Stage names:

Ogawa Kichitarô III
Nakamura Motosaburô

Guild: Kagaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry names: Eishi, Baizan

Existence: 1785 ~ 18th day of the 9th lunar month of 1851

Connection:

Master: Nakamura Utaemon III

Career:

3rd lunar month of 1805: Nakamura Motosaburô takes the name of Ogawa Kichitarô III.

11th lunar month of 1807: Kichitarô becomes zamoto in Ôsaka and produces at the Naka no Shibai the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari", which stars Arashi Sangorô III and Kataoka Nizaemon VII.

3rd lunar month of 1808: "Hachijin Shugo no Honjô" is adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Kyôto at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Kichitarô plays the role of Katô Kazuenosuke [casting].

Fall 1808: Kichitarô goes to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1808: Kichitarô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Yoritomo in the drama "Nure Yatsushi Kana no Inzen".

Fall 1809: Kichitarô goes back to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1812: Kichitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai 3 roles in the drama "Hirugaesu Nishiki no Tamoto", which welcomes in Ôsaka the Edo star Bandô Hikosaburô III. Kichitarô also plays the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, Yasubê and Igo in "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

11th lunar month of 1814: Kichitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Tsugi Awase Ekiji no Ume".

Summer 1815: tour in Nagoya.

11th lunar month of 1815: Kichitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Yagorô in the drama "Taiheiki Chûshin Kôshaku".

1st lunar month of 1816: Kichitarô plays in the same theater the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

5th lunar month of 1816: Kichitarô plays in the same theater the role of Kanônosuke Naonobu and Shinsaku in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".

1st lunar month of 1818: Kichitarô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

10th ~ 11th lunar months of 1818: Kichitarô plays at the Naka no Shibai the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

8th lunar month of 1824: Kichitarô plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

11th lunar month of 1825: Kichitarô plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

6th lunar month of 1833: Kichitarô plays the roles of Iwakuni Yajûrô and Tamata Jûsaburô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is staged in the precincts of the Inaba Yakushi Temple in Kyôto. He also plays the role of Hanshichi in the drama "Mai Ôgi"; the role of Sankatsu is played by Nakamura Karoku I.

13th day of the 7th lunar month of 1838: his master Nakamura Tamasuke dies.

Fall 1839: Kichitarô goes to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1839: Kichitarô plays at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Taiheiki Irifune Shinozuka", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Shûka I.

1st lunar month of 1840: Kichitarô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki (even though he is in Edo, his name is recorded in this book), tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

4th lunar month of 1840: Kichitarô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of Enju and Kamata Hayato in the jidaimono "Hirakana Seisuiki", which celebrates the shûmei of Seki Sanjûrô III.

1st lunar month of 1841: Kichitarô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is one little stroke below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

1st lunar month of 1848: Kichitarô's rank in the Kamigata hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is kô-jô-jô-kichi (meritorious - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual]. He shares the same ranking with Nakayama Bunshichi III.

18th day of the 9th lunar month of 1851: Kichitarô dies in Ôsaka; his tombstone is said to be in the precinct of the Shôbôji Temple in the district of Teramachi in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Ogawa Kichitarô III achieved a very good reputation in his native Kamigata and also in Edo as a wagotoshi, who was expert in yatsushigoto. One of his most notable roles was Watanabe Shizuma in the "Igagoe" dramas. In his latter years, he performed also as a kashagata or an oyajigata. As he had no heir, his death resulted in end of the Ogawa clan.

Ogawa Kichitarô III playing the role of Watanabe Shizuma in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1825 at the Kitagawa no Shibai
(print made by Shunshosai Hokuchô)

Print made by Utagawa Toyokuni in 1809

Illustrated playbill 1828

The Ogawa Kichitarô line of actors