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".
June 1963: Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Yadonashi Danshichi Shigure no Karakasa" is produced for the first time at the Kabukiza; Uzaemon plays the role of Daimonjiya Jihei (commonly called Sakai no Daiji) [casting].
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].
April 1971: revival at the National Theater of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Uzaemon plays the role of Asayama Shuzen [casting].
March 1975: revival at the National Theater of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Jiraiya Gôketsu Monogatari"; Uzaemon plays the roles of Yashagorô and Tsukikage Gunryô Miyukinosuke [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 1982: revival at the National Theater of "Zôhiki", a bombastic play in the aragoto style which belongs to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Uzaemon plays the role of the villain Ôtomo no Kachimaro [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 Shinsui line of actors
The Bandô Hikosaburô line of actors
The Ichimura Uzaemon line of actors and theater managers