Stage names:

Tomizawa Tatsujûrô
Tomizawa Tatsunosuke

Guild: Hiranoya

Poetry name: Renjû

Existence: ??? ~ 19th day of the 8th lunar month of 1777 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Tomizawa Chiyonosuke

Disciple: Tomizawa Edozô

Career:

1720: disciple of Tomizawa Chiyonosuke, he started his career as an iroko in Ôsaka. His first stage name is Tomizawa Tatsunosuke.

11th lunar month of 1723: Tatsunosuke becomes wakaonnagata and plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the keisei Miyoshi in the kaomise drama "Kogane no Hanagata", which is produced by Arashi San'emon III and welcomes in Ôsaka the Edo actor Ôtani Hiroji I.

Fall 1728: Tatsunosuke goes to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1728: Tatsunosuke plays at Kameya Kumenojô's theater (Kyôto) the role of Princess Wakamatsu in the kaomise drama "Tokiwagura Kogane no Ishizue", which is produced by Tamiya Hannosuke.

1732: tour in Nagoya.

Fall 1738: Tatsunosuke and Bandô Toyosaburô I go together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1738: Tatsunosuke performs at the Kawarasakiza in the kaomise drama "Kotobuki Momiji Kagemasa".

11th lunar month of 1740: he becomes jitsuaku, takes the name of Tomizawa Tatsujûrô and performs at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Miya Bashira Taiheiki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Danzô III.

1st lunar month of 1741: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is one black stroke below jô-jô-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1741: Tatsujûrô becomes tachiyaku and plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Bingo no Saburô in Hayakawa Denshirô's kaomise drama "En'ya Hangan Kokyô no Nishiki", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakayama Shinkurô I; his others main stage partners are Matsumoto Kôshirô II, Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Sanogawa Mangiku and Sawamura Sôjûrô I.

1st lunar month of 1742: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is two black strokes above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1742: Tatsujûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Otoha Kamonnosuke in the kaomise drama "Furisode Shinoda no Zuma", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Onoe Kikugorô I; his stage partners are Bandô Hikosaburô I, Segawa Kikunojô I, Ichimura Uzaemon VIII, Bandô Matatarô III, Nakajima Mihoemon I, Ichikawa Sôzaburô I, Sanogawa Senzô, Tamazawa Saijirô I, Sawamura Utagiku and Ichimura Manzô.

1st lunar month of 1743: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1743: Tatsujûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Oyamada Tarô in the kaomise drama "Ishizue Taiheiki", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the actors Segawa Kikujirô I, Tamiya Jûzaburô I and Segawa Somematsu.

11th lunar month of 1744: Tatsujûrô moves to the Moritaza, where he plays the role of Sasano Saizô in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Bandai no Watamashi".

11th lunar month of 1745: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Sasaki Moritsuna in the kaomise drama "Chikyôdai Izu Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1746: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Matsudo Takenori in the kaomise drama "Ôtorii Gojûshigun".

11th lunar month of 1747: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Hôjô no Yasutoki in the kaomise drama "Aruji Môke Onna Hachinoki", which celebrated the shûmei of Sawamura Sôjûrô.

11th lunar month of 1748: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Bingo no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Fuyu Botan Yoshino Dairi", which celebrates the shûmei of Azuma Tôzô II.

2nd lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza; Tatsujûrô plays the roles of Momonoi Wakasanosuke and Hara Gôemon.

11th lunar month of 1749: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Tezuka no Tarô in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Bijo Kurabe Kiso no Kakehashi", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Sôjûrô II.

4th lunar month of 1750: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is produced at the Moritaza for the first time; Tatsujûrô plays the role of Kan Shôjô [casting].

11th lunar month of 1750: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Hatsuyuki Reijin no Sode".

11th lunar month of 1751: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in Tsuuchi Jihê II's kaomise drama "Aizuchi Jûnidan", which celebrates the shûmei of Morita Kan'ya VI and Tsuyama Yûzô I.

4th lunar month of 1752: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which is staged in Edo at the Moritaza; Tatsujûrô plays the role of Satsuma-no-Kami Tadanori [casting].

11th lunar month of 1752: Tatsujûrô moves to the Nakamuraza after 8 seasons spent at the Moritaza; he performs in the kaomise drama "Akazawayama Sumô Nikki".

11th lunar month of 1753: Tatsujûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Oyamada Tarô in the kaomise drama "Hyakumanki Tsuwamono Taiheiki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Masuzô I.

11th lunar month of 1754: Tatsujûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Soga no Tarô in the kaomise drama "Miura no Ôsuke Bumon no Kotobuki", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Matsumoto Kôshirô III and Tsuuchi Monzaburô II.

1st lunar month of 1755: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the role of Daitônai (in reality Rôikkan) in the new year sogamono drama "Waka Midori Nishiki Soga".

11th lunar month of 1755: Tatsujûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Watanabe Kiô in the kaomise drama "Arigatashi Yunzei Genji" [print]; his stage partners are Ichikawa Ebizô II, Ichikawa Danjûrô IV, Nakamura Shichisaburô II, Yamashita Matatarô I, Ichikawa Yaozô I, Nakajima Mihoemon I, Sawamura Sôjûrô II, Miyazaki Jûshirô II, Matsushima Moheiji, Nakamura Tomijûrô I, Nakamura Kiyosaburô I, Osagawa Tsuneyo I, Nakamura Denkurô II and Yamashita Kinsaku II.

1st lunar month of 1756: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is only one black stroke below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).

11th lunar month of 1756: Tatsujûrô moves to the Moritaza, where he plays the role of Ariômaru in the kaomise drama "Manazuru Heike Monogatari", which celebrates the shûmei of Agemaki Rin'ya.

11th lunar month of 1757: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the role of Izumi no Kojirô in the kaomise drama "Ikioi Wada Gassen".

11th lunar month of 1758: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Akazawa Genjiyama".

11th lunar month of 1759: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Toki Tsukaze Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1760: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is back to two black strokes above jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1761: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Misonô Banzei no Hachinoki".

1st lunar month of 1762: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1762: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Tôzai Tôzai Wagakuni no Umeyashiki", which celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Matahachi II.

1st lunar month of 1763: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is one black stroke above jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - almost excellent) [visual].

2nd lunar month of 1763: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which is staged at the Moritaza; Tatsujûrô plays the role of Taira no Kenjô Naokata [casting|illustrations].

11th lunar month of 1763: Tatsujûrô moves to the Ichimuraza, where he plays the role of Bingo no Saburô in the kaomise drama "Shikai Nami Yawaragi Taiheiki".

5th lunar month of 1764: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Enju and Shigetada in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

7th lunar month of 1764: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the role of Date Yosobê in the drama "Koi Nyôbô Somewake Tazuna".

11th lunar month of 1764: Tatsujûrô performs at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Wakaki no Hana Suma no Hatsuyuki", which celebrates the shûmei of Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III.

11th lunar month of 1765: Tatsujûrô performs at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Furitsumu Hana Nidai Genji".

9th lunar month of 1766: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the roles of Kakogawa Honzô, Ishidô Umanojô and Yoichibê's nyôbô in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged to celebrate the onagori kyôgen of the Kamigata star Onoe Kikugorô I.

11th lunar month of 1766: Tatsujûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Umezu Kamon in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Tsuitachi".

1st lunar month of 1767: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the role of the mother of the Soga Brothers in the new year sogamono drama "Soga Yawaragi Soga"; the roles of Soga Jûrô Sukenari and Soga Gorô Tokimune are played by Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Ichikawa Yaozô II.

11th lunar month of 1767: Tatsujûrô moves to the Moritaza, where he performs in the kaomise drama "Sanada no Yoichi Banjaku no Iezuto", which celebrates the shûmei of Sanogawa Ichimatsu II and welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Yamashita Kyônosuke.

11th lunar month of 1768: Tatsujûrô performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Mutsuchidori Meika no Yumitori".

11th lunar month of 1769: Tatsujûrô becomes zagashira and performs at the Moritaza in the kaomise drama "Na ni Takashi Kumoi no Yumihari", which welcomes in Edo the actors Yamashita Kinsaku II and Kasaya Matakurô II (who also celebrates his shûmei) and celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Shirogorô IV.

9th lunar month of 1770: Chikamatsu Hanji's 1759 puppet theater drama "Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza; Tatsujûrô plays the role of Manago no Shôji [casting].

11th lunar month of 1770: Tatsujûrô moves to the Ichimuraza, where he plays the roles of Ômi no Kotôta and Tôkurô Morinaga in the kaomise drama "Meoto Giku Izu no Kisewata", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata star Arashi Sangorô II and celebrates the shûmei of Bandô Hikosaburô III, Bandô Sanpachi II and Segawa Kichiji III.

11th lunar month of 1771: Tatsujûrô moves to the Moritaza, where he plays the role of the kanpaku Michinaga in the kaomise drama "Fukikaete Tsuki no Yoshiwara", which welcomes in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakamura Jûzô II.

11th lunar month of 1772: Tatsujûrô plays at the Moritaza the roles of Naniwa no Jirô (in reality the priest Mongaku) and Sanmi Toshinari in the kaomise drama "Izu Goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu", which celebrates the shûmei of Sawamura Chôjûrô IV, Sawamura Kijûrô II and Mikuni Fujigorô.

11th lunar month of 1773: Tatsujûrô moves to the Ichimuraza, where he becomes jitsuaku and performs in the kaomise drama "Kaeri Kiso Kigoto no Hatsumono", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Danzô IV.

1st lunar month of 1774: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is only one black stroke below jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent). He also becomes tôdori at the Ichimuraza.

5th lunar month of 1775: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the role of Keijuin in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki".

7th lunar month of 1776: Tatsujûrô plays in the same theater the role of Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

11th lunar month of 1776: Tatsujûrô plays ^[2] at the Ichimuraza of Ono no Yoshizane in the kaomise drama "Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi".

1st lunar month of 1777: Tatsujûrô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual]. He appears on stage for the last time, in Edo at the Ichimuraza, where he plays the roles of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Toshinari in the new year sogamono drama "Tsukisenu Haru Hagoromo Soga. He falls ill afterwards and has to retire.

19th day of the 8th lunar month of 1777 ^[1]: Tatsujûrô dies in Edo.

Comments:

Tomizawa Tatsujûrô was a talented and popular actor, who was active from 1720 to 1777. He was born and trained in Kamigata where he performed between 1720 and 1738 before definitively settling in Edo and making a fame for himself for almost 4 decades in the Edo Sanza (especially the Moritaza where he spent 20 seasons)! He was said to act on stage like Bandô Hikosaburô I. He was outstanding in jitsugoto roles. In his latter years, he was an excellent fukeyaku actor. He also successfully performed fukeoyama roles like Kakuju in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". It is also worthy to note that he quickly became jô-jô-(hanshiro)kichi (in 1743) but he never achieved to receive the prestigious jô-jô-kichi ranking although he was many years only one stroke below.

Tomizawa Tatsujûrô in a print made in 1770 by Ippitsusai Bunchô for the Ehon Butai Ôgi series of prints

Print made by Torii Kiyonobu II in 1755

[1] The 19th day of the 8th lunar month of the 6th year of the An'ei era was the 20th of September 1777 in the western calendar.

[2] he did not appear on stage for the 1774 and 1775 kaomise at the Ichimuraza but he occasionally performed during each season.