Stage names:

Ôkawa Hashizô I
Onoe Kikugorô III
Onoe Baikô III
Onoe Matsusuke II
Onoe Eizaburô I

Others names:

Onoe Baiju
Kikuya Manbei

Nickname: Baiju Kikugorô

Guild: Otowaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry names: Baikô (3), Baiju, Gachô, Sanchô

Existence: 1784 ~ 24th day of the 4th lunar month of 1849 ^[1]

Connections:

Adoptive father: Onoe Shôroku I

Father-in-law: Ogino Izaburô II

Sons: Onoe Matsusuke III, Onoe Eizaburô IV, Onoe Kikunosuke

Son-in-laws: Onoe Kikugorô IV, Ichimura Uzaemon XII

Grandson: Onoe Kikugorô V, Onoe Asajirô

Great-grandsons: Onoe Kikugorô VI, Onoe Baikô VI, Bandô Hikosaburô VI

Great-great-grandsons: Ichimura Uzaemon XVII, Onoe Kurôemon II, Onoe Eizaburô VII, Onoe Taijirô

Great-great-great-grandsons: Nakamura Kanzaburô XVIII, Bandô Rakuzen, Ichimura Manjirô II, Kawarasaki Gonjûrô IV, Onoe Eizaburô VIII

Great-great-great-great-grandsons: Nakamura Kankurô VI, Nakamura Shichinosuke II, Bandô Hikosaburô IX, Bandô Kamezô III, Onoe Ukon II, Ichimura Takematsu VI, Ichimura Hikaru

Great-great-great-great-great-grandsons: Nakamura Kantarô III, Nakamura Chôzaburô II, Bandô Kamesaburô VI

Disciples: Onoe Shôroku, Onoe Kikujirô I, Onoe Kikujirô II, Onoe Tamizô II, Onoe Kanijûrô I

Career:

1784: born in Edo in the district of Kodenma-chô. His father was a tateguya named Senjirô. His first name was Tatsugorô.

1787 (?): he was adopted by Onoe Matsusuke I and his first name became Shinzaburô.

11th lunar month of 1788: he made his first appearance on stage, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he received the name of Onoe Eizaburô I and performed as a koyaku in the kaomise drama "Genji Saikô Kogane no Tachibana", which starred the actors Ichikawa Danjûrô V, Iwai Hanshirô IV, Segawa Kikunojô III, Bandô Hikosaburô III, Onoe Matsusuke I and Ôtani Hiroemon III and celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Asao Tamejûrô I..

8th lunar month of 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Chôbê Shôjin Manaita"; Eizaburô played the role of the yakko Matahei [casting].

11th lunar month of 1804: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Katsu Hyôzô I's kaomise drama "Shitennô Momiji no Edoguma"; Eizaburô played the roles of Minamoto Raikô and the tôzoku Hakamadare no Yasu (in reality Hirai Yasusuke) [casting].

6th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Iroeiri Otogi Zôshi" ^[2]; Eizaburô played the roles of Midajirô Tokitsuna, Funakoshi Sanpei, the tôzoku Osakake Tarô (in reality Akamatsu Jirô), the edokko Hachirobê and Samezaya Shinsuke [casting].

7th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Toki-mo Kikyô Shusse no Ukejô"; Eizaburô played the role of Mori no Ranmaru [casting].

1st lunar month of 1809: Eizaburô played at the Moritaza the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Iba no Jûzô in the new year sogamono drama "Gohiiki Aratama Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Kudô Saemon Suketsune were played by Onoe Monzaburô II and Bandô Mitsugorô III.

3rd lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Fukumori Kyûsuke I's drama "Sono Mukashi Koi no Edo-zome"; Eizaburô played the roles of Kichisaburô and Goshaku Somegorô [casting].

6th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Okuni Gozen Keshô no Sugatami"; Eizaburô played the roles of Tenjiku Tokubê, Dainichimaru, Tokuichi, Iwakura Yashamaru, Tosa Matahei Shigeoki, Fuwa Banzaemon, Kizugawa Yoemon, Kasane and Nagoya Sanza Motoharu [casting].

11th lunar month of 1809: great shûmei at the Ichimuraza for the Otowaya guild; Onoe Matsusuke I and Onoe Eizaburô I respectively took the names of Onoe Shôroku I and Onoe Matsusuke II, performing in Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II kaomise drama "Misao no Hana Toba no Koizuka"; Matsusuke played the roles of Sutoku Shin'in, Taira no Kiyomori, Monokawa no Kurando Mitsusada and the ueki-uri Goennichi no Matsu (in reality Minamoto no Tomonaga) [more details]. His son made his first stage appearance, receiving the name of Onoe Eizaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Matsusuke played the role of Omatsuri Sashichi [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I's drama "Kachi Zumô Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Matsusuke played the role of Tsugawa Mondo [casting].

5th lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hyôzô I and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gappô-ga-Tsuji"; Matsusuke played the roles of Unzari Omatsu and Yohei [casting].

11th lunar month of 1813: Matsusuke played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Minamoto no Yoshiie, the female kani Koiso and the yamabushi Sanchôin in the kaomise drama "Okudôsha Bandô Junrei", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakamura Matsue III.

1st lunar month of 1814: Matsusuke's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was two black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1814: Onoe Matsusuke II and his son Onoe Eizaburô II respectively took the names of Onoe Baikô III and Onoe Matsusuke III at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Ninin Muko Mikurai Sadame".

1st lunar month of 1815: Baikô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was three black strokes above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

7th lunar month of 1815: Baikô played in the same theater the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

16th day of the 10th lunar month of 1815 ^[3]: his adoptive father Onoe Shôroku I died.

11th lunar month of 1815: Onoe Baikô III took the name of Onoe Kikugorô III at the Nakamuraza, performing several role, including the spectacular spirit of the Earth-Spider, in Fukumori Kyûsuke I's kaomise drama "Shitennô Oedo no Kaburaya".

1st lunar month of 1816: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. Premiere at the Nakamuraza of the new year sogamono drama "Hiyoku no Chô Haru no Soga Giku". This new year drama mixed two sekai: it was a sogamono and a gonpachi-komurasakimono ^[4]; Kikugorô played the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Shiratsuka Jûemon, Komurasaki and Honjô Sukeichi [more details].

7th lunar month of 1816: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of En'ya Hangan, Hayano Kanpei and Satô Yomoshichi in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1816: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane, Hosokawa Katsumoto and Fûrin Matsugorô in the kaomise drama "Fuwa Nagoya Yuki no Dategasa".

1st lunar month of 1817: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)kô-jô-jô-kichi ((white) meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

4th lunar month of 1817: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Hachiman Tarô Yoshiie in the drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara".

11th lunar month of 1817: Kikugorô performed at the Miyakoza in the kaomise drama "Muro no Ume Hôgan Biiki", which celebrated the shûmei of Arashi Sanpachi II, Matsumoto Kingo I and Onoe Kôzô I.

1st lunar month of 1818: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

3rd lunar month of 1818: premiere at the Miyakoza of the 7-role hengemono "Miyama no Hana Todokanu Edaburi", starring Kikugorô in the seven roles. One of these roles was "Kosode Monogurui" ("the short-sleeved garment madness") ^[5].

4th lunar month of 1818: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba".

Summer ~ Winter 1818: tour in Nagoya with Iwai Hanshirô V.

3rd lunar month of 1819: Kikugorô went back to Edo to perform at the Nakamuraza; he played the role of Sukeroku in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Momoyogusa"; the roles of Agemaki and Ikyû were played by Iwai Kumesaburô II and Nakamura Shikan I.

4th lunar month of 1819: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Kan Shôjô and Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

6th lunar month of 1819: Kikugorô moved to the Kawarasakiza where he played seven roles ^[8] in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Ura Moyô Kiku no Date-zome", a play whose plot and characters belongted to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

11th lunar month of 1819: Kikugorô performed at the Tamagawaza in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Nana Komachi Yagura no Amagoi", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Fujikawa Tomokichi II and Nakayama Tatezô II, and celebrated the shûmei of both Sawamura Tôjûrô I and Fujikawa Tomokichi II.

1st lunar month of 1820: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

3rd lunar month of 1820: premiere at the Tamagawaza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Sakura Butai Maku no Datezome"; Kikugorô played the roles of Akamatsu Hikojirô, Nikki Danjô, Kosuke, Masaoka and Ashikaga Sakingo Yorikane [casting].

7th lunar month of 1820: short stay in Ôsaka; Kikugorô played at the Kado no Shibai seven roles ^[7] in the drama "Kikuzuki Irifune Monogatari".

11th lunar month of 1820: Kikugorô performed at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Ise Heiji Ume no Mitegura", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Tamizô II, Ôtani Monzô II and Iwai Kiyotarô IV.

1st lunar month of 1821: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

7th lunar month of 1821: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Kumoi no Hareginu", which mixed the sekai of Gion no Nyôgo, the Two Shinbê ("Ninin Shinbê") and Tamamo-no-Mae; Kikugorô played the roles of Kohata Saemon Mitsukiyo, Oryû's brother Yokozone Heitarô, Kisaki, Tamamo-no-Mae, Kyûbi no Kitsune (the nine-tailed fox) and Tamaya Shinbê [more details].

9th lunar month of 1821: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kiku no En Tsuki no Shiranami"; Kikugorô played the roles of the rônin Ono Sadakurô, the tôzoku Akatsuki Hoshigorô (in reality Sadakurô) and Onoda Shôgetsu (in reality Sadakurô) [more details].

11th lunar month of 1821 (end of the month): premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Imoseyama Hitome Senbon", which mixed the "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" worlds; Kikugorô played the roles of Satô Tadanobu, Igami no Gonta, Kajiwara Genta Kagesue, Nasu no Yoichi and the farmer Fukashichi [casting].

1st lunar month of 1822: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He was the kanjiku for tachiyaku actors.

9th lunar month of 1822: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Ashikaga Yorikane, Hanyû no Sukeshichi, Kizugawa Kingorô and Matsugae Sekinosuke Terumitsu in the drama "Gozonji Azuma no Kara", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Tomisaburô II.

11th lunar month of 1822: Kikugorô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Gohiiki Tsuwamono no Majiwari", which welcomed back Iwai Hanshirô V in Edo and celebrated the shûmei of Kikugorô's disciple Onoe Kikujirô I and Nakayama Kinsha.

12th lunar month of 1822: premiere at at the Ichimuraza of the danmari "Ichiharano no Danmari"; Kikugorô played the role of Hirai Yasumasa [more details].

1st lunar month of 1823: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Yaegasumi Soga no Kumiito"; Kikugorô played the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Ôtônai Narikage (in reality Ômi Kotôta Nariie), Soga Jûrô Sukenari, the carpenter Rokusaburô (in reality Kanbara Sashichirô) and Fukushimaya Seibê [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Ukiyogara Hiyoku no Inazuma"; Kikugorô played the roles of Nagoya Sanza and the courtesan Miuraya Komurasaki [casting].

6th lunar month of 1823: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Kesakake Matsu Narita no Riken", starring Kikugorô and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII in the roles of Kasane and Yoemon ^[6].

7th lunar month of 1823: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's natsu kyôgen "Torimazete Sekison Miyage"; Kikugorô played the roles of Sawai Matagorô and the gofukuya Jûbê (later Tomiokaya Sôroku) [casting].

11th lunar month of 1823: Kikugorô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaeri Giso Kiku no Hitomure".

1st lunar month of 1824: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1824: Kikugorô performed at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Otokoyama Toritate Genji".

1st lunar month of 1824: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's new year sogamono drama "Okuni-iri Soga Nakamura"; Kikugorô played the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari, Shirai Gonpachi (later the keisei Komurasaki), Akaneya Hanshichi and Izutsuya Denbê [casting].

7th lunar month of 1825: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kanpei and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". Premiere at the Nakamuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's ghost play "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan"; Kikugorô played the roles of Iemon's wife Tamiya Oiwa, Kobotoke Kohei and Satô Yomoshichi [casting].

Fall 1825: Kikugorô went to Kamigata with Onoe Kikujirô I.

11th lunar month of 1825: Kikugorô performed at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Ume no Naniwa Hayazaki Genji", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakayama Bungorô II; Kikugorô's main stage partners were Fujikawa Tomokichi II, Arashi Koroku IV (who made his last stage appearances) and Asao Kunigorô III.

1st lunar month of 1826: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

7th lunar month of 1826: Kikugorô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai seven roles in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi".

Fall 1826: Kikugorô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1826: Kikugorô performed at the Nakamuraza in Tsuruya Nanboku IV's kaomise drama "Kaeribana Genji no Kachidoki".

1st lunar month of 1827: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

6th lunar month of 1827: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Gojûsan Tsugi"; Kikugorô played the roles of the umakata Sankichi (in reality Date no Yohachirô, later Nippon Daemon using the name of Kuwanaya Tokuzô), Akibayama no Sanjakubô, the carpenter Konishi no Hachi, Hirai Gonpachi and Takemura Sadanoshin [casting].

11th lunar month of 1827: Kikugorô performed at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Muro no Ume Hôgan Biiki", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Nakamura Karoku I and Nakamura Kinji and celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Iwagorô, Onoe Sukejirô, Kataoka Kyôshirô and Segawa Ayame.

1st lunar month of 1828: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1828: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Igami no Gonta, Shizuka Gozen and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan (in reality Taira no Noritsune) in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

4th lunar month of 1828: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

11th lunar month of 1828: not recorded in any Edo kaomise.

1st lunar month of 1829: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (hanshiro)itaru-jô-jô-kichi ((half-white) unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Akazawa Jûnai, Omatsuri Sashichi, Oniô Shinzaemon and Soga Gorô Tokimune in the new year sogamono drama "Iro Ichiza Soga Ôyose".

3rd lunar month of 1829: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Sugata no Hana Yayoi no Nishikie" (similar to "Kagamiyama"), which was staged to commemorate the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the passing away of Kikugorô's adoptive father Onoe Shôroku I; the roles of Ohatsu and Onoe were played by Iwai Hanshirô V and Iwai Kumesaburô II.

21st day of the 3rd lunar month ^[9]: a fire broke out from the shop of Owariya Tokuemon, in the district of Kanda Sakuma-chô. It spread and destroyed the Edo theaters district. The Nakamuraza, the Ichimuraza and the Kawarasakiza were burnt to ashes. Kikugorô decided to go on tour to the Kaga Province.

8th lunar month of 1829: Kikugorô performed in Ise at the Furuichi Shibai in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi".

11th lunar month of 1829: Kikugorô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Akamatsu Hikoshirô, Masaoka and the daiku Rokusa in the kaomise drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". He also played the roles of Takebe Genzô, Kan Shôjô and Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1830: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1830: Kikugorô played at the Takeda no Shibai the roles of Takebe Genzô, Kan Shôjô and Sakuramaru in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

Spring 1830: tour in Sanuki and Onomichi.

8th lunar month of 1830: Kikugorô performed in Sakai.

10th lunar month of 1830: Kikugorô played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1830: Kikugorô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai (Kyôto) the role of Kan Shôjô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also played the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

1st lunar month of 1831: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1831: Kikugorô played at the Wakadayû no Shibai (Ôsaka) the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Ono no Sadakurô, Hayano Kanpei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which was staged to commemorate the 49th anniversary (50th memorial service) of late Onoe Kikugorô I. He also performed in "Yotsuya Kaidan" and "Ise Ondo".

Fall 1831: Kikugorô went back to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1831: Kikugorô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Edo-gonomi Kiku no Date-zome".

1st lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

8th lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô played at the Kawarasakiza seven roles ^[10] in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi".

9th lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Kô no Moronô, Hayano Kanpei, Konami, Ono no Sadakurô and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Bandô Musha Tsunagate Hajime".

1st lunar month of 1833: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was itaru-jô-jô-kichi (unique - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Okaru, Ono no Kudayû, Kayano Sanpei and Amakawaya Rihei in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

8th lunar month of 1832: Kikugorô played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Hayano Kanpei, Osono and Ono no Kudayû in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1833: Kikugorô performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Koi Yoriiru Tsui no Yumitori".

12th lunar month of 1833: Kikugorô built his own yashiki (borrowing ryô to do it) in the village of Terashima in Honjo.

1st lunar month of 1834: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He shared the same rank with Ichikawa Ebizô V.

4th lunar month of 1834: tour in Kuwana with Arashi Kanjûrô I, Ichikawa Sumizô III, Onoe Eizaburô III, Onoe Matsusuke III, Nakajima Kanzaemon VI and Nakamura Kinji; Kikugorô played at the Kasuga Shibai the roles of Nikki Danjôzaemon Naonori, Masaoka and the daiku Rokusa in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". He also played the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo".

7th lunar month of 1834: Kikugorô played in the same theater seven roles ^[11] in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi".

2nd lunar month of 1835: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Ume no Haru Gojûsan Tsugi" ^[12]; Kikugorô played the roles of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, Kuwanaya Tokuzô, Shirai Gonpachi, Dozaemon Denkichi, the ghost of the cat-stone, Izu no Jirô, the tôzoku Inaba Kôzô (in reality Shimizu no Kanja Yoshitaka) and the rônin Yasumori Genjirô (in reality Shimizu no Kanja Yoshitaka).

8th lunar month of 1835: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Kakogawa Honzô, Ôta Ryôchiku, Ono no Kudayû, Kô no Moronô and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1835: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Kan Shôjô, Sakuramaru, Shundô Genba and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

1st lunar month of 1836: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

7th lunar month of 1836: Kikugorô played at the Moritaza the role of Takeda Katsuyori in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". He also played the roles of Satô Yomoshichi, Tamiya Oiwa, Kobotoke Kohei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan".

9th lunar month of 1836: Kikugorô played in the same theater the role of Nagoya Sanza in the drama "Nagoya Obi Kumo-ni Inazuma".

1st lunar month of 1837: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1837: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the roles of the ghost of Iwafuji, Kotengû Chôshichi, the hyakushô Sakujirô from the village of Terashima and Shimizu no Kanja Yoshitaka in Tsuruya Nanboku V's drama "Yayoi no Hana Oedo no Irifune", which commemorated the 22nd anniversary (23rd memorial service) of the passing away of Kikugorô's adoptive father Onoe Shôroku I

8th lunar month of 1837: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Hayano Kanpei and Momonoi Wakasanosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1837: Kikugorô performed at the Kawarasakiza (which celebrated its reopening!) in the kaomise drama "Sekai ha Taira Ume no Kaomise".

1st lunar month of 1838: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1838: Kikugorô performed at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Sanmon Hitome Senbon", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actors Nakamura Shikan II, Arashi San'emon IX, Nakamura Tsuruzô I, Nakamura Kan'emon, Nakamura Tsurugorô, Nakamura Komasuke, Nakamura Kaei and Asao Okuyama. He also played the role of Igami no Gonta in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

6th lunar month of 1838: Kikugorô played in the same theater seven roles ^[13] in the drama "Kanete Kiku Oie no Bakemono" (a drama similar to "Tenjiku Tokubê").

11th lunar month of 1838: Kikugorô made his isse ichidai performance, in Edo at the Nakamuraza, where he performed in the drama "Isse Ichidai Kuriki no Myônoji" ^[14].

1st lunar month of 1839: Kikugorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

1st lunar month of 1840: Kikugorô was back on stage, in Edo at the Kawarasakiza, where he played several roles, including Soga Jûrô Sukenari, in the new year sogamono drama "Ume Sakuya Wakagiba Soga".

Fall 1841: Kikugorô went to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1841: Kikugorô played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of Kajiwara Genta Kagesue in the drama Hirakana Seisuiki. He also played the roles of Okiku and Kizu no Kôsuke in the drama "Oto-ni Kiku Azuma no Omiyage".

1st lunar month of 1841: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

4th lunar month of 1841: Kikugorô went to Ôsaka and played at the Kado no Shibai seven roles ^[15] in the drama "Ume no Haru Gojûsan Tsugi".

8th lunar month of 1841: Kikugorô played at the Ônishi no Shibai (Ôsaka) the roles of Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Kô no Moronô, Hayano Kanpei and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also played the roles of Sakuramaru, Takebe Genzô and Kan Shôjô in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Okaru, Tonami and Yae were played by Arashi Tokusaburô III.

9th lunar month of 1841: Kikugorô played in the same theater the roles of Tokubê and Kikuichi in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi". He also played the roles of Tamiya Oiwa, Kobotoke Kohei and Satô Yomoshichi in the drama "Tenjiku Tokubê Ikoku Banashi" (which included scenes from "Yotsuya Kaidan").

1st lunar month of 1842: Kikugorô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was goku-jô-jô-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

3rd lunar month of 1842: Kikugorô played at the Naka no Shibai the roles of the ghost of Iwafuji, Matsuwakamaru and the yakko Monohei in the drama "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Omokage" (a drama belonging to the sekai of "Kagamiyama"). He also played the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba".

Spring or Summer 1842: Kikugorô went on tour in Ise, then went back to Edo. The sumptuary laws of the Tenpô reforms, led by Mizuno Tadakuni and started in 1841, were enforced and the Kabuki world was heavily targeted: the theaters had to move to the remote district of Saruwaka-chô, performances within the precincts of temples or shrines were forbidden, actors prints were temporarily proscribed and the Edo star Ichikawa Ebizô V was exiled to Kamigata.

8th lunar month of 1842: Kikugorô's yearly salary was reduced to 500 ryô.

5th lunar month of 1843: Kikugorô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Hayano Kanpei and Ôboshi Yuranosuke in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He also played the roles of Kan Shôjô, Sakuramaru, Takebe Genzô and Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

3rd lunar month of 1844: Kikugorô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the shirozake seller Shinbê in the drama "Sukeroku Kuruwa no Momosakura"; the roles of Sukeroku, the courtesan Agemaki and the villain Ikyû were played by Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Iwai Hanshirô VII and Matsumoto Kôshirô VI.

7th lunar month of 1845: Kikugorô played at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Kô no Moronô, Ono no Kudayû and the koshimoto Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1845: Kikugorô performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana no Sakazuki Ôeyama", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Kikujûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1846: Kikugorô performed in the same theater in the new year sogamono drama "Nazorae Soga Ôeyama-iri", which celebrated the shûmei of Onoe Baikô IV, Onoe Eizaburô IV and Onoe Kikunosuke.

11th lunar month of 1846: Kikugorô performed at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Gekiryômaru Ichiban Ikari", which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Gennosuke II.

7th lunar month of 1847: Kikugorô appeared on stage for the last time, at the Ichimuraza in a great program entitled "Onoe Baiju Ichidai Banashi", which commemorated the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of the passing away of Kikugorô's adoptive father Onoe Shôroku I. Kikugorô retired and became the owner of a mochi shop, calling himself Kikuya Manbei.

4th ~ 6th lunar month of 1848: he was back on stage, in Nagoya at the Wakamiya Shibai, where he performed under the name of Ôkawa Hashizô I in dramas related to the worlds of "Tenjiku Tokubê" and "Sendai Hagi".

8th lunar month of 1848: Hashizô settled in Ôsaka and performed at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Sangoku Daiichikawa Tsui no Kusemono".

11th lunar month of 1848: Hashizô played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the roles of Kan Shôjô, Shiratayû and Takebe Genzô in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; Hashizô's stage partners were Ichikawa Ebizô V (Kakuju, Matsuômaru), Nakamura Tomijûrô II (Terukuni's wife Izayoi, Chiyo), Arashi Rikan III (Terukuni), Arashi San'emon IX (Tatsuta-no-Mae, Yae, Tonami), Nakamura Nakazô IV (Sukune Tarô, Umeômaru, Shundô Genba), Ichikawa Shikô III (Sakuramaru), Nakamura Sankô III (Princess Kariya), Nakayama Genjûrô I (Haji no Hyôe) and Arashi Kicchô II ^[16] (Haru). Hashizô also played the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the drama "Daitokai Midori Soga".

1st lunar month of 1849: Hashizô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was (shiro)ô-goku-jô-jô-kichi ((white) grand - extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

24th day of the 4th lunar month of 1849 ^[1]: Hashizô suddenly fell ill while travelling on the Tôkaidô road; he died at the Kakegawa Station.

Comments:

Ôkawa Hashizô I was one of the first and most amazing kaneru yakusha in Kabuki history. "He was a specialist in sewamono, or plays of everyday life, and established traditions that are being carried on by his descendants today." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

"He is perhaps best remembered for the frisson of his appearances with his rival Danjûrô VII, and for his alliance with the playwright Tsuruya Nanboku IV, who in 1825 wrote for him the role of Oiwa in "Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan", the best known of Kabuki ghost plays. Besides playing vengeful ghosts, Kikugorô's specialities included adolescent males (wakashugata) and older wise men (jitsugotoshi), but his range also extended to villains (katakiyaku) and female roles (onnagata). He was acclaimed as an all-round actor, or 'man of a thousand faces' (kaneru yakusha), and his ability for the miraculously quick changes (hayagawari) so popular in the Bunka-Bunsei eras (1804-30), allowed him to play seven to nine roles in one play." (from the The Fitzwilliam Museum Website)

"All too conscious of his own good looks, he was apparently narcissistic and difficult." (from the The Fitzwilliam Museum Website)

"At one time the third Kikugorô thought he would try what it felt like to be a plain citizen of Edo. He opened a mochiya, or cake shop dealing in a favourite refreshment of his day, as it still remains of Tôkyô people--steamed and pounded rice moulded into mound shapes, and prepared in various ways. He hung out a shop sign, in shape sexagonal, lacquered in red, and adorned with a gold design of grasses and written characters signifying Mochiya Kikuju, or the Chrysanthemum-Long-Life-Mochi shop. It was not true to its name. Inside the place there were costly art objects, and rare dwarf plants, while a mechanical toy, a Chinese boy, moved by a special device, came to meet the guests as they entered, and brought them tea and cake. Of course, Kikugorô was the object of the visitor's interest, and the matter of cakes was much less importance. The actor would sweep the garden and talk with the visitors, but one day he suddenly tired of the whole scheme, after some customers had purchased a particularly small amount of his cakes. Kikugorô is said to have exclaimed: "They have seen my beautiful garden and listened to my compliments, and paid only 64 mon for cakes, so I'll go back to the stage." Perhaps he was hankering after it anyway, and made this an excuse." (Zoë Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 24th day of the 4th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kaei era was the 16th of May 1849 in the western calendar.

[2] Another possible reading for the title was "Eiri Otogi Zôshi".

[3] The 16th day of the 10th lunar month of the 12th year of the Bunka era was the 16th of November 1815 in the western calendar.

[4] The sogamono fell into oblivion and the gonpachi-komurasakimono was kept in the Kabuki repertoire. It was staged independently under the title "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara" ("Gonge" and "Gonjô").

[5] It is staged nowadays as an independent Kiyomoto-based dance called "Yasuna".

[6] The michiyuki of this drama, commonly called "Iro Moyô Chotto Karimame", is still regularly staged nowadays.

[7] The 7 roles were Tenjiku Tokubê, Fuwa Banzaemon, the zatô Kikuichi, Kanô Shirojirô Motonobu, Kinegawa Yoemon, Yoemon's nyôbô Kasane and the ghost of Kasane.

[8] The 7 roles were Miuraya Usugumo, Yashio, Nikki Haradamaru, Kinugawa Yoemon, Takao Denshichi, Omatsuri Kingorô, Shiozawa Tanzaburô and Hosokawa Katsumoto.

[9] The 21st day of the 3rd lunar month of the 12th year of the Bunsei era was the 24th of April 1829 in the western calendar.

[10] The 7 roles were Tenjiku Tokubê, Tosa Matahei, the zatô Kikuichi, Kinegawa Yoemon, Kanô Shirojirô Motonobu, Kasane Izutsu no Kasane and Fuwa Banzaemon.

[11] The 7 roles were Tenjiku Tokubê, the zatô Tokuichi, Dainichimaru, Kanô Shirojirô Motonobu, Kinegawa Yoemon, Kasane and Tosa Matahei.

[12] This drama was written by Mimasuya Nisôji and Nakamura Jûsuke IV. "Given the title, audiences might have expected a version of Jippensha Ikku's (1765–1831) best-selling comic novel Tôkaidôchû Hizakurige (popularly known as Shank's Mare), but what they got instead was a spectacle of frightening scenes, along with erotic interplay and comic spoofing of Nanboku's favorite themes. Ume no haru, like its predecessor, included a monstrous demon cat, but also added a renegade priest who masters rat magic and a thief named Nezumi Kozô ("Kid Rat"). With these elements, the play qualified as a type of drama called neko-sôdômono." (from osakaprints.com)

[13] The 7 roles were Kasane Izutsu no Kasane, the ghost of Kasane, Kanô Shirojirô Motonobu, Tenjiku Tokubê, the zatô Tokuichi, Fuwa Kazuzaemon (in reality the Chinese tôzoku Dainichimaru) and Kinegawa Yoemon.

[14] This drama was written by Tsuruya Nanboku V, Mimasuya Nisôji, Sakurada Jisuke III, Nakamura Jûsuke IV and Matsushima Chôfu II.

[15] The 7 roles were Nezumi Kozô (in reality Kuwanaya Tokuzô), the tayû Usugumo, the ghost of the cat-stone, Shirai Gonpachi, Dozaemon Denkichi, Iimori Oshichi and the Umezawaya nyôbô.

[16] Not sure about the line number of this disciple of Arashi Rikan III.

Ôkawa Hashizô I portraying Shirai Gonpachi in a print made by Utagawa Kunikazu in 1861

Prints & Illustrations

The Onoe Eizaburô line of actors

The Onoe Matsusuke line of actors

The Onoe Baikô line of actors

The Onoe Kikugorô line of actors

The Ôkawa Hashizô line of actors