LESSER KNOWN ACTORS - BANDÔ
   
Bandô Aizô
Bandô Aizô  In Japanese | Matsumoto Sanjûrô  In Japanese | Sanogawa Ichimatsu II  In Japanese | Bandô Aizô  In Japanese
 

Born in 1747. Disciple of Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, he started his career in the 11th lunar month of 1757, performing at the Ichimuraza under the name of Bandô Aizô as a koyaku in the kaomise program "Matsuhata Suma no Wakezato". He became wakashugata in the 11th lunar month of 1762, performing at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Kisoe Uta Sakae Komachi", which celebrated the shûmei of Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Ôtani Hiroji III. He became wakaonnagata in 1764. He took the name of Sanogawa Ichimatsu II in the 11th lunar month of 1767 at the Moritaza, becoming wakashugata and playing the role of Kajiwara Genta in the kaomise drama "Sanada no Yoichi Banjaku no Iezuto", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Yamashita Kyônosuke. He became most likely a disciple of Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, specializing himself in iroaku roles and taking the name of Matsumoto Sanjûrô in the 11th lunar month of 1781, when he performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Mukashi Otoko Yuki no Hinagata", which also celebrated the shûmei of Ichiyama Sukejûrô. He took back the name of Bandô Aizô in the 11th lunar month of 1784, playing at the Kiriza the role of Katsura Sakingo in the kaomise drama "Jûni Hitoe Komachi Zakura". This was unfortunately his last stage appearance. His last ranking in an Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, was one white stroke above jô-jô [visual]. He died the 26th of the 8th lunar month of 1785.

Haimyô Yagô
Tôka, Seifu Shinman'ya

Bandô Aizô (left) and Nakamura Shimagorô (right) performing in the kaomise drama "Kachidoki Sakae Genji", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1765 at the Moritaza

Bandô Chôemon
Bandô Chôemon  In Japanese
 

Born in Sendai the 6th of October 1896. He was the son of the show manager Takase Kichibê and his real name was Takase Daisuke. He started his career in ji shibai in 1903, performing in Shinpa. He settled in Tôkyô in 1917 and became a disciple of Bandô Shûchô III. He received the name of Bandô Chôemon in 1922. He joined the Zenshinza troupe in May 1931. He received the title of Meritorious Member of the Troupe in 1971, after 40 years of supporting roles performances for the Zenshinza troupe. His best role was Tonbê in "Yaguchi no Watashi". He died the 19th of February 1982. He was the grandfather of Nakamura Sennojô II.

Bandô Heiroku  
Bandô Heiroku  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. He was recorded for the first time in the 11th lunar month of 1718, when he performed as a dôkegata in Ôsaka at the Kita no Shinchi Shibai in the kaomise drama "In'yô Inui no Machi-zukuri", which was produced by Kokon Shinzaemon. He settled in Kyôto in winter 1720 and he played the role of the wakadono Mondo in the ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Mirume no Seki", which was produced by Ogino Yaegiri I. His rank in the 1721 Kyôto hyôbanki, dôkegata section, was jô-(shiro)jô (superior - (white) superior) [visual]. He was recorded for the last time in the 12th lunar month of 1722, when he performed as a dôkegata for the zamoto Otowa Jirosaburô I at Daikokuya Takenojô's theater in a kaomise program (unknown title), which starred Yoshizawa Ayame I, Matsumoto Shigemaki, Nakamura Sôjûrô, Miyazaki Giheita, Kanazawa Hikogorô II, Yamatogawa Gorojirô, Iwai Izaemon, Fujioka Daikichi, Kirinami Senju II, Ichikawa Toyama III, Ichikawa Takegorô, Mizuki Masano and Bandô Matasaburô I. No record afterwards.

Bandô Heiroku playing the role of the yakko Shinpei in the kaomise drama "Banshiki Kogane no Miyako", which was staged in the 11th lunar month of 1721 in Kyôto at Hoteiya Umenojô's theater

Bandô Mitsusaburô
Bandô Mitsusaburô  In Japanese | Bandô Mitsuya  In Japanese
 

Born the 4th of January 1913. He started his career a disciple of Bandô Mitsugorô VII in April 1920 at the Ichimuraza, where he received the name of Bandô Mitsuya. He became nadai in July 1941, celebrating this event in Ôsaka at the Nakaza by performing in "Kumagai Jin'ya" and "Aoyama Harima". He took the name of Bandô Mitsusaburô in January 1947, in Ôsaka at the Ôsaka Kabukiza, where he performed in "Osaga Kaheiji", "Nageki no Tenshi" and "Kioi Jishi". These dramas were part of a special program, which celebrated the shûmei of Nakamura Ganjirô II and Kamimura Kichiya V, and commemorated the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Ganjirô I. He appeared on stage for the last time in June 1986 at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the farmer Kichisuke in the drama "Kumagai Jin'ya". He left the Kabuki world in 1988. No record afterwards (unknown day of death). He was a supporting tachiyaku actor who served for more than 66 years four generations of masters of the Bandô clan, from Bandô Mitsugorô VII to Bandô Yasosuke V.

Yagô Honmyô
Yamatoya Irokawa Toyoji
Bandô Sadajûrô
Bandô Sadajûrô  In Japanese | Sawamura Kodenji III  In Japanese | Sawamura Utagiku  In Japanese | Yamatogawa Utagiku  In Japanese
 

Date of birth unknown. He started his career around 1737 as an iroko at the Nakamuraza, performing under the name of Yamatogawa Utagiku. He became a disciple of Sawamura Kodenji II and received the name of Sawamura Utagiku. He became wakaonnagata at the beginning of the 1740s and took the name of Sawamura Kodenji III in the 11th lunar month of 1756, performing at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Manazuru Heike Monogatari". He became kashagata and took the name of Bandô Sadajûrô in the 11th lunar month of 1764. He held it up to his death the 10th of the 6th lunar month of 1771.

Bandô Sadajûrô playing the role of Yuriwaka's elder sister in the new year drama "Mina Mezame Yuriwaka Daijin", which was staged in the 1st lunar month of 1767 at the Moritaza

Bandô Shinzaemon
Bandô Shinzaemon  In Japanese | Bandô Sasahei  In Japanese
 

Year of birth unknown. He was most likely a disciple of Bandô Hikosaburô IV. His first stage name was Bandô Sasahei. He took the name of Bandô Shinzaemon in 1858 and held it up to his death in 1875. He played the roles of Kamaya Buhê in the drama "Kichisama Mairu Yukari no Otozure", which was premiered in the 7th lunar month of 1869 at the Nakamuraza [casting].

Bandô Shinzaemon portraying Kobayashi Heinai in a print made by Utagawa Yoshiiku in 1863

Bandô Tachibana
Bandô Tachibana  In Japanese | Ichikawa Ebiji  In Japanese | Ichikawa Masuya  In Japanese
 

Born the 28th of January 1926 in Tôkyô. He started his career as a disciple of Ichikawa Ebizô IX in June 1947 at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô, where he played the role of a shinzô in "Gosho no Gorozô". His first stage name was Ichikawa Masuya. He became nadai and celebrated it in October 1954 at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Ichikawa Ebiji and played the roles of a jijo, the jochû Omasu, a bonze and the old woman Yoshikawa in "Nippon Kenjôki", "Ninjô Banashi Koban Ichiryô", "Musume Dôjôji" and "Ejima Ikushima". He became a disciple of Ichimura Uzaemon XVII and received the name of Bandô Tachibana in January 1966 at the Kabukiza, where he played the roles of the nakai Omino and the koshimoto Kikyô in "Yoshidaya" and "Shigenoi Kowakare". He appeared on stage for the last time in July 2001, in Tôkyô at the National Theatre, where he performed in "Bunshichi Mottoi". He retired after 54 years spent on stage or backstage. He died the 19th of December 2007.

Yagô Honmyô
Tachibanaya, Naritaya Okano Fumio
Bandô Tarô
 

==> Dedicated page: Bandô Tarô

Bandô Tarô portraying the role of Tenjiku Tokubê in a print made by Ichiyôtei Yoshitaki

Bandô Toyokichi
Bandô Toyokichi  In Japanese
 

Dates of birth and death unknown. Son [1] of Bandô Toyosaburô I and younger brother of Bandô Kikumatsu, he made his debut on stage in Kyôto in the 11th lunar month of 1760, performing as an iroko in the kaomise drama "Ôshimadai Kitsune no Mukoiri", which was produced by Sawamura Kunitarô I. He became wakaonnagata and played in the 11th lunar month of 1765, performing with his father in the kaomise drama "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki" [2], which was produced by Nakamura Utaemon I. He went to Edo in Winter 1768. He performed in the new year sogamono drama "Shuen Soga Ômu Gaeshi", which was staged in the 2nd lunar month of 1768 at the Ichimuraza. He went back to Ôsaka at the beginning of the 1770s. He was active in Ôsaka up to the end of the 1770s. No record afterwards [3].

The actor Bandô Toyokichi in a print made in 1770 by Ippitsusai Bunchô for the Ehon Butai Ôgi series of prints

Bandô Tsuruemon
Bandô Tsuruemon  In Japanese | Nakamura Kimitarô  In Japanese | Iwai Tokumatsu  In Japanese | Nakamura Kimitarô  In Japanese
 

Born the 15th of February 1886 in Iwate Prefecture. He started his career as a disciple of the travelling actor Nakamura Kimisaburô, who gave him the name of Nakamura Kimitarô. He made his debut on stage in March 1896 in Nemuro at the Nemuroza. In January 1898, the troupe led by his master Nakamura Kimisaburô performed with the troupe led by the Tôkyô actor Iwai Matsunosuke IV. He left Nakamura Kimisaburô to join Iwai Matsunosuke IV as a disciple. He received the name of Iwai Tokumatsu. He took back the name of Nakamura Kimitarô in January 1901 and performed in tabi shibai all over Japan for many years. He became the leader of his own travelling troupe, the Nakamura Kimitarô Ichiza in May 1910 in Hamamatsu. He met Bandô Hikosaburô VI and became his disciple in 1923. He took the name of Bandô Tsuruemon in January 1924 at the Ichimuraza. He became nadai and celebrated it in June 1935 at the Kabukiza. He appeared on stage for the last time in December 1960, at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of a farmer in the drama "Terakoya". He retired after 65 years spent on stage and died the 30th of May 1972.

Yagô Honmyô
Otowaya Itô Jûgorô
Bandô Usaburô  
Bandô Usaburô  In Japanese
 

Born the 2nd of March 1896 in Tôkyô in the district of Kanda. Disciple of Ichimura Uzaemon XV, he received the name of Bandô Usaburô and started his career in November 1908 at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of a koshô in the drama "Sangoku Busô Hisago no Gunbai". He most likely became nadai in October 1918 [4]. He joined the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan in May 1955 at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the goze Osuzu [5] in the drama "Kagatobi" which was staged within a program commemorating the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) and the 12th anniversary (13th memorial service) of the passing away of Onoe Kikugorô VI and Bandô Hikosaburô VI and the hatsubutai of Onoe Einosuke II. He appeared on stage for the last time in May 1978, in Tôkyô at the Kabukiza, where he played the role of the nakai Akino in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He officially retired the 30th of April 1979. Date of death unknown. This supporting onnagata actor was well appreciated in the Kabuki world, where he was affectionaly nicknamed Usa-chan.

Yagô Honmyô
Tachibanaya Suzuki Matsugorô

Bandô Usaburô playing the role of Ikkaku's elder sister Orie in the drama "Shimizu Ikkaku", which was staged in November 1927 at the Shôchikuza in Asakusa

Bandô Yaenosuke
Bandô Yaenosuke  In Japanese | Nakamura Fukushô  In Japanese
 

Born the 25th of March 1909. He started his career as a disciple of Nakamura Fukusuke IV in 1920 in Ôsaka. He became a disciple of Bandô Hikosaburô VI in December 1924 and received the name of Bandô Yaenosuke. He became during the Shôwa era the most important tateshi in Kabuki. He was in charge of crafting spectacular tachimawari, especially for the Onoe Kikugorô Gekidan troupe. The best examples were the tachimawari in "Ranpei Monogurui", "Kokingo Uchijini", "Suzu-ga-Mori" (the fight in the dark between Shirai Gonpachi and the group of kumosuke) and "Shiranami Gonin Otoko" (the fight on the roof of the Gokurakuji Temple). His art of tateshi was designated as an Important Intangible National Treasure in 1964. He trained Kabuki students at the National Theatre training center and trained several tateshi. He died the 7th of January 1987.

Yagô Honmyô
Otowaya Akimoto Yasuo

 

Notes

[1] Son or adopted son.

[2] There were two zamoto at the Naka no Shibai, Mimasu Daigorô I and Nakamura Utaemon I, and there were two kaomise dramas produced in this theater. Nakamura Utaemon I produced the two dramas and Mimasu Daigorô I produced only the second drama. The two dramas had a different casting but used the same title "Ôzatsuki Shuen no Kachidoki". Bandô Toyokichi performed in the second drama.

[3] A wakaonnagata actor named Bandô Toyokichi was recorded as performing in hama shibai between 1795 and 1798. It was most likely a different actor.

[4] An actor named Ichimura Usaburô was recorded as a new nadai in October 1918. Most likely this Ichimura Usaburô could have been Bandô Usaburô.

[5] Osuzu or Orei. Two possible readings.

 
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