Stage names:

Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I
Asao Gakujûrô
Asao Yûjirô I
Nakamura Yaozô
Asao Yaozô

Guild: Izutsuya

Line number: SHODAIME(I)

Poetry name: Enjaku

Existence: 1782 ~ 4th day of the 11th lunar month of 1835

Connections:

Masters: Asao Kuzaemon I, Nakamura Nakazô II

Adopted sons: Jitsukawa Yûjirô I, Jitsukawa Gakujûrô II

Disciples: Jitsukawa Yaozô, Asao Kuzaemon III

Family map: the Jitsukawa Clan

Career:

1795: he starts his career in Ôsaka as a disciple of Asao Kuzaemon I, who gives him the name of Asao Yaozô.

1796: he becomes disciple of Nakamura Nakazô II and takes the name of Nakamura Yaozô.

11th lunar month of 1796: Nakamura Nakazô II dies.

1809: Yaozô goes back to his first master and he takes the name of Asao Yûjirô I.

1st lunar month of 1810: Yûjirô goes to Edo and plays at the Moritaza 2 roles in the drama "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô".

3rd lunar month of 1817: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's masterpiece "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshô"; Yûjirô plays the role of the yakko Gunsuke [casting].

1818: Yûjirô goes back to Kamigata.

6th lunar month of 1821: Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", is revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Yûjirô plays the role of Tsugawa Mondo [casting].

1st lunar month of 1822: he receives the patronage of the star Nakamura Utaemon III; Asao Yûjirô I takes the name of Asao Gakujûrô, playing in the drama "Keisei Somewake Tazuna", which is produced at the Naka no Shibai by the zamoto Asao Yosaburô.

8th lunar month of 1824: his master Asao Kuzaemon I dies.

1st lunar month of 1827: Gakujûrô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

1st lunar month of 1830: Gakujûrô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent). He is also the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

1st lunar month of 1833: Asao Gakujûrô and Asao Enzaburô take the respective names of Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I and Jitsukawa Enzaburô I. This is the foundation of the Jitsukawa clan. Gakujûrô plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Yokoyama Tarô, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Yorozuya Chôbê and Hosokawa Masamoto in the drama "Hime Kurabe Futabae Zôshi", which is produced by Arashi Takejirô. Gakujûrô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is (shiro)ô-jô-jô-kichi (almost grand - superior - superior - excellent).

3rd lunar month of 1835: Gakujûrô achieves a great success by playing at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Kan Shôjô and Takebe Genzô in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

7th lunar month of 1835: Gakujûrô plays at the Kado no Shibai 4 roles in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

10th lunar month of 1835: Gakujûrô suddenly falls ill and dies in Ôsaka in the 11th lunar month. His tombstone is located in the cemetery of the Honshôji Temple in the district of Tanimachi.

Comments:

Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I was a talented tachiyaku, who started his career in Ôsaka minor theaters (hama shibai), spent 8 years in Edo and became one of the best zagashira in Kamigata. He excelled in wagotoshi, jitsugotoshi and budôgoto roles. He was also able to play wakaonnagata roles.

Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I was the founder of the Jitsukawa clan.

Jitsukawa Gakujûrô I playing the role of Tsuji Yôsuke in the drama "Keisei Hanabusa Zôshi", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1835 at the Naka no Shibai (print made by Hokuei)

Print made by Shunshosai Hokuchô in 1829

Print made by Utagawa Shigeharu in 1831

The Asao Yûjirô line of actors

The Jitsukawa Gakujûrô line of actors