Stage names:
Seki Sanjûrô III
Ichikawa Yaozô V
Ichikawa Datejûrô
Ichikawa Dankichi
Others names:
Ichikawa Chûsha V
Fujima Kangorô
Nickname: Hana no Sanjûrô (Sanjûrô the nose)
Guilds: Owariya, Tachibanaya
Line number: SANDAIME (III)
Poetry names: Chûsha (5), Kijaku, Kazan
Existence: 1805 ~ 18 December 1870
Connections:
Father: Fujima Kambei III (dance master)
Brother-in-law: Nakamura Utaemon IV
Master: Ichikawa Danjûrô VII
Adopted son: Seki Sanjûrô IV
Career:
1805~1827: born in Edo. His father is the choreographer Fujima Kambei III. He starts his career as a disciple of the star Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Dankichi. Later he goes on tour in Kamigata at the end of the Bunka era. Then, he joins a band of travelling actors and performs under the name of Ichikawa Datejûrô.
March 1835: Ichikawa Datejûrô takes the name of Ichikawa Yaozô V.
May 1835: Yaozô goes on tour with Seki Sanjûrô II in Ise and Kamigata. This is an excellent opportunity for Yaozô to learn the art and techniques of such a great star.
September 1839: the actor Seki Sanjûrô II dies.
April 1840: Ichikawa Yaozô V takes the name of Seki Sanjûrô III at the Ichimuraza, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heiji Kagetaka and Chichibu Shôji Shigetada in the jidaimono "Hirakana Seisuiki" and the role of Umakata Hachizô in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna". The kôjô celebrating this shûmei is led by the star Nakamura Utaemon IV.
January 1843: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the dance "Kashiragaki Ise Monogatari" (commonly called "Noriaibune"), which is staged within the new year drama "Kioi Uta Soga no Hanadashi"; Sanjûrô is one of the seven dancers [more details].
January 1852: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke III drama "Satomi Hakkenden"; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Ôtsuka Bansaku Kazunari, Inukawa Sôsuke, Kanamari Daisuke, Komiyama Kageyu Saemon, Inukai Gempachi and Inugawa Gakuzô [casting].
September 1852: the play "Sesshû Gappô-ga-Tsuji" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Sanjûrô plays the role of Gappô [casting].
1853: Sanjûrô goes on tour in Kamigata.
January 1854: Sanjûrô goes back to Edo and performas as a jitsuaku at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Matsu Ichô Tsurukame Soga".
February 1859: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kosode Soga Azami no Ironui" (commonly called "Izayoi Seishin"); Sanjûrô plays the role of the poet Tsukioka Hakuren, in reality the thief Ôdera Shôbei, [casting].
January 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Sannin Kichisa Kuruwa no Hatsugai"; Sanjûrô plays the roles of Dozaemon Denkichi and Chôjiya Chôbei [casting].
March 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji"; Sanjûrô plays the role of Mochizuki Danjô [casting].
July 1860: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Hachiman Matsuri Yomiya no Nigiwai" (commonly called "Chijimiya Shinsuke"); Sanjûrô plays the role of Genzaemon [casting].
March 1862: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishikie" (commonly called "Shiranami Gonin Otoko"); Sanjûrô plays the role of Nippon Daemon [casting].
February 1864: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Soga Moyô Tateshi no Goshozome"; Sanjûrô plays the role of Hoshikage Doemon [casting].
November 1870: Sanjûrô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
Comments:
Seki Sanjûrô III was an outstanding tachiyaku actor, who excelled in katakiyaku and jitsuaku roles. He looked like Matsumoto Kôshirô V, sharing the same facial feature: an amazing nose! The playwright Kawatake Mokuami considered that Seki Sanjûrô III was the best actor he ever met.
Seki Sanjûrô III playing the role of Iwami Tarô Tomohide in the drama "Kozotte Kuruwa Mimasu no Datezome", which was staged in January 1853 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III)
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada
Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1834
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1852
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1861
The Ichikawa Chûsha line of actors
The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors
The Seki Sanjûrô line of actors