Stage names:
Suketakaya Takasuke I
Sawamura Chôjûrô III
Sawamura Sôjûrô I
Sawamura Zengorô
Someyama Kijûrô
Other name: Sawamura Tosshi I
Guild: Kinokuniya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Tosshi (1), Kôga
Crest: the syllabic ideogram "i" in a circle [in Japanese: い]
Existence: 1685 ~ 3 January 1756
Connections:
Master: Sawamura Chôjûrô I
Son: Sawamura Kamesaburô
Adopted son: Sawamura Sôjûrô II
Disciples: Sawamura Otoemon II, Sawamura Sôjûrô, Sawamura Somegorô, Sawamura Genjirô, Sawamura Kodenji II, Sawamura Ujûrô, Sawamura Chôshirô I, Sawamura Sôgorô I, Sawamura Unomatsu, Sawamura Chôjûrô IV
Career:
1685 ~ 1715: born in Kyôto. Third son of the samurai Miki Wakasa. His family is very close to the actor Sawamura Chôjûrô I, who accepts to take him as a disciple. After a few years round about his master, he decides to leave Kyôto, following the travelling actor Tamiya Shirogorô. He gives up acting a few years later and learns to play flute in order to become a musician.
1715: he's back on stage and performs in Ise at the Furuichi no Shibai, playing under the name of Someyama Kijûrô.
1716: Sawamura Chôjûrô welcomes him back and gives him the name of Sawamura Zengorô.
November 1716: Zengorô plays with his master in Ôsaka in the drama "Kogane no Ichizô".
February 1717: Sawamura Chôjûrô produces in Ôsaka the plays "Keisei Chibiki no Ishi" and "Keisei Kokusen'ya" in which Zengorô attracts considerable attention, especially in the second play in which he replaces the star Anegawa Shinshirô I, who fell sick at the beginning of the performance, in the prestigious role of Watônai.
1718: he spends a few weeks in Ise and settles in Edo.
November 1718: Sawamura Zengorô takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô at the Moritaza, playing the role of Fujiwara no Takenori in the drama "Zenkunen Yoroi Kurabe". The ideogram "Sô" [in Japanese: 惣] chosen by the actor is the one used for the concept of totality.
January 1720: Sôjûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Soga Jûrô Sukenari in the bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene, included in the new year drama "Yuzuriha Kongen Soga". His stage partner in the role of Soga Gorô Tokimune is Ichikawa Danjûrô II, whose incredible performance is a huge success.
1720: the actor decides to change his ideogram "Sô", using the one meaning the origin [in Japanese: 宗].
January 1721: Sôjûrô plays the role of Soga Jûrô in the new year sogamono "Tsurukame Wakayagi Soga", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô, Kudô Saemon Suketsune and the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) are Ichimura Takenojô IV, Yamanaka Takejûrô and Nakamura Takesaburô I.
November 1721: Sôjûrô takes part in the Ichimuraza kaomise program "Kichirei Imagawajô". He plays the role of Ashikaga Yorikane, sharing the stage with Matsumoto Kôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I and Yamanaka Heikurô I.
January 1722: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater 6 roles, including Soga Jûrô, in the new year program "Yaoya Shinjû".
November 1722: Sôjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Sanada Yoichi and Minamoto Yoritomo in the kaomise program "Hinazuru Katoku Soga".
January 1723: Sôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô in the new year sogamono "Manazuru Kazô Soga". His stage partner in the role of the courtesan Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) is Fujimura Handayû II.
November 1723: Sôjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Nakamitsu in the kaomise program "Hinagata Shûten Dôji", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Ogino Izaburô I.
January 1724: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kawazu Saburô and Soga Tarô in the new year drama "Yomeiri Izu Nikki".
November 1724: Sôjûrô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the role of Hosokawa Katsumoto in the kaomise program "Taiheiki Okuni Kabuki". His stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Yamashita Kinsaku I, Matsumoto Kôshirô I and Ichikawa Monnosuke I.
January 1725: Sôjûrô plays for the first time, in the same theater, the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Funadama Izu Nikki". His performance is well received by the audience and the critics.
November 1725: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Oguri Hangan in the kaomise program "Oguri Chôseiden" ("Oguri in the palace of long life"). His stage partner in the role of Princess Terute is Yamamoto Hanazato.
January 1726: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Watanabe Tsuna in the new year program "Kadomatsu Shitennô", which commemorates the 22nd anniversary of the death of Ichikawa Danjûrô I.
Summer 1726: Sôjûrô performs in the drama "Suehiro Nagoya". He portrays Nagoya Sanza, confronting Ichikawa Danjûrô II in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in a great "Sayaate" scene.
November 1726: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Toriumi Yasaburô in the kaomise program "Kaomise Jûnidan".
January 1727: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô in the new year sogamono "Yuzuriha Gongen Soga". His stage partner in the role of Soga Gorô is Ichikawa Danjûrô II.
March 1727: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II play in the same theater the roles of Seigen and Utsumi Shintarô in the drama "Konrei Otowa no Taki", which includes a koroshiba well received by the audience.
April 1727: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II play in the same theater the roles of the rival warlords Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen in the kaomise drama "Kôyô Gun'u no Hanagasane".
November 1727: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hatake Rokurô Saemon in the play "Yatsumune Taiheiki" [casting]. This program celebrates the return of Ôtani Hiroji I in Edo after 5 years spent in Kyôto. This is also the first stage appearance for Ichikawa Masugorô, the adopted son of Danjûrô.
January 1728: Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II play in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô and Soga Gorô in the new year sogamono "Soga Hôraisan". Their stage partners in the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Kobayashi no Asaina, Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) and Kewaizaka no Shôshô (Gorô's lover) are Ogawa Zengorô I, Ôtani Hiroji I, Kirinami Onoe and Sanjô Kantarô II.
November 1728: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Minamoto Yoshitsune in the kaomise program "Hoshi Kabuto Goban Tadanobu". His stage partners in the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Kyô no Kimi are Sanjô Kantarô II and Sodesaki Iseno I.
January 1729: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the short and bombastic "Ya-no-Ne" scene, which is played within the new year program "Suehiro Ehô Soga". Sôjûrô and Ichikawa Danjûrô II play the leading roles of the brothers Soga Jûrô and Soga Gorô.
November 1729: great kaomise at the Nakamuraza. The 4 tachiyaku Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Bandô Hikosaburô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Sôjûrô perform together in the drama "Ume Goyomi Konrei Nagoya".
Fall 1730: the actors Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ogino Izaburô I, Bandô Hikosaburô I and Sôjûrô play in the drama "Meigetsu Gonin Otoko" ("Five men under the August moon"), which is performed in the same theater [casting].
November 1730: Sôjûrô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Irifune Hiru-ga-Kojima".
January 1731: Sôjûrô plays the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya", which is performed in the same theater [casting].
Spring 1731: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Onitsugu in the drama "Muko Denju Nishiki no Tazuna", whose plot and characters belong to the "Oguri Hangan" world. His stage partners are Nakamura Shichisaburô II (Oguri Hangan), Ogino Izaburô I (Princess Terute), Segawa Kikunojô I (Tsumagi) and Ichikawa Danjûrô II (Gotô Saemon).
November 1731: Sôjûrô performs in the same theater in the kaomise drama "Wagô Ichiji Taiheiki", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata star Sadoshima Chôgorô I.
January 1732: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Hatsugoyomi Ainai Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô and Soga Jûrô are Ogino Izaburô I and Sadoshima Chôgorô I.
September 1732: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama "Ôichô Sakae Kagekiyo" [casting].
November 1732: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Minamoto Yoritomo in the kaomise drama "Yamato Kotoba Imagawajô", which he wrote himself. This kaomise program welcomes in Edo the 2 Kamigata stars Anegawa Shinshirô I and Sakakiyama Koshirô I.
January 1733: Sôjûrô, Anegawa Shinshirô I and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I play the roles of Kihei, Kurofune Chûemon and Shôhei in the drama "Kurofune Deiri Minato", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
March 1733: Sôjûrô performs in the same theater in the drama "Tsuma Goi Sumidagawa", which he cowrote with Eda Yaichi and Kaneko Yasugorô.
June 1733: Sôjûrô, Anegawa Shinshirô I and Ichikawa Sôzaburô I play in the same theater the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi, Godai Saburô and Ôtomo Sanzen in the drama "Urawakami Iroha Komachi".
November 1733: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Yoritomo in the kaomise program "Nagi no Hana Asahi Genji". He welcomes the young actor Takinaka Utagawa, who arrives from Kamigata and settles in Edo.
January 1734: his master Sawamura Chôjûrô I dies in Ôsaka. Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Nitta Shirô and Kyô no Jirô in the new year drama "Jûhakkô Imayô Soga". His stage partner in the role of Kyô no Jirô's wife is Segawa Kikunojô I.
November 1734: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Kamatari in the kaomise drama "Kyôganoko Secchû no Tamatori", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Nakamura Shingorô I.
January 1735: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Oniô Shinzaemon and Kyô no Jirô in the new year sogamono "Meizan Kasane Soga".
November 1735: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Abe no Yasunari in the kaomise program "Tonozukuri Shinoda Zuma". Sôjûrô, in duo with Anegawa Chiyosaburô, achieves a great success in the michiyuki "Shinoda Zuma Michiyuki". There is a shortage of stars in the Nakamuraza line-up, compared to the rival Ichimuraza, and Sôjûrô is the only one to be at the top of the bill.
January 1736: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô in the new year drama "Yûkun Yoroi Soga". His stage partner in the role of Ôiso no Tora (Jûrô's lover) is Anegawa Chiyosaburô. The two actors achieve an amazing success by dancing together in "Keisei Asama-ga-Dake" at the end of the program.
August 1736: Sôjûrô celebrates his final performance at the Nakamuraza, where he spent 13 years. He plays the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Kan Shôjô Nishiki no Tomozuna".
November 1736: Sôjûrô moves to the the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Kimura Bunzô in the kaomise drama "Izu Genji Hôrai Yakata".
January 1737: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Shima no Kanzaemon in the new year drama "Ima ha Mukashi Omokage Soga".
Summer 1737: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the leading role of the play "Fûryû Shuten Dôji".
November 1737: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hasebe Chôbei in the kaomise program "Genji Kumo Ôgi no Shiba". The line-up includes Bandô Hikosaburô I, Tsuruya Namboku II and Tomizawa Montarô I.
January 1738: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Soga Jûrô, Kajiwara Genta and Shiraume Moemon in the new year sogamono "Ukematsuri Mambai Soga". According to the chronicles, the performance is not a success.
Fall 1738: Sôjûrô and Matsumoto Kôshirô II achieve together a great success by playing in the same theater the roles of Tosa Jirô and Sasaki Ganryû in the revenge play "Katakiuchi Ganryûjima".
November 1738: Sôjûrô is back at the Nakamuraza and takes part in the kaomise program "Ume Yakata Inaba no Matsu", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Yodogorô I and the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Tatsuoka Hisagiku.
January 1739: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kyô no Jirô in the new year drama "Kamakurafû Aratama Soga".
August 1739: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the otokodate Tsurigane Yazaemon in the drama "Takaragane Chônin Kagami".
November 1739: Sôjûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise drama "Miyakozome Kaoru Hachinoki"; his stage partners are Yamamoto Kyôshirô I, Ichikawa Danzô I, Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Segawa Kikujirô I and Nakamura Sukegorô I.
January 1740: Sôjûrô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Hime Kazari Nishiki Soga".
November 1740: Sôjûrô welcomes the young wakaonnagata Takinaka Shigenoi as a disciple and gives him the name of Sawamura Shigenoi. He moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Nagoya Sanza in the kaomise program "Kichirei Imagawajô", confronting Bandô Hikosaburô I in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon in a great "Sayaate" scene. His stage partner in the role of the courtesan Katsuragi (Sanza's lover) is Segawa Kikujirô I.
January 1741: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Oniô Shinzaemon in the new year drama "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga".
March 1741: Sôjûrô and the Ichimuraza troupe perform the second part (nibanme) of "Wakamidori Kaneiri Soga", which is a triumphant success.
June 1741: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hagiwara Itsuki in the drama "Katakiuchi Mitsugumi Sakazuki".
July 1741: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the drama "Yotsume Yui Katoku Sadame".
November 1741: Sôjûrô moves to the Nakamuraza, where a great kaomise program is produced to celebrate the arrival in Edo of the actors Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakayama Shinkurô I, Ôtani Hiroji I and Nakamura Shingorô I. Sôjûrô plays the leading role of En'ya Hangan in Hayakawa Denshirô's drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki".
January 1742: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Hida Saburozaemon, Itô Kurô and the otokodate Chôjûrô in the drama "Musume Soga Gaijin Yashima".
July 1742: premiere in Edo at Nakamuraza of the play "Keisei Hangonkô" in which Sôjûrô portrays Nagoya Sanza [casting].
November 1742: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Tôkurô Morinaga in the kaomise program "Keisei Akazawayama".
January 1743: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kyô no Jirô, Shigetada and the otokodate Ume no Yoshibei in the new year drama "Kadomidori Tokiwa Soga". His stage partners are Ôtani Hiroji I (Kurofune Chûemon), Sanogawa Mangiku (Yamabuki) and Nakamura Tomijûrô I (the courtesan Hidaka).
May 1743: special performance at the Nakamuraza related to the exhibition of a sacred image of Shôtoku Taishi in the Shitennôji Temple in the district of Yûshima. Sôjûrô plays the roles of the minister Iname and Ukamuse no Hachibei in the drama "Yamato Morokoshi Aishô Kagami".
Fall 1743: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I play in the same theater the roles of the courtesans Yufuran and Yatsuhashi in the drama "Futari Yatsuhashi". They decide to go back together to Ôsaka.
November 1743: Sôjûrô achieves a great success in Ôsaka by playing the role of Ashikaga Yorikane in Namiki Sôsuke's play "Futatsu Biki Nishiki no Manmaku", which is produced at the Ônishi no Shibai by the zamoto Nakamura Jûzô II. His stage partner in the role of the courtesan Konohana is Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
December 1743: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I play in the same theater the roles of Saitô Shôkurô and the courtesan Tôyama in the drama "Ômonguchi Yoroi Gasane".
March 1744: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Ôtomo no Kuronushi and Ôfude Hachirô in the drama "Ôshû Shinobu Ishi".
September 1744: Sôjûrô performs in the drama "Yuki Moyoi Magaki no Hachinoki", which is staged in the same theater.
October 1744: Sôjûrô moves to Kyôto and takes part in a 10-days long special program commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of his late master Sawamura Chôjûrô I.
November 1744: Sôjûrô is back in Edo. He plays the role of Ise no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Donozukuri Genji Jûnidan", which is staged at the Ichimuraza.
January 1745: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Aburaya Shôkurô and Kagekiyo in the new year drama "Hatsu Goyomi Kotobuki Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Shigetada (Kagekiyo's ennemy) and Akoya (Kagekiyo's lover) are Bandô Hikosaburô I and Onoe Kikugorô I.
May 1745: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Hiranoya Kyûemon in the drama "Sato Gayoi Fujimi Saikyô", whose plot and characters are related to the "Sonezaki Shinjû" world. His stage partners in the roles of Hiranoya Tokubei and Tenmaya Ohatsu are Ichikawa Danzô III and Arashi Tominosuke I.
November 1745: Sôjûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Yoshisada and Akamatsu Norisuke in the kaomise program "Onna Kusunoki Yosooi Kagami", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata onnagata Yoshizawa Ayame II.
January 1746: Sôjûrô performs in the same theater in the new year drama "Kikeba Mukashi Soga Monogatari". Sôjûrô uses back again the old ideogram "Sô" (associated to the concept of totality) only for this performance.
March 1746: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of the sake seller Shimbei in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hanamichi". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku, the courtesan Agemaki and Ikyû are Onoe Kikugorô I, Arashi Tominosuke I and Nakajima Mihoemon I.
May 1746: Sôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Abe no Seimei and Urashima Gorô (V) in the drama "Ichi no Tomi Seiwa Nendaiki". This play is based on the legendary character Urashima Tarô and the playwright introduces several generations of the hero and his heirs: Urashima Tarô (I), Jirô (II), Saburô (III) and Shirô (IV) are played by Ichikawa Ebizô II, Sawamura Harugorô, Sawamura Kijûrô I and Ogino Izaburô I. This unusual play is a triumphant success.
July ~ October 1746: Sawamura Sôjûrô performs for a few months under the name of of Sawamura Chôjûrô III. His favourite disciple Sawamura Harugorô takes the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô (he's not considered as a member of the line) and holds it up to his death in October 1748.
November 1746: Sawamura Chôjûrô III goes to Kyôto where he takes back his previous name of Sawamura Sôjûrô (old ideogram "Sô" associated to the concept of totality), performing in the drama "Tomi Yakata Ômu Kotoba", which is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Kumetarô I. His stage partners are Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Anegawa Shinshirô I, Sanogawa Jûkichi (final performance before his death) and Nakamura Utaemon I.
January 1747: Sôjûrô's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent).
March 1747: Sôjûrô and Nakamura Tomijûrô I perform together in the same theater in the drama "Kuronushi Iroha Mondô".
June 1747: Sôjûrô achieves an amazing success in Kyôto by playing the role of Ôkishi Miyauchi in the drama "Ôyasu Yonjûshichi Hon", which is produced by the zamoto Nakamura Kumetarô I and whose script is based on the famous Akô vendetta.
Fall 1747: Sôjûrô decides to play a jitsuaku role for his last performance in Kyôto in the drama "Kantô Koroku".
November 1747: Sawamura Sôjûrô takes one more time the name of Sawamura Chôjûrô III at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Izu Gunzei Sumô no Nishiki" and sharing the top of the bill with the 2 stars Ichikawa Ebizô II and Segawa Kikunojô I. This performance is a great success.
January 1748: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is dai-goku-jô-jô-kichi (grand - extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the role of Shigetada in the drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga", which is performed at the Nakamuraza.
May 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Chôjûrô plays the roles of Igami no Gonta and Tadanobu [casting].
August 1748: première for the puppets theater in Ôsaka, at the Takemotoza, of the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura", written by Takeda Izumo, Miyoshi Shôraku and Namiki Senryû I. The main thema is the famous Akô vendetta and the vendetta leader puppet (Ôboshi Yuranosuke) reproduces the acting of Sawamura Sôjûrô in the role of Ôkishi Miyauchi (Cf. June 1747).
October 1748: his young disciple Sawamura Sôjûrô dies.
November 1748: Chôjûrô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Onna Moji Heike Monogatari", playing the roles of Tada Kurando and Uji Tsûen.
1749: Chôjûrô adopts the young actor Utagawa Shirogorô.
January 1749: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is shigoku-jô-jô-kichi (exceedingly - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the roles of Yoban Jûnai (Jûnai the night watchman) and Komurasaki Kamon in the new year program "Otoko Moji Soga Monogatari", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
March 1749: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Itô Kurô in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Ie Zakura", sharing the stage with Ichikawa Ebizô II (Sukeroku), Nakamura Shichisaburô II (the sake seller) and Segawa Kikujirô I (Agemaki).
June 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Chôjûrô plays the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke [casting].
November 1749: Chôjûrô achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing the roles of Bingo no Saburô and Hatake Rokurô Saemon in the play "Onnô Taiheiki". His adopted son Utagawa Shirogorô takes officially the name of Sawamura Sôjûrô II at the Moritaza, performing in "Bijo Kurabe Kiso no Kakehashi".
January 1750: Chôjûrô plays the roles of Shigetada and Ume no Yoshibei in the Nakamuraza new year program "Ôkazari Saiwai Soga".
April 1750: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama "Shigetada Kariba Nikki".
May 1750: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kanda Kamonnosuke and Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the drama "Shio Mitsutama Kazaori Komachi".
September 1750: Chôjûrô takes part in the special program "Kanadehon Shijûshichiji" commemorating the first anniversary of the death of Segawa Kikunojô I.
November 1750: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Taira no Kiyomori and Kamata Hyôei in the kaomise program "Wakaki no Ume Taira no Kiyomori".
January 1751: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is shingoku-jôzu-jô-jô-kichi (sincerely extreme - skilled - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the roles of Yaoya Kyûbei and Oniô in the new year program "Izu Kosode Shôbai Kagami", which is staged at the Nakamuraza.
March 1751: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Tôganeya Moemon in the drama "Hinagata Fuji Miru Sato".
July 1751: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna" in which Chôjûrô plays the role of Hachizô's mother [casting].
September 1751: Chôjûrô achieves a great success by playing the role of Nagoya Sanza in the play "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya", which is staged in the same theater. His stage partner in the role of the courtesan Katsuragi, Sanza's lover, is Segawa Kikujirô I.
November 1751: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Sano Genzaemon in the kaomise program "Honryô Hachinoki Zome".
January 1752: Chôjûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki is shin-goku-jô-jô-kichi (truly extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He plays the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Kuruwa Kuruwa Akinai Soga", which is staged at the Nakamuraza. His stage partners in the roles of the brothers Soga Gorô and Soga jûrô are Ichikawa Yaozô I and Sawamura Sôjûrô II.
April 1752: premiere in Edo at the Nakamuraza of the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" in which Chôjûrô plays the role of Rokuyata.
November 1752: Chôjûrô moves to the Ichimuraza and plays the role of Ono no Tôfû in the kaomise program "Ume Sakura Ninin Semimaru".
January 1753: Chôjûrô plays in the same theater the role of Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the new year program "Haru Fukami Iroha Soga", which combines both the Soga Brothers and "Chûshingura" worlds.
25 April 1753: his disciple Sawamura Genjirô dies.
July 1753: the play "Hirakana Seisuiki" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza [casting]. Chôjûrô plays the role of Gonshirô.
November 1753: Sawamura Chôjûrô III moves to the Moritaza and takes the name of Suketakaya Takasuke I, playing 6 roles in the kaomise drama "Masakado Kokyô no Nishiki"; his stage partners are Morita Kan'ya VI, Sawamura Kijûrô I, Sawamura Utagiku, Tsuruya Namboku II, Ichikawa Sôzaburô II and Ogino Yaegiri II.
January 1754: Takasuke plays in the same theater the roles of Hôjô Tokimasa and Gentôta in the new year program "Mitsu Uroko Keisei Kagami".
November 1754: Takasuke becomes zagashira and takes part in the Moritaza kaomise program, playing the roles of Kiichi Hôgen and Suzuki Saburô in the drama "Kiichi Hôgen Shinan-guruma". His stage partners are Sanogawa Ichimatsu I, Azuma Tôzô II, Sawamura Otoemon II and Matsuyama Sanjûrô.
January 1755: Takasuke plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Sono Sugata Ariake Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of the brothers Soga Gorô and Soga jûrô are Matsuyama Sanjûrô and Ichikawa Senzô.
May 1755: Takasuke plays the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke and Amakawaya Gihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Moritaza.
November 1755: Takasuke appears on stage for the last time, at the Moritaza, playing the role of Ôtomo no Kuronushi in the drama "Ôtomo no Kuronushi Sokutai Kagami".
January 1756: Takasuke dies in Edo. His tombstone is located in the precinct of temple Chôenji in the district of Asakusa.
Comments:
Suketakaya Takasuke I was an outstanding actor, able to perform both tachiyaku and onnagata roles. He reached the highest levels of fame and was equally popular in Kyôto, Ôsaka and Edo.
It is worth noting that he wrote around ten plays, brought a turban look-alike hat called sôjûrô zukin into fashion and was the owner of an incense shop in the theater district of Sakai-chô in Edo.
Suketakaya Takasuke I was one of the 4 stars called Shitennô ("the big four", this expression comes from the four Deva kings in Buddhism) by the Edo audience (the three others were Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Bandô Hikosaburô I and Ôtani Hiroji I).
"Sawamura Sôjûrô acted on the Edo stage with Danjûrô, the second,
and is credited with greater versatility than the second Ichikawa.
Born the son of a samurai of rank in Kyôto, he was dismissed from his father's
roof on account of dissipation. At first he served in a subordinate capacity in
the house of Sawamura Chôjûrô. Afterwards he undertook
the duties of a clerk in the theatre, but at last requested to be made a follower
of the Sawamura family. For some reason or other Sawamura refused to bestow his
name upon this theatre upstart, there was a quarrel, and the would-be actor
went off to seek another stage patron.
But as he could find no actor with
sufficient faith in him to lend support, he was obliged to play in the unimportant
theatres of the provinces. He was, therefore, unable to obtain the rank that
would distinguish him as an actor of ability, and had to be content with the stage
leavings, serving in the orchestra or playing small roles.
A reconciliation with his former master was at last effected; he began to play big
roles and was immediately successful. Bad luck, however, pursued him, for recognition
of his ability was delayed. The Ôsaka stage authorities, doubtless for reasons of
their own, were not willing to grant him the rank to which he was entitled.
Sawamura Chôjûrô at last advised him to try his fortune
in Edo.
On his first stage experience in the Shôgun's capital he acted a minor rôle at the
Moritaza, and was not long in making a quick advance.
Within five years he ranked second to Danjûrô,
and after an absence of twenty-six years returned to Ôsaka with all his Edo
Kabuki prestige behind him, and received a warmer welcome than when, as a greenhorn,
he had attempted to obtain stage rank in vain.
One of Sôjûrô's most famous rôles was as Yuranosuke, the leader of the Forty-seven
Rônin. Sôjûrô liked to act ronin, for he was a free-lance himself, and he was seen
in several pieces that had rônin as heroes.
These plays were suppressed by the authorities in order to prevent the loyal retainers
of the feudal lords from becoming dissatisfied. One of Sôjûrô's rônin
plays was based on the real story of the famous Forty-seven, whose master was forced
to commit seppuku. They waited a
good opportunity, and revenged themselves upon the enemy who had caused their
lord's death, and then all took their own lives. The samurai's loyalty to his lord
was not merely a popular stage theme, but in real life this laying down of life for
a cause was characteristic of the people.
As he had been brought up the son of a samurai, he knew the Nô stage, and in all
pieces influenced by the classic drama he was at home. In contrast to Danjûrô
he spoke in the language of everyday life. Danjûrô delivered
his lines as much as possible removed from the speech of ordinary mortals and
their affairs. Sôjûrô did not care for the elaborate make-up that was so thoroughly
characteristic of the first two Ichikawas and the members of their family who
were to come after. Sôjûrô greatly depreciated Danjûrô's
impossibilities. For instance, Danjûrô lifted up a house
with both hands as a symbol of strength, which brought forth criticism from Sôjûrô,
whose faith in the real was so great that he never ventured to stray on the
unknown highways and byways of the unreal." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")
Suketakaya Takasuke I (right) and Matsuyama Sanjûrô (left) playing the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune and Soga Jûrô in the new year sogamono "Sono Sugata Ariake Soga", which was staged at the Moritaza in January 1755
Print made by Okumura Toshinobu (1723~1729)
Print made by Torii Kiyonobu (1736~1737)
The Sawamura Tosshi line of actors
The Sawamura Sôjûrô line of actors
The Suketakaya Takasuke line of actors