Stage name:

Sawamura Sônosuke I

Real name: Itô Sanjirô

Guild: Kinokuniya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kyôen (literally "apricot garden")

Existence: 9 March 1886 ~ 8 April 1924

Connections:

Father: Sawamura Tosshi VII

Brothers : Sawamura Chôjûrô VII, Suketakaya Kodenji I

Sons: Sawamura Sônosuke II, Sawamura Shônosuke

Career:

9 March 1886: born in the district of Asakusa Umamichi.

August 1889: he makes his first appearance on stage, at the Azumaza, where he receives the name of Sawamura Sônosuke I and plays the role of Komasuke in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

November 1900: Sônosuke achieves a great success at the Shintomiza by playing the role of Princess Toki in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; the roles of Sasaki Takatsuna and Miuranosuke are played by Sawamura Tosshi VII and Ichikawa Danzô VII.

September 1901: Sônosuke becomes nadai and plays at the Ichimuraza the difficult role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; the role of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada is played by Nakamura Shikan V.

March 1903: Sônosuke plays at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; the roles of Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon Munetsura are played by Sawamura Tosshi VII and Seki Hanasuke II.

May 1905: Sônosuke plays at the Miyatoza the role of Princess Yuki in the drama "Kinkakuji". His stage partners are Ichikawa Sumizô V (Matsunaga Daizen) and Ichikawa Kigan IV (Tôkichi).

March 1906: Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Hototogisu Kojô no Rakugetsu" is produced for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Tôkyôza; Sônosuke plays the role of Princess Sen [casting].

1909: Sônosuke joins the Jiyû Gekijô troupe.

May 1910: revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Narukami", a long-forgotten play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Sônosuke plays the role of Princess Taema [casting].

February 1920: Sônosuke plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Ojô Kichisa in the drama "Sannin Kichisa". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Oshô Kichisa) and Nakamura Kichiemon I (Obô Kichisa).

September 1921: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Yamamoto Yûzô's drama "Sakazaki Dewa-no-Kami"; Sônosuke plays the role of Princess Sen [more details].

February 1922: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Shibahama no Kawazaifu", a drama adapted from a famous Rakugo story created by San'yûtei Enchô. Onoe Kikugorô VI and Sônosuke play the roles of Masagorô and Masagorô's wife Otatsu.

February 1922: Sônosuke plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Chiyo in the "Terakoya" scene of the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His stage partners are Onoe Kikugorô VI (Genzô), Ôtani Tomoemon VI (Matsuômaru) and Ichikawa Kigan V (Tonami).

December 1922: Sônosuke plays at the Imperial Theater the role of Katsuyori in the "Jusshukô" scene of the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Nureginu are played by Nakamura Jakuemon III and Bandô Shûchô III.

March 1924: Sônosuke plays at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) the role of Nureginu in the "Jusshukô" scene of the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori are played by Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

1924: Sônosuke joins the troupe led by Morita Kan'ya XIII.

8 April 1924: Sônosuke suddenly collapses on stage at the Yotsuya Daikokuza while he plays the role of Osato in the drama "Tsubosaka".

Comments:

Sawamura Sônosuke I was a talented onnagata actor, who unfortunately died before reaching the peak of his promising career. He was equally at home in sewamono and jidaimono dramas. He was outstanding in Princess and had the chance in his short career to perform the sanhime roles. He was also a good nimaime. He did not confine himself to the Kabuki classics and took part in the creations of new dramas or the adaptation in Japanese of European modern dramas.

Sawamura Sônosuke I playing the role of Umegawa in the drama "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" (print made by Yamamura Toyonari in 1922)

The Sawamura Sônosuke line of actors