Stage names:

Kataoka Ichizô III
Kataoka Chôjûrô II
Kataoka Gakusaburô I
Mimasu Kamezô II

Nickname: Kataichi

Guild: Matsushimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Gashô

Existence: 27th day of the 4th lunar month of 1851 ~ 11 December 1906

Connections:

Grandfather: Kataoka Nizaemon VII

Father: Kataoka Shimamaru

Masters: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII, Mimasu Daigorô IV

Brothers: Mimasu Inemaru I, Kataoka Gatô II

Adopted son: Kataoka Ichizô IV

Disciples: Kataoka Ichikatsu, Kataoka Matsue

Career:

27th day of the 4th lunar month of 1851: born in Ôsaka in the district of Sôemon-chô. He is the fourth son of Kataoka Shimamaru, son of Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who gave up acting to become a painter called Nishikawa Kuniharu (he was also called Kameya Kichibei or Sumidagawa Hikoroku).

Spring 1855: he starts his career as a disciple of the actor Mimasu Daigorô IV, who gives him the name of Mimasu Kamezô II.

27th day of the 4th lunar month of 1858: his first brother Mimasu Inemaru I dies. Kamezô temporarily gives up acting and becomes decchi for the money changer Kokubun Yabei, who manages his shop in the district of Mitsudera-chô.

1863: Kamezô goes to Kyôto to take care of his third brother, a Temple bonze, who suffers from a serious eye disease.

1866: after the recovery of his third brother, he goes back to the Kabuki world, becoming a disciple of the actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII, thanks to the help of his second brother Kataoka Gatô II; he receives the name of Kataoka Gakusaburô I.

1869: Kataoka Gakusaburô I takes the name of Kataoka Chôjûrô II.

22nd day of the 11th lunar month of 1871: his second brother Kataoka Gatô II dies.

1877: Kataoka Chôjûrô II takes the name of Kataoka Ichizô III.

Summer 1878: Ichizô settles in Tôkyô.

August 1879: Ichizô takes part in the opening ceremony of the Hisamatsuza [info].

23 May 1880: premiere at the Saruwakaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Arimatsuzome Sumô Yukata"; Ichizô plays the roles of Onogawa's mother Oasa and Narusawa Gosuke [more details].

May 1888: première at the Chitoseza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame"; Ichizô plays the role of Gonpachi [casting].

April 1897: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ochi's drama "Otokodate Harusame Gasa"; Ichizô played the roles of Ôguchiya Jizaemon and Imanishi Gennoshin [more details].

May 1897: Ichizô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Genshichi in the drama "Kamiyui Shinza"; the role of Shinza is played by Onoe Kikugorô V.

January 1898: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's dance-drama "Hagoromo"; Ichizô plays the role of the fisherman Isomatsu [casting].

May 1898: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Edo Sodachi Omatsuri Sashichi"; Ichizô plays the roles of Kurata Bampei and the tobigashira Kan'emon [casting].

June 1904: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Meiboku Kasane Monogatari"; Ichizô plays the role of the tôfu maker Saburobê [casting].

November 1906: Ichizô suddenly falls ill while performing on tour at the Suehiroza in the Tochigi Prefecture. He goes back to Tôkyô and dies there the 11th of December 1906. His tombstone is located in the precincts of the Honmonji Temple.

Comments:

Kataoka Ichizô III was a katakiyaku actor of the Meiji era. He was better in sewamono than jidaimono. He became a great fukeyaku in his latter years. He also had the reputation to be extremely talented in literary arts.

Kataoka Ichizô III playing the role of Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which was staged in March 1894 at the Kabukiza (print made by Utagawa Kuniteru)

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1892

The Kataoka Gakusaburô line of actors

The Kataoka Ichizô line of actors