Stage names:
Ichikawa Datejûrô I
Ichikawa Yaozô IV
Iwai Kiyotarô II
Iwai Karumo
Other name: Ichikawa Chûsha IV
Guild: Tachibanaya
Line number: YODAIME (IV)
Poetry name: Chûsha (4)
Existence: 1772 ~ 3 July 1845
Connections:
Masters: Ichikawa Yaozô III, Iwai Hanshirô IV
Son-in-law: Nakamura Utaemon IV
Career:
1782: he starts his career as a disciple of the star Iwai Hanshirô IV, who gives him the name of Iwai Karumo.
November 1787: Iwai Karumo takes the name of Iwai Kiyotarô II at the Moritaza, playing in the drama "Tsuranaru Edamure Takamatsu".
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; Kiyotarô plays the role of Izumi's wife Takanoya [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; Kiyotarô plays the role of Ichimisai's younger daughter Okiku in the latter theater [casting].
June 1797: the dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no seki no To" is revived for the first time, at the Kiriza; Kiyotarô plays the roles of Ono no Komachi, the courtesan Sumizome and the spirit of Komachi's cherry tree [casting].
March 1800: his master Iwai Hanshirô IV dies. Later on, Kiyotarô becomes disciple of the actor Ichikawa Yaozô III.
November 1804: his master takes the name of Suketakaya Takasuke II at the Ichimuraza; Iwai Kiyotarô II takes the name of Ichikawa Yaozô IV at the Nakamuraza, during the great shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô V, playing in the drama "Kiku Zumô Mikurai Sadame".
November 1806 ~ 1813: long stay in Kamigata.
March 1813: Yaozô goes back to Edo and plays at the Nakamuraza 3 roles in the drama "Sono Omokage Date no Utsushie".
December 1818: his second master Suketakaya Takasuke II dies.
1819 ~ 1827: he becomes a travelling actor and performs under the name of Ichikawa Datejûrô I.
Fall 1827: Datejûrô goes back to Edo.
November 1827: Ichikawa Datejûrô I takes back the name of Ichikawa Yaozô IV at the Nakamuraza, playing the roles of the gold trader Kichiji and Motoyoshi Shirô Tadahira in the drama "Kinbusen Yosooi Genji".
March 1828: Yaozô plays in the same theater the roles of Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Kojirô in the epic drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of the warrior Kumagai Jirô Naozane is played by Nakamura Shikan II.
November 1828: his yearly salary for the new season at the Nakamuraza is 250 ryô.
March 1829: Yaozô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kokingo and Suruga Jirô in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
August 1830: Yaozô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Koganosuke in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
June 1834: Yaozô achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing the roles of Oiwa, Kohei and Yomoshichi in Tsuruya Namboku IV's masterpiece "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".
September 1834: Yaozô appears on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza, playing the roles of Sakuramaru and Kakuju in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He retires from the theater world and dies in Edo in July 1845.
Comments:
Ichikawa Yaozô IV made a career in acting with many direction changes: he started as a wakaonnagata actor, trained by Iwai Hanshirô IV, one of the best Edo onnagata. He left the Iwai clan to join Ichikawa Yaozô III and became a tachiyaku actor. Then he became a travelling actor and left Edo for nine years (1819~1827). Back in Edo, his popularity started to slowly but surely rise again but he left the theater world before reaching the jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) rank which he was worthy to receive.
His forte were jitsugotoshi roles and roles in the wagoto style. He was also said to be an excellent dancer.
Ichikawa Yaozô IV portraying the sumô wrestler Konjin Chôgorô in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni III (1862~1863)
Ichikawa Yaozô IV's prints and illustrations
Print made by Utagawa Kuniharu
The Ichikawa Chûsha line of actors
The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors