Stage names:
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII
Sawamura Tosshô III
Sawamura Gempei IV
Real name: Sawamura Fukuzô
Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)
Guild: Kinokuniya
Poetry name: Kôga
Crest: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い]
Existence: 1875 ~ 2 March 1949
Connections:
Adoptive father: Suketakaya Takasuke IV
Adopted brother: Sawamura Tosshi VII
Sons: Suketakaya Takasuke V, Sawamura Tanosuke V, Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Grandsons: Sawamura Sôjûrô IX, Sawamura Tôjûrô II, Sawamura Tanosuke VI, Sawamura Yoshijirô V
Career:
1875: born in Tôkyô in the district of Tsukiji. He may be the son of a priest based in the Honganji temple in Tsukiji.
1881: he is adopted by Suketakaya Takasuke IV, who gives him the civil name of Sawamura Fukuzô.
November 1881: first stage appearance at the Hisamatsuza, where he receives the name of Sawamura Gempei IV.
February 1886: his adoptive father Suketakaya Takasuke IV dies. Gempei and his adopted brother Sawamura Tosshi VII, go together to Kamigata.
July 1891: Gempei plays at the Asahiza (Ôsaka) the role of Yamamba in the dance "Komochi Yamamba".
1892: Sawamura Gempei IV take the name of Sawamura Tosshô III at the Nakaza (Ôsaka).
November 1896: Tosshô plays at the Miyatoza the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
December 1901: Tosshô plays at the Engiza the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
December 1902: Tosshô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
December 1905: Tosshô plays at the Miyatoza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Ichikawa Kodanji V.
September 1908: great shûmei at the Kabukiza; Sawamura Tosshô III takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII by performing in the plays "Jûnin Otoko" and "Kôyasan".
November 1908: revival at the Kabukiza of the kabuki jûhachiban drama "Kagekiyo"; Sôjûrô plays the role of Kagekiyo's daughter Princess Hitomaru [casting].
November 1909: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of En'ya Hangan in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". The roles of Kô no Moronô and Yuranosuke are played by Ichikawa Danzô VII and Matsumoto Komazô VIII.
March 1911: opening of the Imperial Theater. The three leading actors of the new Kabuki troupe based in this theater are Onoe Baikô VI (onnagata), Ichikawa Komazô VIII (tachiyaku) and Sawamura Sôjûrô VII (wagotoshi).
April 1912: premiere at the Naniwaza of Okamoto Kidô's "Heikegani", which stars Onoe Baikô VI and Sôjûrô.
April 1914: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Iwafuji are performed by Sawamura Sônosuke I and Onoe Baikô VI.
October 1914: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The role of Iwafuji is performed by Onoe Baikô VI.
April 1915: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Yosaburô in the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi". The role of Otomi is played by Onoe Baikô VI.
April 1916: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the roles of Yorikane, Okinoi and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The roles of Lady Yashio and Nikki Danjô are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.
July 1916: Sôjûrô plays at the Yokohamaza (Kanagawa) the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
December 1919: Sôjûrô plays at the Minamiza the role of Omiwa in the "Mikasayama Goten" scene of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". The role of Fukashichi is played by Onoe Tamizô III.
July 1922: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba". The roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki is played by Morita Kan'ya XIII.
February 1924: Sôjûrô plays at the the Minamiza (Kyôto) the role of Miuranosuke in the play "Kamakura Sandaiki" His stage partners in the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Princess Toki are Jitsukawa Enjaku II and Nakamura Jakuemon III.
July 1924: Sôjûrô plays at the Daikokuza the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba". The roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki is played by Morita Kan'ya XIII.
February 1926: Sôjûrô plays at the Hongôza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Nakamura Tokizô III.
February 1927: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Princess Tamaori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kojirô/Atsumori is played by Nakamura Ganjirô I.
April 1927: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The roles of Benkei and Togashi are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Morita Kan'ya XIII.
July 1927: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi", an adaptation to Kabuki by the playwright Kimura Kinka of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel; Sôjûrô plays the role of the geisha Adahachi [casting].
December 1927: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by an actress (Kikue Namiko).
March 1928: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Iwafuji are performed by Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Matsumoto Kôshirô VII.
May 1929: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza the role of Omiwa in the "Mikasayama Goten" scene of the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin". The role of Fukashichi is played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.
June 1929: Sôjûrô plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The roles of Benkei and Togashi are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichikawa Sadanji II.
January 1930: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The roles of Benkei and Togashi are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
February 1930: Sôjûrô plays at the Meijiza the role of Sakuramaru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; his stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Umeômaru), Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Matsuômaru) and Onoe Kôzô II (Shihei).
September 1930: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
March 1931: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The roles of Benkei and Togashi are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichikawa Sadanji II.
June 1931: Sôjûrô plays at the Meijiza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Iwafuji are performed by Nakamura Tokizô III and Kataoka Gadô IV.
January 1932: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba". The roles of Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki is played by Bandô Mitsugorô VII.
March 1933: Sôjûrô plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Yoshitsune in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô". The roles of Benkei and Togashi are played by Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
March 1934: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
April 1934: Sôjûrô plays at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu are performed by Bandô Shûchô III and Nakamura Tokizô III.
April 1936: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Princess Tamaori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kojirô/Atsumori is played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
October 1936: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
June 1937: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Princess Yaegaki) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Katsuyori).
January 1938: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Ohatsu are performed by Nakamura Baigyoku III and Nakamura Kaisha.
June 1938: Sôjûrô plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
May 1939: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The role of Iwafuji is performed by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.
November 1939: premiere at the Tôkyô Gekijô of Kimura Tomiko's dance-drama "Kurozuka"; Sôjûrô plays the role of the yamabushi Priest Yûkei [casting].
January 1940: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Jitsukawa Enjaku II.
November 1940: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
February 1941: Sôjûrô plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the role of Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of the evil Yashio is played by Ôtani Tomoemon VI.
March 1941: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Masaoka in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of the evil Yashio is played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.
December 1941: Sôjûrô plays at the Minamiza the role of the evil Yashio in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of Masaoka is played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII.
March 1942: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Onoe in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Iwafuji and Ohatsu are performed by Ôtani Tomoemon VI and Kataoka Nizaemon XII. Sôjûrô plays also the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV.
November 1942: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Kaoyo and Senzaki Yagorô in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
December 1942: Sôjûrô plays at the Minamiza the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
April 1943: Sôjûrô plays at the Shôchiku Gekijô (Kôbe) and at the Misonoza (Nagoya, from the 15th of the month) the roles of the evil Yashio and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danjô are played by Nakamura Baigyoku III and Bandô Jusaburô III. Sôjûrô also plays the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Bandô Jusaburô III.
May 1943: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Otoku in the drama "Domo Mata"; the role of Matahei is played by Onoe Kikugorô VI.
October 1943: Sôjûrô plays at the Hitachi Mine and the Nikkô Copper Plant the role of Hayano Kampei in the acts V and VI of the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
January 1945: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô".
Decembre 1946: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Ohatsu are performed by Nakamura Tokizô III and Ichikawa Sumizô VI.
October 1947: Sôjûrô plays at the Tôkyô Gekijô the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
November 1947: Sôjûrô plays at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Kaoyo, Osai and Oishi in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Decembre 1947: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie". The roles of Onoe and Ohatsu are performed by Nakamura Tokizô III and Ichikawa Sumizô VI.
February 1948: Sôjûrô plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of En'ya Hangan and Oishi in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
July 1948: Sôjûrô plays at the Ôsaka Kabukiza the roles of Kojirô and Atsumori in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The roles of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Princess Tamaori are played by Bandô Jusaburô III and Nakamura Tomijûrô IV.
October 1948: Sôjûrô plays at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô the role of Bimyô in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The role of Sasaki Moritsuna is played by Ichikawa Ebizô IX.
December 1948: Sôjûrô plays at the Shimbashi Embujô the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô". The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Nakamura Tokizô III.
January 1949: Sôjûrô plays at the Tôkyô Gekijô the roles of Yorikane and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi". The role of Nikki Danjô is played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.
2 March 1949: Sôjûrô collapses on a Himeji theater's stage while playing the role of Kampei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
Comments:
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII was an amazing onnagata and wagotoshi, a talented dancer, who led with Onoe Kikugorô VI, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV the Kabuki world from the end of the Meiji era to the end of the forties.
His special methods of acting gave birth to the expression "Sôjûrô Kabuki".
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII gathered his 10 best roles in a collection called kôga jisshu. The most famous ones are Ofune ("Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi"), Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamamba"), Fukuoka mitsugi ("Ise Ondo"), Dôshin ("Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto") and Ranchô ("Wakaki Uchina Gusa"). Others famous roles of Sawamura Sôjûrô VII were Fujiya Izaemon ("Kuruwa Bunshô"), Bimyô ("Moritsuna Jinya") and Kakuju ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").
"The seventh Sawamura Sôjûrô is also one of the Imperial Theatre stars. He acts so well with Baikô and Kôshirô that they form a perfect trio, and when there is a break in this stage comradeship, Tôkyô will be conscious of a blank like that which was experienced when the three great actors of Meiji passed away one after the other. Sôjûrô is at his best in samurai and aristocratic rôles, He also makes a fascinating woman, and his ability in the dance, while not so striking as that of Baikô and Kôshirô, is still very great." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")
Sawamura Sôjûrô VII playing the role of Osome in the drama "Shimpan Utazaimon" (print made by Ôta Masamitsu)
Print made by Kôchôrô Hôsai in 1900
Print made by Ôta Masamitsu in 1950
The Sawamura Gempei line of actors
The Sawamura Tosshô line of actors
The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors