Stage names:

Ichimura Takenojô I
Sawai Bennosuke

Other name: Ichimura Uzaemon IV

Guild: Tachibanaya

Crest: Tachibana

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Existence: 1654 ~ 10 September 1718

Connections:

Uncle and adoptive father: Ichimura Uzaemon III

Master: Nakamura Akashi I

Brother: Ichimura Uzaemon V

Career:

1654: born in Edo. His first name is Sawai Bennosuke.

1661: Bennosuke becomes a disciple of Nakamura Akashi I.

1663: he is adopted by his uncle Ichimura Uzaemon III and takes the name of Ichimura Takenojô I.

1664: Ichimura Uzaemon III retires to become a priest; Takenojô becomes at 10 years old the zamoto of the Ichimuraza, managing it in collaboration with Tamagawa Shuzen I.

Fall 1666: Takenojô becomes wakashugata.

February 1667: Takenojô and his adoptive father Ichimura Uzaemon III are invited to perform at the mansion of the daimyô Matsudaira Yamato-no-Kami.

January 1670: the Ichimuraza is renamed Ichimura-Takenojôza; this new name lasts up to 1684.

October 1670: the number of Kabuki theaters in the city of Edo is set to 4 by the authorities. The authorized theaters are the Nakamuraza (in the district of Sakai-chô), the Ichimura-Takenojôza (Fukiya-chô), Moritaza (Kobiki-chô) and the Yamamuraza (Kobiki-chô).

June 1672: Takenojô and his nephew Ichimura Shônosuke are invited to perform at the mansion of the daimyô Matsudaira Yamato-no-Kami.

July 1673: Takenojô and his troupe are invited to perform at the mansion of the daimyô Matsudaira Yamato-no-Kami.

Fall 1674: Takenojô and his troupe are invited to perform at the mansion of the daimyô Matsudaira Yamato-no-Kami.

26 December 1676: a fire breaks out in the district of Hama-chô and burns to ashes the Ichimura-Takenojôza.

April 1679: Takenojô does his isse ichidai performance, a drama which is titled "Saigyô Hôshi Kyôgen". He takes the tonsure during the last day, announces on stage his retirement and entrusts his brother Ichimura Uzaemon V with the management of the Ichimura-Takenojôza. Then he goes to Nikkô to become a priest there. He is back in Edo later on, settling in the Jiseiin Temple in the district of Honjo.

10 September 1718: he dies in Edo.

Comments:

Ichimura Takenojô I was an actor and the zamoto of the Ichimuraza (or Ichimura-Takenojôza) from 1664 to 1679. He created the mon of the Ichimura clan (Tachibana) and the guild name Tachibanaya. He was the first wakashugata in Kabuki history to speak on stage (before him, the wakashugata were only dancers).

In some Kabuki books like "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten", he is in fact considered as Ichimura Takenojô II. In that case, Ichimura Takenojô I is Ichimura Uzaemon III.

The mon of Ichimura Takenojô I (the mandarin orange tree)