Stage names:
Sawamura Sôjûrô IX
Sawamura Tosshô V
Sawamura Gempei VI
Real name: Sawamura Hisakazu
Guild: Kinokuniya
Line number: KUDAIME (IX)
Crest: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い]
Existence: 8 March 1933 ~ 12 January 2001
Connections:
Grandfather: Sawamura Sôjûrô VII
Father: Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII
Brother: Sawamura Tôjûrô II
Disciples: Sawamura Sônosuke III, Sawamura Kiyosuke
Career:
May 1941: first stage appearance, at the Kabukiza, where he receives the name of Sawamura Gempei VI, playing in the drama "Sukeroku".
March 1949: his grandfather Sawamura Sôjûrô VII dies.
September 1953: Sawamura Gempei VI takes the name of Sawamura Tosshô V at the Kabukiza, playing in the "Kamo Zutsumi" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Teranai Kagami".
March 1956: Tosshô plays at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Fujiya Izaemon is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII.
April 1956: Tosshô plays at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Chidori in the drama "Shunkan".
June 1959: Tosshô plays at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Princess Yuki in the drama "Kinkakuji". The roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Tôkichi are played by Ichikawa Danshirô III and Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III.
February 1960: Tosshô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Princess Yaegaki in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners are Nakamura Senjaku II (Katsuyori) and Sawamura Gennosuke V (Nureginu).
1960: Tosshô joins the Tôei Company to play in movies for a few years.
1963: Tosshô is back in the Kabuki world.
January 1964: Tosshô plays for the first time the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi", which is staged at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô). The role of Yosaburô is played by Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III.
April 1964: Tosshô plays for the first time the role of Yaegiri in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba", which is staged at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô).
January 1965: Tosshô plays at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
July 1966: Tosshô plays at the Tôyoko Hall (Tôkyô) the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
November 1966: opening ceremony of the National Theater in Tôkyô with the full length performance of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Tosshô plays the roles of Sonoo-no-Mae and the yakko Takunai [casting].
February 1968: Tosshô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Yaegiri in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamamba".
May 1968: revival at the National Theater of "Ura Omote Sendai Hagi"; Tosshô plays the role of Okinoi [casting].
March 1971: Tosshô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri est tenu par Sawamura Kiyoshirô.
August 1971: Tosshô plays at the National Theater the role of Princess Takiyasha in the drama "Masakado".
May 1973: revival at the National Theater of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi" to commemorate the 249th anniversary (250th memorial service) of the playwright; Tosshô plays the role of Miyaji Gen'emon [casting].
July 1973: Tosshô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
January 1974: Tosshô plays at the Shinkabukiza (Ôsaka) the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan". He also plays the role of the courtesan Yûgiri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of Fujiya Izaemon is played by Nakamura Senjaku II.
December 1975: his father Sawamura Sôjûrô VIII dies.
March 1976: Tosshô plays at the Minamiza the role of Katsuyori in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". His stage partners are Bandô Tamasaburô (Princess Yaegaki) and Arashi Tokusaburô VII (Nureginu).
September 1976: Sawamura Tosshô V takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô IX at the Kabukiza, playing the roles of Yaegiri and Fukuoka Mitsugi in the dramas "Komochi Yamamba" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba".
December 1976: Sôjûrô plays at the Minamiza the role of Abe no Yasuna in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami".
September 1977: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
October 1977: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; the role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Sawamura Tôjûrô.
September 1978: revival at the National Theater of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Sôjûrô plays the role of Ume no Yoshibei [casting].
April 1979: historic revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV long-forgotten play "Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise" (commonly called "Date no Jûyaku"); Sôjûrô plays the role of Watanabe Mimbunosuke [casting]. He also plays the role of Issun Tokubei in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". His stage partners are Ichikawa Ennosuke (Danshichi Kurobei) and Nakamura Ganjirô II (Tsuribune Sabu).
October 1980: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi"; The role of Yosaburô is played by Ichikawa Ebizô X.
January 1981: Sôjûrô plays at the Asakusa Kôkaidô the role of Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"; The role of the courtesan Yûgiri is played by Nakamura Baishi III.
June 1981: Sôjûrô plays at the National Theater the role of Otatsu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". His stage partners are Onoe Tatsunosuke I (Danshichi Kurobei), Ichikawa Ginnosuke I (Issun Tokubei) and Kawarazaki Gonjûrô III (Tsuribune Sabu).
July 1981: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
September 1982: Sôjûrô plays at the Minamiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
January 1984: historic revival at the National Theater of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Sôjûrô plays the role of Fuwa Banzaemon's wife Fujikae [casting].
November 1984: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Ohaya in the "Hikimado" scene in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki".
April 1987: Sôjûrô takes part in the revival at the Meijiza of the play "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura", which includes the famous Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" [more details].
August 1989: first public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai, an association led by Sôjûrô whose main goal is the revival of long-forgotten plays; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Uwabami Oyoshi", which has not been performed for 88 years.
December 1989: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
June ~ July 1990: Sôjûrô takes part in a Kabuki tour in the USA, performing 26 shows in several big cities; he plays the role of Yamakage Ukyô in the dance-drama "Migawari Zazen" [casting]. Sôjûrô plays also the role of Togashi in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô", which is performed only in Los Angeles.
August 1990: second public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Benizara Kakezara", which has not been performed for 58 years.
October 1990: Sôjûrô plays at the National Theater the role of Onoe II in the drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Iwafuji"; The role of the evil Iwafuji is played by Onoe Kikugorô.
December 1990: Sôjûrô plays at the Gion Kaburenjô (Kyôto) the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".
August 1991: third public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Onna Ôsakazuki", which has not been performed for 93 years.
November 1991: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
August 1992: fourth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Kijin no Omatsu", which has not been performed since 1964.
October 1992: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tanzaemon in the drama "Shunkan".
August 1993: fifth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces the acts VI and VII of the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". Act VII is part of the current Kabuki repertoire but act VI has not been performed since 1935.
September 1993: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Issun Tokubei in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami". His stage partners are Nakamura Kichiemon (Danshichi Kurobei) and Nakamura Tomijûrô (Tsuribune Sabu).
August 1994: sixth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Nuregami Oseki", which has not been performed for 179 years.
October 1994: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Otomi in the drama "Yowa Nasaki Ukina no Yokogushi"; The role of Yosaburô is played by Nakamura Baigyoku.
August 1995: seventh public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Onna Gonin Kiri", which has not been performed for 166 years.
August 1996: eighth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces three new dramas: "Enmusubi Yûyû Banashi", "Natane no Michiyuki" and "Yûgaodana".
August 1997: ninth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces and plays the leading role of the drama "Mijikayo Ukina no Chirashigaki". He suddenly falls ill and the performance has to be cancelled.
August 1998: tenth public performance of the Sôjûrô Koten Fukkatsu no Kai; Sôjûrô produces the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto", which belongs to the Kinokuniya guild.
December 1998: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of the courtesan Miyagino in the "Ageya" scene of the drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". The role of Miyagino's sister Shinobu is played by Nakamura Shibajaku.
January 1999: revival at the National Theater of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana"; Sôjûrô plays the role of Otomi [casting].
March 1999: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the roles of Ofude and Nureginu in the dramas "Hirakana Seisuiki" and "Honchô Nijûshikô".
June 1999: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Yûshide in the "Imorizake" scene of the drama "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto", which belongs to the Kinokuniya guild.
July 1999: Sôjûrô plays the role of the evil Yashio in the drama "Date no Jûyaku", produced by Ichikawa Ennosuke at the Kabukiza.
October 1999: Sôjûrô plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the roles of Otoku and Sagami in the dramas "Keisei Hangonkô" and "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" ("Kumagai Jin'ya").
November 1999: Sôjûrô plays at the National Theater the role of Otane in the "Takenoko Hori" scene of the play "Honchô Nijûshikô".
January 2000: Sôjûrô plays at the Kabukiza the role of Soga Jûrô in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne".
December 2000: Sôjûrô appears on stage for the last time, playing at the Kabukiza the roles of Ranchô and Omiya in the drama "Wakaki Uchina Gusa", which belongs to the Kinokuniya guild. The role of the courtesan Konoito is played by Nakamura Shibajaku.
January 2001: Sôjûrô dies in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Sawamura Sôjûrô IX was an excellent onnagata and nimaime, the worthy heir of his amazing grandfather Sawamura Sôjûrô VII.
Sawamura Sôjûrô IX's best roles: Onoe ("Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"), Otomi ("Kirare Yosa"), Tanzaemon ("Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima"), Yaegiri ("Komochi Yamamba"), Princess Yûshide ("Imorizake").
Sawamura Sôjûrô IX playing the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Kurotegumi Sukeroku" in a print made by Tsuruya Kôkei in July 1982
Print courtesy of Ted Jagoda
The Sawamura Gempei line of actors
The Sawamura Tosshô line of actors
The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors