Stage names:
Sakakiyama Sagisuke
Sakakiyama Koshirô II
Sakakiyama Shirotarô I
Poetry name: Sensei
Existence: 1697 ~ 9 January 1768
Connection:
Adopted father: Sakakiyama Koshirô I
Sons: Sakakiyama Koshirô III, Sakakiyama Koshirô IV
Disciples: Sakakiyama Danshirô, Sakakiyama Sengiku, Sakakiyama Tomitaki
Career:
1697: born in Kamigata. His father is a rônin named Terasaka. He is adopted at the age of 6 by the actor Sakakiyama Koshirô I.
November 1708: he takes the name of Sakakiyama Shirotarô I and starts his career as a zamoto, producing in Kyôto the kaomise drama "Ryôshû Renri no Matsu".
November 1709: Shirotarô produces in Ôsaka the kaomise drama "Chigo Daimyô Kyô Miyage".
Fall 1711: Shirotarô and his father Sakakiyama Koshirô I settle in Kyôto.
November 1711: Shirotarô produces at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Kikenjô".
November 1714: Shirotarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Azuma-zukuri Ôdaidokoro".
Fall 1716: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is produced by Shirotarô in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater [casting].
February 1718: First Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Nihon Furisode Hajime", which is produced by Shirotarô in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; Shirotarô plays the role of Ama Hikomaru [casting].
Fall 1723: Shirotarô and his father Sakakiyama Koshirô I go back to Ôsaka after 12 seasons spent in Kyôto.
November 1723: Shirotarô produces at the Ônishi no Shibai the kaomise drama "Fukujukai Kogane no Minato".
November 1725: Shirotarô produces at the Ônishi no Shibai the kaomise drama "Gokoku Jôju Naniwa no Yakata", in which he plays the role of Fuji Daijûrô.
November 1726: his father Sakakiyama Koshirô I goes to Kyôto but Shirotarô stays in Ôsaka, playing at the Kado no Shibai the role of Aioi Tsurutarô in the kaomise drama "Bunbu Aioi no Matsu".
November 1727: Shirotarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Ikuta Mojigorô in the kaomise drama "Imosegami Aioi no Futabayama", which is produced by Yamamoto Kyôshirô I.
Fall 1728: Shirotarô goes to Kyôto.
November 1728: Shirotarô plays the role of Higuchi Gensuke in the kaomise drama "Tokiwagura Kogane no Ishizue", which is produced by Tamiya Hannosuke at Kameya Kumenojô's theater.
January 1729: Shirotarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
November 1729: Shirotarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Fukuju Yakata Wagô no Futabashira".
November 1730: Shirotarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Eiraku Shiki no Kogane".
November 1731: Shirotarô plays at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of Umebayashi Hyakutarô in the kaomise drama "Hiragana Imagawajô".
January 1732: Shirotarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent).
November 1732: Shirotarô plays at Miyako Mandayû's theater in the kaomise drama "Hatsubutai Kogane no Ishizue".
January 1733: Shirotarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1733: Shirotarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Chôseiden Kogane no Shikigawara", which welcomes back his father Sakakiyama Koshirô I in Kyôto.
November 1734: Shirotarô produces at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the kaomise drama "Oyayuzuri Kogane no Katokugura", in which he plays the role of Matsugane Jônosuke.
November 1735: Shirotarô plays the role of Kanemori Gensuke in the kaomise drama "Shin-yakata Banzei no Ishizue", which is produced by Arashi Koroku I at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater.
November 1736: Shirotarô plays the role of the yakko Kansuke in the kaomise drama "Shin-yakata Imosegura", which is produced at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater by Mizuki Takenosuke.
November 1737: Shirotarô plays the role of Nagao Izunojô in the kaomise drama "Hachiman Tarô Denju no Tsuzumi", which is staged at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater and celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II.
November 1738: Shirotarô plays the role of Hamamatsu Gensuke in the kaomise drama "Neko no Koneko", which is produced at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater (Minamigawa no Shibai) by Mizuki Tatsunosuke II.
May 1739: first Kabuki adaptation of the Matsuda Bunkôdô, Takeda Izumo I, Takeda Koizumo, Miyoshi Shôraku and Asada Kakei puppet theater drama "Hirakana Seisuiki"; Shirotarô plays the role of Kajiwara Genta [casting].
Fall 1739: Shirotarô goes to Ôsaka.
December 1739: Shirotarô plays the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Kewai Musha Ômi Genji", which is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by Yoshizawa Ayame II.
Fall 1740: Shirotarô goes back to Kyôto.
December 1740: Shirotarô plays in the drama "Chinpô Sandai Gatana", which is produced by his son Sakakiyama Jûtarô I at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater and also stars his adopted father Sakakiyama Koshirô I. The title of this drama, literally "the rare treasure - three generations of swords", an allusion to the three generations of actors of the Sakakiyama clan sharing the same stage, has also a different suggestive meaning because the word chinpô is the penis!
August 1741: the play "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which was originally written for the puppet theater, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater; Shirotarô plays the roles of Saisaki Iga-no-Kami, Iwano-no-Kami and Dankurô [casting].
November 1741: Shirotarô plays the role of Ishikawa Akuemon in the kaomise drama "Imayô Shinoda Zuma", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I at Miyako Mandayû's theater.
November 1742: Shirotarô plays the role of Sadaemon in the kaomise drama "Yamato-fumi Kaoyo Hinagata", which is produced at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater by Sakata Ichitarô. This is most likely the last stage appearance of his adopted father Sakakiyama Koshirô I.
November 1743: Shirotarô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the role of Fukushima Tatsubei in the kaomise drama "Yomeiri Ôshimadai", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I.
January 1744: Shirotarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, falls one rank below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1744: Shirotarô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater the role of Watarai Gôsuke in the kaomise drama "Tamba Yosaku Kameyama Kayoi", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I.
January 1745: Shirotarô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is back to jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1745: Shirotarô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater in the kaomise drama "Toragoyomi Hoteibukuro", which is produced by Nakamura Kumetarô I.
November 1746: Shirotarô plays at Miyako Handayû's theater the role of Tsukioka Naiki in the kaomise drama "Fukki no Ôshimadai", which is produced by Somematsu Shichisaburô I.
15 June 1747: his adopted father Sakakiyama Koshirô I dies in Kyôto.
November 1747: Sakakiyama Shirotarô I and his elder son Sakakiyama Jûtarô I respectively take the names of Sakakiyama Koshirô II and Sakakiyama Shirotarô II, playing together in the kaomise drama "Teikin Ôrai Manzoku Kagami", which is produced by Nakamura Matsubei I at the Kitagawa no Shibai; their stage partners are Yamashita Matatarô I, Takenaka Heikichi, Fujikawa Heikurô, Fujioka Daikichi, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I, Nakamura Shirogorô III, Kasaya Matakurô I, Asao Motogorô and Sanogawa Hanazuma II.
November 1748: Koshirô plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Yashiro Jônosuke in the kaomise drama "Jidai Makie Chûshingura", which is produced by Nakamura Matsubei I.
January 1749: Koshirô is sôkanjiku ("global kanjiku") in the Kyôto hyôbanki; his rank is kyoku-jô-jô-kichi (fast - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1749: Koshirô plays at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater the role of the rônin Yogohei in the kaomise drama "Tokitsukazeyasu Keizu", which is produced by his son Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.
January 1750: Koshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is hakugoku-jô-jô-kichi (almost extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1750: Koshirô plays at Ebisuya Kichirôbei's theater the role of the yakko Arisuke in the kaomise drama "Tokitsukazeyasu Keizu", which is produced by his son Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.
January 1751: Koshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is back to jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1751: Koshirô plays at Miyako Handayû's theater (Minamigawa no Shibai) the role of Kokonoe Tamiemon in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Asahi no Nishiki", which is produced by his son Sakakiyama Shirotarô II.
November 1752: Koshirô plays at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater (Kitagawa no Shibai) the role of Kusunoki Masanari in the kaomise drama "Tenka Taiheiki", which is produced by Arashi San'emon IV.
November 1753: Koshirô plays at Miyako Handayû's theater the role of Sagara Jôsuke in the kaomise drama "Hade Musume Bandachi Yakata", which is produced by Yamashita Ugenta II.
February 1755: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts puppet theater drama "Ono no Tôfû Aoyagi Suzuri", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I and staged at the Minamigawa no Shibai as a kaomise drama; Koshirô plays the role of Ono no Tôfû [casting].
December 1755: Koshirô plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the roles of Momoi Wakasanosuke and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the kaomise drama "Homare Otoko Bandaigura", which is produced by Namba Matsunosuke.
November 1756: Koshirô plays at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater the role of Kudô in the kaomise drama "Daimyô Bimandai Kuniiri Kamakura Kagami".
January 1758: Koshirô plays in Kyôto at the Hirano no Shibai the role of Morihiko in the new year drama "Kume no Sennin Yoshino Zakura", which is produced by Kameya Jûjirô.
March 1758: Koshirô goes to the Kitagawa no Shibai.
October 1758: Koshirô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô".
November 1758: Koshirô does not take part in any kaomise.
December 1759: Koshirô becomes jitsuaku and plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Todoroki Gôemon in the drama "Bandai Fueki Hôrai Yakata".
January 1760: Koshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
November 1760: Koshirô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Yotsugi Sehei in the kaomise drama "Ôshimadai Kitsune no Mukoiri".
January 1761: Koshirô is sôkanjiku ("global kanjiku") in the Kyôto hyôbanki; his rank is shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1761: Koshirô plays at Kameya Kumenojô's theater the role of Tada Mankei in Tatsuoka Hisagiku's kaomise drama "Mineiri Futaba Genji", which is produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I.
January 1762: Koshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is shin-jô-jô-kichi (truly - superior - superior - excellent).
February 1762: Koshirô plays in the same theater the role of Jimbei in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
February 1763: Koshirô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Shimizu Hyôe in the kaomise drama "Otowayama Renbo no Taki", which is produced by Nakamura Senzô.
March 1763: Koshirô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent).
November 1763: Koshirô does not take part in any kaomise.
November 1764: Koshirô plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Kanki in the drama "Tanomi-agemasu Goken Butsusama" (similar to "Kokusen'ya Gassen"); the role of Watônai is played by Edosaka Kyôemon.
July 1765: Koshirô plays in the same theater the role of Shunkan in the drama "Kajiha Kaze Zashiki Kyôgen".
November 1765: Koshirô does not take part in any kaomise.
November 1766: The actors Sakakiyama Koshirô II, Sakakiyama Shirotarô II and Sakakiyama Jûtarô II respectively take the names of Sakakiyama Sagisuke, Sakakiyama Koshirô III and Sakakiyama Shirotarô III, playing together in the kaomise drama "Umayadogimi Shitennôji Kuyô", which is produced by Edosaka Kyôemon at the Kitagawa no Shibai. This is Sagisuke's isse ichidai performance; he retires from the Kabuki stages to become a playwright.
2 July 1767: his elder son Sakakiyama Koshirô III dies.
November 1767: his younger son Sakakiyama Shirotarô III and Sakakiyama Koshirô III's nephew Sakakiyama Kotarô respectively take the names of Sakakiyama Koshirô IV and Sakakiyama Shirotarô IV at Hayagumo Chôdayû's theater.
9 January 1768: Sagisuke dies in Kyôto; his tombstone is located in the precincts of the Myôhôji temple in the Imperial city.
7 March 1768: his younger son Sakakiyama Koshirô IV dies.
Comments:
Sakakiyama Sagisuke was a popular and talented tachiyaku actor, who spent most of his career in Kyôto. He did not bother to go to perform in Edo and stopped performing in Ôsaka at the end of the 1720s, preferring to enjoy his fame in the Imperial city. Just like his adopted father Sakakiyama Koshirô I, he was also the son of a rônin and excelled in rônin roles. He was the best actor of the Sakakiyama clan, reaching the hakugoku-jô-jô-kichi rank in 1750. His line seemed secured because of his two sons but they unfortunately died around the same time as their father.
Sakakiyama Sagisuke and Nakamura Sanohachi in the kaomise drama "Umayadogimi Shitennôji Kuyô", which was staged in November 1766 at the Kitagawa no Shibai
Illustrations of Sakakiyama Sagisuke
The Sakakiyama Shirotarô line of actors
The Sakakiyama Koshirô line of actors