Stage names:
Onoe Shôroku I
Onoe Matsusuke I
Onoe Tokuzô
Guild: Otowaya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Jusen, Sanchô, Shôroku
Existence: 1744 ~ 16 October 1815
Connections:
Master: Onoe Kikugorô I
Adopted son: Onoe Kikugorô III
Career:
1744: born in Edo. He becomes a disciple of the actor Onoe Kikugorô I at an unknown date.
November 1755: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Ichimuraza, where he receives the name of Onoe Tokuzô.
November 1764: Onoe Tokuzô becomes wakaonnagata and takes the name of Onoe Matsusuke I at the Ichimuraza.
November 1766: Matsusuke becomes tateonnagata at the Moritaza.
November 1770: Matsusuke becomes tachiyaku at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Hachiman no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Hikosaburô III.
Fall 1774 ~ Summer 1778: long stay in Kamigata; Matsusuke falls ill when he is back in Edo and has to rest for several months.
February 1779: Matsusuke plays at the Moritaza the role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki". The roles of Iwanaga Saemon and Shigetada are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô V and Nakamura Nakazô I.
November 1781: premiere of the dance-drama "Waga Sekogakoi no Aizuchi" (commonly called "Kumo no Hyôshimai") at the Nakamuraza, which is performed within the kaomise program "Shitennô Tonoi no Kisewata". The roles of the spirit of the spider, Minamoto no Raikô, Sadamitsu and Sakata Kintoki are played by Segawa Kikunojô III, Sawamura Sôjûrô III, Matsusuke and Ichikawa Danjûrô V.
July 1804: Matsusuke achieves a great success at the Kawarazakiza, playing the role of Tenjiku Tokubei in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubei Ikoku Banashi". This role becomes an important one for the best tachiyaku of the Otowaya guild.
November 1809: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Otowaya guild; Onoe Matsusuke I and Onoe Eizaburô I take the respective names of Onoe Shôroku I and Onoe Matsusuke II.
May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Shôroku plays the roles of the widow Satomi and Bungozaemon [casting].
Comments:
Onoe Shôroku I started his brilliant career as an onnagata but became famous as an amazing tachiyaku. He was a great jitsuaku in his latter years. His forte were ghosts plays and hayagawari techniques.
Onoe Shôroku I was also a talented musician and the owner of a cosmetics shop in the district of Fukiya-Chô in Edo.
Onoe Shôroku I playing the role of Gama Sennin in the drama "Mata Zoro Shôroku Osakabe Banashi", which was staged in May 1814 at the Ichimuraza (print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I)
Print made by Katsukawa Shunjô in 1781
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1808
Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1811
The Onoe Matsusuke line of actors
The Onoe Shôroku line of actors