Stage names:

Ichimura uzaemon XVII
Bandô Hikosaburô VII
Bandô Shinsui VII
Bandô Kamesaburô III

Real name: Bandô Mamoru

Guilds: Tachibanaya

Line number: JÛNANADAIME (XVII)

Existence: 11 July 1916 ~ 8 July 2001

Connection:

Great-great-grandfathers: Onoe Kikugorô III, Ichimura Uzaemon XI

Great-grandfather: Ichimura Takenojô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XII)

Grandfather: Onoe Kikugorô V (Ichimura Uzaemon XIII)

Father: Bandô Hikosaburô VI

Sons: Bandô Hikosaburô VIII, Ichimura Manjirô II, Kawarazaki Gonjûrô IV

Grandsons: Bandô Kamesaburô V, Bandô Kametoshi, Ichimura Takematsu VI, Ichimura Hikaru

Career:

October 1921: he makes his first stage appearance, at the Imperial Theater, where he receives the name of Bandô Kamesaburô III and plays in the drama "Meigetsu Hachiman Matsuri".

March 1935: Bandô Kamesaburô III takes the name of Bandô Shinsui VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the dance-drama "Otowadake Danmari". Shinsui is one of the haimyô used by the Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors and Bandô Shinsui VII is the first actor to use it as a stage name.

October 1942: Bandô Shinsui VII takes the name of Bandô Hikosaburô VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the dance-drama "Futaomote".

September 1947: premiere at the Imperial Theater of Atsumi Seitarô's version of "Nansô Satomi Hakkenden"; Hikosaburô plays the roles of Inukawa Sôsuke and Yamabayashi Fusahachi [casting].

October 1955: Bandô Hikosaburô VII takes the name of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII at the Kabukiza, playing the role of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki in the jidaimono "Ishikiri Kajiwara".

October 1965: Uzaemon takes part in the first Kabuki tour in Western Europe; he plays the roles of Matsuômaru, Tanzaemon and Yuranosuke in the plays "Kurumabiki", "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima" and "Kanadehon Chûshingura" [casting].

January 1979: tour in the Popular Republic of China.

January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the National Theater; Uzaemon plays the role of Ema no Koshirô Yoshitoki [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theater of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Uzaemon plays the role of Umezu Kanimori [casting].

June 1987: tour in USSR.

September 1988: tour in South Korea.

1990: Uzaemon receives the prestigious title of Living National Treasure (ningen kokuhô in Japanese).

Comments:

Ichimura Uzaemon XVII was one of the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century, excelling in aragoto roles.

Ichimura Uzaemon XVII playing the role of Soga Gorô in the bombastic drama "Ya-no-Ne" (painting made by Hasegawa Noboru in June 1958)

The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors

The Ichimura Uzaemon line of actors