Stage names:
Matsumoto Yonesaburô I
Yoshizawa Kichijûrô I
Other name: Matsumoto Yonesa I
Guild: Shôkakuya
Line number: SHODAI (I)
Poetry name: Bunsha
Existence: 1774 ~ 11 March 1805
Connection:
Father: Yoshizawa Ayame IV
Master: Matsumoto Kôshirô IV
Adopted father: Matsumoto Kojirô
Brother: Nakayama Kojûrô VII
Sons: Matsumoto Goroichi, Matsumoto Yonesaburô II
Career:
1774: born in Edo. He receives the name of Yoshizawa Kichijûrô I.
Fall 1775: his father Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III goes back to his native Kamigata. He leaves his boy in the care of the Matsumoto clan.
1775~1779: he becomes the disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, then the adopted son of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV's disciple Matsumoto Kojirô. His new name is Matsumoto Yonesaburô I.
November 1779: Yonesaburô makes his debut at the Ichimuraza, performing as a koyaku in the kaomise drama "Azuma no Mori Sakae Kusunoki".
1791: Yonesaburô becomes wakaonnagata.
November 1791: Yonesaburô achieves a great success at the Nakamuraza by playing the role of Komurasaki in the kaomise drama "Nidai Genji Oshi no Gôkyû".
28 September 1792: his father Yoshizawa Ayame IV dies.
January 1796: premiere at the Kiriza of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi"; Yonesaburô plays the role of Kosan [casting].
September 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Yonesaburô plays the role of Ichimisai's younger daughter Okiku in the former theater [casting].
January 1800: Yonesaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
March 1800: tour in Ise with Ichikawa Omezô I.
April 1800: Yonesaburô goes to Kyôto and plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Okumi in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".
August 1800: Yonesaburô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; the role of Yasuna is played by Arashi Sangorô III.
Fall 1800: Yonesaburô goes to Ôsaka.
November 1800: Yonesaburô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Ohatsu in the drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie"; the roles of Iwafuji and Onoe are played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Sawamura Kunitarô I.
January 1801: Yonesaburô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is only one little white stroke above jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent).
February 1801: Yonesaburô goes to Kyôto and plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Katsura in the drama "Keisei Kakehashi Monogatari".
September 1801: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of Shiba Shisô's drama "Hakone Reigen Izari no Adauchi"; Yonesaburô plays the roles of Mandokoro, Fudesuke's wife and Osada [casting].
November 1801: Yonesaburô plays at the Naka no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Furuki Omotte Aratama no Kaomise", which is produced by the zamoto Arashi Sankichi and celebrates the shûmei of Kanô Minshi I.
January 1802: Yonesaburô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is slightly above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
October 1803: Yonesaburô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Tatsuta-no-Mae, Haru and Tonami in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also plays the role of Yaegiri in the drama "Komochi Yamamba".
Fall 1803: Yonesaburô and Asao Kuzaemon I go together to Edo.
November 1803: Yonesaburô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mutsu no Hana Monomi no Matsu".
January 1804: Yonesaburô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is only one stroke below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He is the kanjiku for wakaonnagata actors.
November 1804: Yonesaburô plays at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mishi Tamadare Yuki no Furusato", which celebrates the shûmei of Suketakaya Takasuke II.
March 1805: Yonesaburô appears on stage for the last time, performing at the Ichimuraza. He suddenly dies the 11th of March 1805.
Comments:
Matsumoto Yonesaburô I was a promising and popular onnagata. He was the heir of a Kamigata actor but was in fact trained in Edo, where he spent most of his short but successful career. He was outstanding in the roles of keisei in sewamono.
Matsumoto Yonesaburô I in a print made by Utagawa Toyokuni I