Stage names:
Sawamura Shirogorô II
Sawamura Shabaku
Sawamura Tôjûrô I
Sawamura Tôzô I
Ogino Tôzô
Guild: Kawatakiya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Poetry name: Shabaku
Existence: ??? ~ 6 July 1832
Connections:
Father-in-law : Sawamura Sôjûrô III
Disciple: Sawamura Tôzô II (?)
Career:
???~1792: born in Kamigata. His first stage name is Ogino Tôzô.
Fall 1792: Tôzô goes to Edo.
November 1792: Tôzô plays at the Ichimuraza a wakashugata role in the kaomise drama "Iromigusa Tsukuri Yamabushi".
January 1795: Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Miyakoza; Tôzô plays the role of the yakko Tatahei [casting].
July 1796: he becomes a disciple of the star Sawamura Sôjûrô III and takes the name of Sawamura Tôzô I at the Miyakoza, playing the role of Sukune Tarô in the "Dômyôji" scene of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Tôzô plays the role of Harukaze Tôzô in the latter theater [casting].
November 1808: Sawamura Tôzô I takes the name of Sawamura Shirogorô II and becomes katakiyaku. Around the same time, he gets married with the daughter of Sawamura Sôjûrô III.
March 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Shirogorô plays the role of Ushioda Bannoshin [casting].
May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Shirogorô plays the roles of the farmer Sagoemon and Sasayama Kanbei [casting].
July 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Shirogorô plays the role of Washizuka Kintôji Hidekuni [more details].
March 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English "The seven roles of Osome"). The seven roles are played by Iwai Hanshirô V; Shirogorô plays the roles of the tedai Zenroku [casting].
November 1819: Sawamura Shirogorô II takes the name of Sawamura Tôjûrô I at the Tamagawaza, playing 3 roles in the drama "Nana Komachi Yagura no Amagoi".
March 1820: premiere at the Tamagawaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sakura Butai Maku no Datezome"; Tôjûrô plays the roles of Ukiyo Tôfuya Tohei and Ôe Onitsura [casting].
November 1821: he takes back the name of Sawamura Shirogorô II at the Ichimuraza, playing in the drama "Nani o Tanete Ukiki no Kaobure".
March 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Shirogorô plays the role of Mamushi Jihei [casting].
August 1824: Sawamura Shirogorô II takes the name of Sawamura Shabaku at the Ichimuraza, playing 3 roles in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
May 1828: Shabaku plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Fujiwara no Shihei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1828: he takes back the name of Sawamura Shirogorô II at the Ichimuraza, playing 3 roles in the drama "Mitsugi no Yuki Genji Biiki".
March 1829: he goes on tour to Ôsaka with Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.
January 1830: he performs in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, then decides to go back to Edo.
6 July 1832: Shirogorô dies in Edo.
Comments:
Sawamura Shirogorô II was a good katakiyaku of the Bunka and Bunsei eras. His vocal projection and the way he delivered his lines were quite stern and manly. He had a strong stage presence, allowing him to excel in roles like Fujiwara no Shihei ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").
Sawamura Shirogorô II playing the role of the villain Fujiwara no Shihei in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged in September 1812 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)
The role of Umeômaru, the character in the bottom of the print, is played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1799
The Sawamura Shirogorô line of actors