KOKAN TARÔJI I

Existence: 1644 ~ 19th day of the 10th lunar month of 1711

Connection: ???

Career:

1690: Tarôji becomes kashagata and performs in Kyôto in the drama "Kanaoka-ga-Fude".

1st lunar month of 1698: Tarôji's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, kashagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Fall 1699: Tarôji goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1699: Tarôji plays in Ôsaka in the drama "Daimyô Takara no Fukubiki", which is produced by Takeshima Kôjûrô.

1st lunar month of 1700: Tarôji's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, kashagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

Fall 1700: Tarôji goes back to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1700: Tarôji plays in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Daiichi Daiman", which is produced by Yamatoya Jinbê II.

1st lunar month of 1704: Tarôji goes to Edo and plays at the Yamamuraza in the new year drama "Genji Aioi Jûnidan"; his stage partners are Miyazaki Denkichi, Ogawa Zengorô I, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Bandô Matatarô I, Sawamura Kodenji I, Tomizawa Hanzaburô I, Katsuyama Matagorô, Murayama Heiemon III, Shinomiya Genpachi and Mizuki Tominosuke.

11th lunar month of 1706: Tarôji plays at the Yamamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Buyû Kagami", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Takeshima Kôzaemon I.

11th lunar month of 1710: Tarôji plays at the Yamamuraza in the kaomise drama "Jinriki Teika Azuma Asobi", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Arashi Kiyosaburô I. The others main stage partners are Ichikawa Danjûrô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ikushima Shingorô, Ôtani Hiroemon I, Asao Jûjirô I and Sakurayama Shirosaburô I.

1st lunar month of 1711: Tarôji plays in the same theater the role of the mother of the Soga brothers in the new year sogamono drama "Yunzei Yomeiri Soga"; his stage partners in the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Ikushima Shingorô.

19th day of the 10th lunar month of 1711: Tarôji dies in Edo.

Comments:

Kokan Tarôji I was one of the most famous kashagata actors in Kabuki history. He was born and trained in Kyôto and achieved fame for himself in Kamigata. He spent the last years of his career in Edo, as a mainstay of the Yamamuraza.

Kokan Tarôji I