Stage names:
Seki Sanjûrô II
Seki Utasuke
Nakamura Utasuke
Arashi Sôtarô
Nicknames: Meijin Seki (the expert Seki), Sekisan
Guilds: Owariya, Harimaya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Poetry name: Kazan
Existence: 1786 ~ 28 September 1839
Connections:
Masters: Nakamura Utaemon III, Arashi Kichisaburô II
Adopted father: Seki San'emon
Son: Seki Sôtarô
Career:
1786 ~ 1802: born in Ôsaka. He starts his career as a disciple of Arashi Kichisaburô II, who gives him the name of Arashi Sôtarô. He spends most of his early years performing in hama shibai.
November 1802: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Utaemon III and takes the name of Nakamura Utasuke in Ôsaka. A few month later, he is adopted by Seki Sanjûrô I and takes the name of Seki Utasuke.
November 1807: Seki Sanjûrô I and Seki Utasuke respectively take the names of Seki San'emon and Seki Sanjûrô II at the Naka no Shibai.
March 1808: Nakamura Utaemon III, Seki San'emon and Sanjûrô go together to Edo; they play together at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Koromo Yayoi Hanago no Keizu".
10 June 1808: his adopted father Seki San'emon dies.
July 1808: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Segawa Jokô II's drama "Zôho Izari no Adauchi"; Sanjûrô plays the role of Iinuma Sampei [casting].
September 1810: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Tabakoya Genshichi (in reality Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki) and Kaidômaru [casting].
Summer 1815: tour in Sendai; Sanjûrô performs in the precinct of the Shakadô Temple.
September 1815: Sanjûrô goes back to Edo and plays at the Kawarazakiza the roles of En'ya Hangan, Igo, Yagorô and Teraoka Heiemon in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
November 1821 (end of the month): premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Imoseyama Hitome Sembon", which mixes the "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" worlds; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Yazaemon and Irie Tanzô [casting].
March 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Hachinai and Shirai Magoichirô [casting].
September 1826: Sanjûrô, who is about to travel back to his native Kamigata after 19 seasons spent in Edo, performs his onagori kyôgen at the Nakamuraza. He achieves a great success by playing the role of Matahei in the drama "Keisei Hangonkô". The program includes a 5-role hengemono titled "Kaesu Gaesu Onagori no Ôtsue". The 5 roles are the Wisteria Maiden, a blind masseur, the God Tenjin, a footman (yakko) and a boatman. These roles are created based on ôtsue, popular paintings made in the city of Ôtsu (close to Kyôto). Three of these roles are still part of the current Kabuki repertoire: the Wisteria Maiden (the first version of the famous dance "Fuji Musume"), the blind masseur (performed under the title "Zatô") and the footman, which is performed in the independent dance "Sekisan Yakko" ("Sekisan's footman" - Sekisan is Sanjûrô's nickname).
December 1826: Sanjûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Yoshikata and Sanemori in the drama "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki". He also plays the role of the fox Tadanobu in the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon III, Nakamura Shikan II, Sawamura Kunitarô II and Nakamura Matsue III.
January 1828: Sanjûrô goes to Edo; he plays at the Kawarazakiza 3 roles in the drama "Iriyamagata Soga no Saiken".
May 1835: tour in Ise; Sanjûrô performs at the Furuichi Shibai.
September 1835: Sanjûrô plays at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Konoshita Kage Hazama Gassen".
November 1835: Sanjûrô achieves a great success in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai by playing in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
January 1836: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Hana no Ani Tsubomi no Yatsufusa"; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Ôtsuka Bansaku Kazunari, Horiuchi Kurando Sadayuki and Inugawa Gakuzô [casting]. He suddenly falls ill and has to be replaced by Ichikawa Ebijûrô III.
February 1837: Sanjûrô goes to Edo; he plays at the Moritaza in the drama "Momo Chidori Naruto no Shiranami".
1837 ~ 1839: Sanjûrô is often ill and has to leave his residence in Edo in the district of Izumi-cho to settle in the village of Kameido to recover when he is off stage.
February 1839: Sanjûrô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza. He retires and dies a few month later in September. His tombstone is located in the Honganji Temple in the district of Tsukiji.
Comments:
Seki Sanjûrô II was an amazing tachiyaku actor, who achieved fame for himself in both Edo and Kamigata during the Bunka, Bunsei and Tenpô eras. He was short-sized but he had great presence on stage. His field of excellence was wajitsu.
Seki Sanjûrô II portraying Kusunoki Masayuki in a print made by Utagawa Kunisada I (1830~1840)
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1819
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1820
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1826
Print made by Shumbaisai Hokuei in 1835
The Seki Sanjûrô line of actors