Stage names:
Ichikawa Yaozô I
Matsushima Yaozô
Matsushima Kichisaburô
Other name: Ichikawa Chûsha I
Guild: Hôraiya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry names: Teika, Chûsha (1)
Existence: 1730 ~ 19 October 1759
Connections:
Father: Matsushima Moheiji
Master: Ichikawa Ebizô II
Sister: Ichikawa Yaozô II's wife
Career:
1730: born in Kamigata. His father Matsushima Moheiji is a dôkegata.
1737: first stage appearance in Ôsaka, where he plays koyaku roles under the name of Matsushima Kichisaburô.
Fall 1742: Matsushima Moheiji and his son Kichisaburô go together to Edo.
November 1742: Kichisaburô achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza, where he plays koyaku roles in the kaomise drama "Keisei Akazawayama". He is nicknamed Koyaku no Meijin ("the master of children roles").
November 1745: Kichisaburô becomes wakashugata and plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Suehiro Izu Nikki".
November 1746: Matsushima Kichisaburô takes the name of Matsushima Yaozô at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Ôtô no Miya in the kaomise drama "Ame Tsuchi Taiheiki", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actors Arashi Koroku I and Tsuuchi Monzaburô.
January 1748: Yaozô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior). He plays the role of Honda no Jirô in the new year drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga", which is produced at the Nakamuraza.
May 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Yaozô plays the role of Kokingo [casting].
June 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Yaozô plays the role of En'ya Hangan [casting].
November 1749: Matsushima Yaozô becomes disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô II and takes the name of Ichikawa Yaozô I at the Nakamuraza, playing the role of Shinozuka Gorô in the kaomise drama "Onnô Taiheiki".
July 1751: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna", which is staged in Edo at the Nakamuraza [casting]; Yaozô plays the role of Sagisaka Sanai.
November 1753: Yaozô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Hannya Gorô in the kaomise drama "Kamuri Kurabe Yatsushi Kuronushi", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the actor Kasaya Matakurô I.
January 1759: Yaozô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-jû (superior - superior - "ten"). Yaozô appears on stage for the last time, at the Nakamuraza, playing the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Benchô (disguised as Kobayashi no Asaina) in the new year drama "Hatsugai Wada Zakamori".
Comments:
Ichikawa Yaozô I was a promising and popular tachiyaku actor, who unfortunately died too young and did not reach the peak of his art and popularity. Jitsugotoshi, wagotoshi and aragotoshi roles were his forte. He was also the owner of a cosmetics shop located in the district of Yorozu-chô. Because of Ichikawa Yaozô I's popularity, a sweet shop in the district of Sakai-chô decided to make and sell "Yaozô Okoshi", some traditional cakes of sugar-bounded popped rice.
Ichikawa Yaozô I playing a role in the aragoto style in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)
Print made by Torii Kiyomitsu in 1758
The Ichikawa Chûsha line of actors
The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors