Stage names:

Ogawa Zengorô I
Ogawa Sajiemon

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Unjû (cloud soup ?)

Existence: 1682 ~ 6th day of the 11th lunar month of 1737

Connection:

Master: Osagawa Jûemon

Disciples: Ogawa Zengorô II, Ogawa Goroshirô (the father of Ogawa Kichitarô I)

Career:

Before 1695: born in Kamigata. He starts his career at an early age as a disciple of Osagawa Jûemon, who gives him the name of Ogawa Sajiemon (The sa of Sajiemon is the same ideogram as the sa of Osagawa).

Fall 1695: he goes to Edo with Okada Samanosuke.

11th lunar month of 1695: Ogawa Sajiemon takes the name of Ogawa Zengorô I at the Yamamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Kaomise Jûnidan".

1st lunar month of 1715: Zengorô replaces the star Yamanaka Heikurô I to play at the Nakamuraza the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year drama "Bandô Ichi Kotobuki Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Katsuyama Matagorô.

5th lunar month of 1717: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen" is produced simultaneously in the 3 Edo Kabuki theaters. This is the first Kabuki adaptation of a puppet theater play in Edo. It is produced at the Moritaza under the title "Kokusen'ya Gojitsu Gassen"; Zengorô plays the role of Kanki [more details].

11th lunar month of 1717: Zengorô plays at the Moritaza the role of Hata Rokurozaemon in Murase Genzaburô's kaomise drama "Hônô Taiheiki".

11th lunar month of 1718: Zengorô becomes tachiyaku and zagashira at the Ichimuraza, playing the role of Akaboshi Tarô in the kaomise drama "Gozen Nô Mitsu Uroko", which celebrates the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Onoe Samon; Zengorô's others stage partners are Mimasuya Sukejûrô I, Sodeoka Masanosuke II, Sanjô Kantarô II, Ôtani Hiroji I, Ichimura Takenojô IV, Ôkuma Utaemon, Nakajima Mihoemon I and Onogawa Orie.

1st lunar month of 1719: Zengorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1721: Zengorô becomes jitsuaku and plays at the Moritaza the role of Senju Tarô in the kaomise drama "Semimaru Yôrô no Taki".

1st lunar month of 1722: Zengorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is slightly below jô-jô-kichi.

11th lunar month of 1722: Zengorô becomes tachiyaku and plays at the Nakamuraza the role of the nyûdô Sagami in the kaomise drama "Hônen Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1723: Zengorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, tachiyaku section, is jô-jô-kichi. He plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune, a jitsuaku role, in the new year sogamono "Soga Koyomi Biraki". The roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Mimasuya Sukejûrô I.

11th lunar month of 1723: Zengorô becomes jitsuaku and plays at the Nakamuraza the role of Akaboshi Tarô in the kaomise drama "Sono Enpô Onna Migyôsho", which celebrates the arrival at the Nakamuraza of the Kamigata actors Yamashita Kinsaku I and Sanogawa Senzô.

1st lunar month of 1724: Zengorô's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1727: Zengorô plays at the Nakamuraza the role of the nyûdô Takatoki in the kaomise drama "Yatsumune Taiheiki" [more details], which welcomes back in Edo the actor Ôtani Hiroji I (along with the Kamigata actor Kirinami Onoe) and celebrates the first stage appearance of Ichikawa Masugorô.

1st lunar month of 1728: Zengorô plays in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono "Soga Hôraisan"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Sawamura Sôjûrô I.

1731: Zengorô retires from stage.

6th day of the 11th lunar month of 1737: Zengorô dies in Edo; his tombstone is located in the Genjuin, a subtemple of the Zôzôji temple in the district of Shiba.

Comments:

Ogawa Zengorô I, the founder of the Ogawa clan, was a talented actor, who was able to perform either as a tachiyaku or a jitsuaku. His most famous role was Kudô Saemon Suketsune in new year sogamono.

Ogawa Zengorô I (top) and Ichikawa Danjûrô II (bottom) in a print made by Torii Kiyotomo

Prints & Illustrations

Print made by Torii Kiyomasu 1723~1727