazaki Wadanosuke, Shibazaki Jûzaemon
Career:
1660s/1670s: he starts his career as a koyaku performing under the name of Yamamoto Shinanojô. Later on, he becomes wakashugata and takes the name of Shibazaki Rinnosuke I.
1681: he becomes tachiyaku and takes the name of Shibazaki Rinzaemon I.
January 1695: Rinzaemon plays the role of Ôtomo Ikazuchimaru in the drama "Jingû Kôgô", which is produced in Ôsaka by Arashi San'emon II.
January 1696: Rinzaemon plays the role of Onogawa in Tominaga Heibei's drama "Kumano Sankaichô", which is produced in Ôsaka by Arashi San'emon II; his stage partners are Asao Jûjirô, Nishikawa Okanosuke, Dekishima Kozaburô, Otowa Saizaburô, Sakata Tôkurô, Takaoka Muraemon, Ichiya Gembei, Kamogawa Noshio I, Tashiro Seizaemon, Miyazaki Hachirozaemon, Mizuki Asanojô and Hayama Okaemon.
July 1696: Rinzaemon plays the role of Soga Gorô in the drama "Kamakura Ominaeshi" which is produced in Ôsaka by Arashi San'emon II; his stage partners are Arashi San'emon II (Soga Jûrô), Asao Jûjirô (Kewaizaka no Shôshô) and Nishikawa Okanosuke (Ôiso no Tora).
January 1700: Rinzaemon plays the role of Shigetada in the new year drama "Kamakura Shôgatsu Tsukai", which is produced in Ôsaka by Arashi San'emon II.
January 1701: Rinzaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior).
November 1706: Rinzaemon plays the role of Shishidô Kuranosuke in the kaomise drama "Ebisu Otoko Onna Daigoku Hashira Gatame", which is produced in Ôsaka by Kataoka Nizaemon I and celebrates the first stage appearance of his son Shibazaki Rinnosuke II as a wakaonnagata.
Fall 1707: Rinzaemon goes to Kyôto.
November 1707: Rinzaemon plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Kikuchi Hachirozaemon in the kaomise drama "Ohiyaki Sannin Musume".
Fall 1709: Rinzaemon goes to Ôsaka.
November 1709: Shirotarô plays the role of Higaki Jûzaemon the kaomise drama "Chigo Daimyô Kyô Miyage", which is produced in Ôsaka by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I.
January 1710: Rinzaemon's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
Fall 1711: Rinzaemon goes to Kyôto.
November 1711: Rinzaemon plays in the kaomise drama "Mannen Gura", which is produced by Sawamura Chôjûrô I and Sodesaki Karyû at Kameya Kumenojô's theater.
March 1712: Rinzaemon's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1714: Rinzaemon plays in Kyôto the role of the rônin Takahashi Hikozaemon in the kaomise drama "Yorozuyo Saiwai Gura" [more details], which was staged at Miyako Mandayû's theater.
Fall 1716: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is produced by the zamoto Sakakiyama Shirotarô I in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater; Rinzaemon plays the role of Kanki [casting]. Around the same time, his disciple Shibazaki Kodenji takes the name of Shibazaki Rinnosuke III in Edo at the Ichimuraza.
November 1717: Rinzaemon plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Kikuchi Hachirozaemon in the kaomise drama "Ômu Gaeshi Momotose Gitsune", which is produced by Sakakiyama Shirotarô I; his stage partners are Sawamura Otoemon 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; Rinzaemon plays the role of Amatsu Koyane-no-Shin [casting].
November 1721: Rinzaemon is supposed to perform in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Yamato Uta Denju no Tomikura" but he suddenly falls ill and has to stop acting. He most likely dies the following year.
Comments:
"Shibazaki Rinzaemon, who was quick to recognise the art of the doll-actors. His specialty consisted in imitating them. He was well fitted in personal appearance, character, and voice to be a leading actor. He began his stage study in Ôsaka, where the dolls were beginning to rival the real actors, and it is easy to see how the movements of the puppets, their airs and graces, postures and gestures, as created by the dollhandlers, who were artists in every respect, introduced the Kabuki actors to a whole new world of expression, of style and taste, which they were eager to command." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")
Shibazaki Rinzaemon I playing the role of the rônin Takahashi Hikozaemon in the kaomise drama "Yorozuyo Saiwai Gura" [more details], which was staged in November 1714 in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater