LESSER KNOWN ACTORS - ASAO
   
Asao Hisamatsu
Asao Hisamatsu  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Brother of Asao Jûjirô I, he was recorded for the first time in the 11th lunar month of 1715, when he performed in Kyôto as a wakashugata in the kaomise drama "Chiyogasane Kiku no Shinpai", which was produced by Yamatoyama Jinzaemon I for the nadai Hayagumo Chôdayû. He played in the 1st lunar month of 1720 in Kyôto at Miyako Mandayû's theater the role of the koshô Orinosuke in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Hachimannichi". Hisamatsu's rank in the 1720 Kyôto hyôbanki [2], wakashugata section, was (shiro)jô ((white) superior) [visual]. No record afterwards.

Asao Hisamatsu (left) and Yamanaka Naojûrô (right) playing the roles of Hanabusa Shuzen and Araki Shurinosuke in Sadoshima Saburôzaemon's kaomise drama "Shôjô Zakaya Mannen-gura", which was staged in Kyôto in the 11th lunar month of 1719

Asao Monzô
Asao Monzô  In Japanese | Asao Toyozô I  In Japanese | Asao Monzô  In Japanese | Asao Toyozô I  In Japanese | Mimasu Uhachi  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Disciple of Mimasu Daigorô I, he received the name of Mimasu Uhachi and made his apprenticeship with his master in Kamigata. He worked as a zamoto in Ôsaka in 1771. He became katakiyaku and played in the 11th lunar month of 1772 at the Kado no Shibai the role of the yakko Namihei, in reality Yakushiji Jirozaemon, in the kaomise drama "Hi-no-Moto Banzei no Hôrai". He was expelled from the Mimasu clan in 1774. He settled in Kyôto in Fall 1774 and became a disciple of Asao Tamejûrô I, who gave him the name of Asao Toyozô. He became tachiyaku and played in the 11th lunar month of 1781 in Kyôto the role of Sakurai Shinbê in the kaomise drama "Akanesasu Kogane no Maruyama" which was produced by Fujikawa Sango. He took the name of Asao Monzô in the 11th lunar month of 1781 in Kyôto, playing the roles of Takebe Genzô and Shiratayû in the kaomise drama "Tenmangû Natane no Gokû". He played in the 1st lunar month of 1782 in the same theater the role of Tamamizu Chôemon in the new year ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi". He also played the roles of Hayano Kanpei and Ishidô Umanojô in the 3rd lunar month of 1782 in the same theater in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura". He was recorded under the name of Asao Toyozô in the 3rd lunar month of 1783 when he performed in Nagoya at the Ôsu no Shibai. He took back the name of Asao Monzô at the end of 1783. Monzô's rank in the 1784 Kyôto hyôbanki [3], tachiyaku section, was jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. No record afterwards.

Yagô Haimyô
Ôzakaya Rôzan

There will be in the future to come a full page dedicated to Asao Monzô in kabuki21.com.

Asao Monzô in an illustration from the book "Santo Yakusha Omokage Zukushi", which was published in Ôsaka by Yamatoya Kaemon in 1784

Prints & Illustrations

Asao Tamesaburô [1]
Asao Tamesaburô  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Disciple of Asao Tamejûrô I, Asao Tamesaburô [1] was active in Edo between the end of 1786 and the beginning of 1792. He was a tachiyaku actor. The play "Yoshitsune Koshigoejô" was staged for the first time in Edo, in the 9th lunar month of 1790 at the Ichimuraza; it celebrated the onagori kyôgen of Tamesaburô's master Asao Tamejûrô I and Tamesaburô played the role of Kamei no Rokurô [more details]. Tamesaburô's rank in the 1792 Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual]. No record afterwards.

Asao Tamesaburô performing in the kaomise drama "Sanga no Shô Mutsu no Hanayome", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1787 in Edo at the Kiriza

 

Notes

[1] Was there a line of actors named Asao Tamesaburô? This name was used by minor actors who were zamoto. For example in 1806 at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai (Ôsaka) or in 1818 at the Kado no Shibai.

[2] Published in the 2nd lunar month of 1720.

[3] Published in the 1st lunar month of 1784.

 
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