Stage names:

Iwai Tojaku
Iwai Hanshirô V
Iwai Kumesaburô I

Other name: Shôkaan Eikyû

Nicknames:

Me Senryô (Eyes worth 1000 ryô)
Tojaku Hanshirô
Ôdayû (the Grand Master)

Guild: Yamatoya

Poetry name: Baiga, Tojaku

Existence: 1776 ~ 6 April 1847

Connections:

Father: Iwai Hanshirô IV

Father-in-law: Sawamura Sôjûrô III

Sons: Iwai Hanshirô VI, Iwai Hanshirô VII

Grandson: Iwai Hanshirô VIII

Career:

November 1787: he makes his first appearance on stage in Edo at the Kiriza, receiving the name of Iwai Kumesaburô I.

September 1790: the play "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; it celebrates the onagori kyôgen of the Kamigata star Asao Tamejûrô I; Kumesaburôplays the role of Gotobei's daughter Tokujo [more details].

September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Kumesaburô plays the role of Takumi's sister Otaka in the latter theater [casting].

March 1799: Kumesaburô plays the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Ômiura Date no Nebiki", which was performed at the Nakamuraza [print].

July 1801: Kumesaburô plays the roles of Hinadori and Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Kawarazakiza.

June 1802: first performance at the Kawarazakiza of the play "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami", in which Kumesaburô plays the role of Otatsu [casting].

November 1804: Iwai Kumesaburô I takes the name of Iwai Hanshirô V at the Nakamuraza, playing 3 roles in Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Kiku Zumô Mikurai Sadame".

November 1805: Hanshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Seiwa Genji Nidai no Yumitori".

January 1806: Hanshirô plays in the same theater in the new year drama "Nenriki Sendachi no Sugi".

November 1806: Hanshirô plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Yuki no Michinoku".

March 1807: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the prestigious role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Saruwaka Sakae Soga". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû are Ichikawa Omezô I and Bandô Mitsugorô III (they inverted their roles for the first day of the performance).

July 1807: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Osono in the drama "Reigen Kanaegadake", whose plot and characters belong to the "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" world. His stage partner in the role of Rokusuke is Bandô Mitsugorô III.

May 1808: Hanshirô plays the roles of Okaru and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged in the same theater.

January 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Kokoro no Nazô Toketa Iroito". The main roles are played by Onoe Kikugorô III, Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Iwai Hanshirô V.

March 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Hanshirô plays the role of the courtesan Oshun [casting]. The play ends with a Tomimoto-based dance called "Kaze Sasou Kane mo Yotsudake", starring Hanshirô, Bandô Mitsugorô III and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

May 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Hanshirô plays the roles of Sagoemon's daughter Oyone and Sajûrô's wife Satsuki [casting].

February 1811: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the prestigious role of the courtesan Agemaki [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû are Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

July 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Hanshirô plays the role of Tamamo-no-Mae [more details].

November 1812: Hanshirô moves to the Nakamuraza, starring in the kaomise program "Azuma no Hana Iwai no Dairi".

May 1812: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Okaji and Okyô in the drama "Kiyomizu Seigen Omokage Zakura".

September 1812: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ofude and Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

November 1812: Hanshirô moves to the Moritaza, starring in the kaomise program "Yukimo Yoshino Kigoto no Kaomise".

March 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English "The seven roles of Osome"). The seven roles are played by Hanshirô.

April 1813: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Koman in Namiki Gohei's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime".

November 1813: Hanshirô moves to the Ichimuraza, starring in the kaomise program "Modoribashi Senani Gohiiki".

March 1814: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome" (commonly called "Onna Seigen", in English "The female Seigen") at the Ichimuraza, starring Hanshirô, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

March 1815: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

May 1815: premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome" (commonly called "Oroku to Gantetsu") at the Kawarazakiza, starring Hanshirô, Ichikawa Danjûrô VII, Bandô Mitsugorô III and Matsumoto Kôshirô V.

November 1815: Hanshirô plays at the Kawarazakiza in the kaomise drama "Yamato Meisho Sembon Zakura", which celebrates the shûmei of Segawa Kikunojô V.

March 1816: Hanshirô is the leading actor of the program "Tsubone Iwafuji Hiyoku no Uchikake", which is staged in the same theater and commemorates the 16th anniversary of the death of his father Iwai Hanshirô IV. Hanshirô performs all the roles of a 7-roles dance program called "Edo Murasaki Tamuke no Shichiji":

August 1816: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ohaya and Hanaregoma Chôkichi in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partner in the role of Nuregami Chôgorô is Nakamura Daikichi I.

November 1816: Hanshirô plays at the Kawarazakiza in the kaomise drama "Kiyomori Eiga no Utena".

March 1817: premiere at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Hanshirô plays the roles of Princess Sakura, Fûrin Ohime, Awazu Toshikane's wife Yabase and the okugata of the Yoshida clan Hanjo Gozen [casting].

November 1817: Hanshirô moves to the Nakamuraza, starring in the kaomise program "Hana to Yuki Wagô Taiheiki".

March 1818: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Shirai Gompachi in the drama "Banzui Chôbei Shôjin Manaita". His partners in the roles of Banzuiin Chôbei and Komurasaki are Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Segawa Kikunojô V.

April 1818: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the dance "Sono Sugata ha Hana no Utsushie", ending a program called "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku" (nibanme). Hanshirô, Nakamura Shikan I and Bandô Mitsugorô III play together. This dance, commonly called "Mitsu Ningyô" (literally "The three puppets"), is still in the current Kabuki repertoire.

May 1818: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Omiwa [Utagawa Kunisada I print] in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

July 1818: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Osono [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Katakiuchi Doremo Wazamono", whose plot and characters belong to the "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" world. His stage partner in the role of Rokusuke is Nakamura Shikan I.

August 1818: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kasane in the play "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

November 1818: Hanshirô takes part in the Nakamuraza kaomise program "Ise Heiji Hiiki no Kamikaze". He also plays several roles at the Tamagawaza in the kaomise drama "Shitennô Ubuyu no Tamagawa".

January 1819: Hanshirô plays at the Tamagawaza in the new year program "Ehô Soga Yorozu Yoshiwara".

March 1819: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Soga Jûrô, disguised as a sake-seller, in the play "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura".

April 1819: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the seven roles of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri".

July 1819: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Ohaya, Yamatoya Tojaku, Oseki and the courtesan Azuma in the play "Chômo Hiyoku Yamazaki Odori", whose plot and characters belong to the "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" world.

November 1819: Hanshirô moves to the Kawarazakiza, starring in the kaomise program "Yakko Yakko Edo no Hanayari".

March 1820: revival at the Kawarazakiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome", in which Hanshirô plays the leading roles.

September 1820: Hanshirô tours in Kamigata in the company of Matsumoto Kôshirô V. He plays seven roles in the drama "Aburaya Osome Ukina no Yomiuri", which is performed in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai.

March 1821: Hanshirô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Hanako and Ohatsu in Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome".

June 1821: Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", is revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Hanshirô plays the role of the courtesan Oshun [casting].

July 1821: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Takao [Utagawa Kuniyasu I print] in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

September 1821: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Shirai Gompachi in the drama "Azuma Kotoba Hanakawado". His partners in the roles of Banzuiin Chôbei and Komurasaki are Matsumoto Kôshirô V and Arashi Koroku IV.

November 1821: Hanshirô moves to Kyôto and plays the role of Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged in Kyôto at the Minamigawa no Shibai. He also plays the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie".

December 1821: Hanshirô triumphes in the same theater by playing the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama" and 7 roles in "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri".

Spring 1822: tour in Nagoya. Hanshirô performs at the Tachibana no Shibai in the plays "Yamato Meisho" and "Osome no Nanayaku".

April 1822: tour in Ise. Hanshirô performs in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie".

August 1822: tour in Nagoya. Hanshirô performs at the Tachibana no Shibai in the company of Kamigata actors like Nakayama Shinkurô III, Nakayama Icchô IV and Bandô Jûtarô.

September 1822: Hanshirô is back in Edo and performs in the drama "Gozonji Azuma no Kyara", which is staged at the Kawarazakiza and whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

November 1822: Hanshirô moves to the Ichimuraza for the premiere of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Gohiiki Chikuba no Tomodachi". The main male roles are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII and Onoe Kikugorô III.

November 1822 ~ October 1823: the best year of the Iwai Clan; The tateonnagata for the 3 Edo theaters (Edo Sanza) are Hanshirô (Ichimuraza), Iwai Kumesaburô II (Nakamuraza) and Iwai Shijaku I (Moritaza).

March 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Hanshirô plays the roles of Shirai Gompachi, Murasaki Senchô and Chôbei's wife Ochika [casting].

November 1823: Hanshirô is the leading star of the Ichimuraza kaomise program "Yama Mata Yama Hana no Yamagatsu".

March 1824: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Botan ni Chô Hatsu ga Fumibako", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world. His stage partners in the roles of Onoe and the vile Iwafuji are Iwai Shijaku I and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.

May 1824: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Oyone and Satsuki in Tsuruya Namboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji".

August 1824: Hanshirô plays the roles of Sadaka [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] and Omiwa [Utagawa Toyokuni I print] in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged in the same theater. His son Iwai Shijaku I plays the role of Hinadori.

September 1824: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Oseki in the drama "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki". His stage partner in the role of Oseki's brother Hanaregoma Chôkichi is Ichikawa Danjûrô VII.

November 1824: Hanshirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise program "Yamatogana Heike Monogatari".

January 1825: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Suketsune's wife Nagi no Ha in the new year sogamono "Satsuki no Fuji Soga Hatsuyume". His stage partner in the roles of Kudô Suketsune is Bandô Mitsugorô III.

March 1825: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the role of Kohina in the play "Shiikake no Sode Ukina no Kaemon", in duo with Bandô Mitsugorô III in the role of Kohina's lover Hanbei.

May 1825: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the roles of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

November 1825: Hanshirô performs in the same theater in the kaomise program "Azuma Dairi Kabuki no Shôgatsu".

November 1826: Hanshirô moves to the Nakamuraza and plays the roles of Osen, Princess Shiranui and Minamoto Tametomo's wife Hachijô in the drama "Kaeribana Genji no Kachidoki".

January 1827: the Nakamuraza is destroyed in a fire at the beginning of the month and Hanshirô moves to the Kawarazakiza, playing the roles of Akoya, Okuni and Muragumo in the drama "Ôichiza Soga no Shimadai", sharing the stage with Onoe Kikugorô III (Nagoya Sanza, Soga Jûrô), Ichikawa Danjûrô VII (Kagekiyo, Fuwa Banzaemon, Soga Gorô), Matsumoto Kôshirô V (Jigokudani no Oniô, Shôsuke, Seibei) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Gosho Gorômaru, Kudô Saemon). He also plays the role of Omiwa in "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which ends the program.

April 1827: the Nakamuraza reopens and Hanshirô moves back there to play the seven roles of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri". He also plays 3 roles in the drama "Date Kabuki Kongen no Ishizue".

March 1829: Hanshirô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Sugata no Hana Yayoi no Nishikie", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world. His stage partners in the roles of Onoe and the vile Iwafuji are Iwai Kumesaburô II and Onoe Kikugorô III. Hanshirô falls suddenly ill and has to be replaced by his son Kumesaburô.

March 1832: Hanshirô plays in the same theater the prestigious role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku and Ikyû are Ichikawa Ebizô V and Matsumoto Kôshirô V. Tojaku performs also in Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Sumidagawa Hana no Goshozome". The performance is extended to April but has to be stopped the 13th when Hanshirô falls suddenly ill.

November 1832: great shûmei for the Iwai clan at the Nakamuraza; Iwai Hanshirô V, Iwai Kumesaburô II and Iwai Hisajirô II respectively take the names of Iwai Tojaku, Iwai Hanshirô VI and Iwai Kumesaburô III. They play together in Segawa Jokô II's drama "Goban Tadanobu Yuki no Kuroshiro" and their stage partners are Matsumoto Kôshirô V, Nakamura Shikan II, Ichikawa Yaozô IV and Sawamura Tosshô I.

January 1833: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Koman in the new year program "Hatsushibai Mutsumaji Soga".

May 1833: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Shirai Gompachi in the drama "Mitsu Ichô Gozonji no Edozome". His stage partner in the role of Banzuiin Chôbei is Matsumoto Kôshirô V. Tojaku also plays the role of Chidori in the classic "Hirakana Seisuiki".

July 1833: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Sakuraya no Koman in the drama "Gonin Kiri Koi Ichinichi Gawari", whose plot and characters belong to the "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime" world. His stage partners in the roles of Sasano Sangobei and Satsuma Gengobei are Ichikawa Ebizô V and Nakamura Shikan II.

January 1834: Tojaku plays the role of Oyasu in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. His stage partner in the role of Shunkan is Ichikawa Danzô V.

January 1835: Tojaku plays the role of Maizuru in the new year drama "Musubidai Soga to Karigane", which is staged at Moritaza.

April 1836: his elder son Iwai Hanshirô VI dies.

May 1836: tour in Nagoya. Tojaku plays among others the role of Omiya in the "Sugi Sakaya" and "Goden" scenes of the play "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Tachibana no Shibai.

September 1836: Tojaku plays the role of Omiwa in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Ichimuraza. His stage partners in the roles of Fukashichi (Omiwa's killer), Motome (Omiwa's lover) and Princess Tachibana (Omiwa's rival in love) are Seki Sanjûrô II, Ichimura Uzaemon XII and Bandô Tamasaburô I.

March 1837: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Ura Omote Sakura no Iromaku", whose plot and characters belong to the "Kagamiyama" world. His stage partners in the roles of Onoe and the vile Iwafuji are Ichikawa Danzô V and Ichikawa Ebizô V.

September 1837: Tojaku plays the roles of Osono, Orin and Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Ichimuraza.

January 1838: Tojaku plays in the same theater the roles of Kasane and Masaoka in the drama "Date Kurabe Zensei Soga", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

August 1838: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Shirai Gompachi in the drama "Gohiiki Tamuke no Hanakawado". His stage partner in the role of Banzuiin Chôbei is Ichikawa Ebizô V.

November 1838: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Sagami in the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". His stage partner in the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is Nakamura Utaemon IV.

March 1839: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

August 1839: Tojaku plays the role of Yaoya Oshichi in the drama "Sono Mukashi Koi no Edo Zome", which is staged at the Kawarazakiza.

August 1840: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi", a revised version of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Hakata Kojorô Nami Makura"; Tojaku plays the role of the courtesan Kojorô [casting].

November 1840: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Miyuki in the drama "Kaeribana Yuki no Takeda", whose plot and characters belong to the "Honchô Nijûshikô" world. His stage partners in the roles of Yokozô and Jihizô (Miyuki's sons and rivals) are Ichikawa Ebizô V and Sawamura Tosshô I.

April 1841: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". His stage partner in the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is Sawamura Tosshô I.

May 1841: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Ofune [Utagawa Kunisada I print] in the drama "Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi". His stage partners in the role of Tombei (Oyone's evil father) and Nitta Yoshimine are Ichikawa Ebizô V and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII.

September 1841: Tojaku plays the role of Oseki in "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki. His stage partner in the role of the sumô wrestler Hanaragoma Chôkichi (Oseki's brother) is Onoe Tamizô II.

October 1842: Tojaku takes part in the opening ceremony of the newly-built Nakamuraza in the district of Asakusa Saruwaka-chô, playing in the drama "Kinryûzan Chikai no Ishizue", which is produced by Nakamura Kanzaburô XII; his stage partners are Sawamura Tosshô II, Arashi Kichisaburô III, Onoe Eizaburô III, Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Osagawa Tsuneyo IV, Arashi Izaburô II and Ichikawa Danzaburô V.

March 1844: his son Iwai Shijaku I takes the name of Iwai Hanshirô VII at the Nakamuraza.

July 1844: Tojaku and his son Iwai Hanshirô VII play together at the Nakamuraza in the ghost play "Mukashi Mukashi Oiwa no Kaidan".

January 1845: Tojaku plays in the same theater the role of Temmaya Ohatsu in the new year program "Soga Fûryû Karei no Harugoma", which includes a section whose plot and characters belong to the "Sonezaki Shinjû" world. His stage partner in the role of Hiranoya Tokubei is Ichimura Uzaemon XII.

April 1845: his younger son Iwai Hanshirô VII dies.

January 1846: Iwai Tojaku appears on stage for the last time, at the Kawarazakiza, playing 2 roles in the drama "Kuruwa Moyô Hiyoku no Inazuma". He becomes a shaven-headed priest named Shôkaan Eikyû and retires in the district of Fujishita in Asakusa in order to pray for the souls of his 2 sons.

Comments:

Iwai Tojaku is one of the best onnagata in the Kabuki history, endowed with amazing looks, extraordinary beauty and beautiful voice, who reached the highest levels of fame during the Bunka, Bunsei and Tenpô eras.

"His good looks were rich in charm and sex appeal. Like his father, he specialized in townswomen in sewamono, and he firmly established the akuba type which his father had introduced, playing many of the famous akuba in the plays of Tsuruya Namboku IV." (Samuel Leiter, "New Kabuki Encyclopedia")

Iwai Tojaku playing the role of Omiwa in the dance "Michiyuki Koi no Odamaki" in a print made by Utagawa Kunisada I

Prints of Iwai Tojaku

4 faces

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1799

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1801

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1803

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1808

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada (1811~1813)

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1818

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1825

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1828

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1830

The Iwai Kumesaburô line of actors

The Iwai Hanshirô line of actors