MATSUMOTO K�SHIR� VII (original) (raw)

1874: he settled in T�ky� with his family. His father opened a manj� shop. The Buy� dance master Fujima Kan'emon II became a regular customer of this manj� shop and quickly adopted the young Toyokichi, giving him the name of Fujima Kintar�.

1880: he became a disciple of the star Ichikawa Danj�r� IX.

April 1881: he made his first stage appearance, receiving the name of Ichikawa Kintar� and playing the role of Koshir� in the drama "Moritsuna Jin'ya", which was staged at the Harukiza (T�ky�).

January 1885: two dances were staged at the Chitoseza, about to reopen in February 1885 with a new name. From the 4th to the 7th of January, two auspicious dances and a k�j� with the troupe led by Ichikawa Danj�r� IX were staged. The sanbas� was staged with Ichikawa Sadanji I (Okina), Band� Kakitsu I (Senzai) and Onoe Kikugor� V (Sanbas�). This was also the premiere of the Nagauta-based dance-drama "Tsuru Kame"; Kintar� played the role of the Emperor [more details].

April 1890: Ichikawa Kintar� took the name of Ichikawa Somegor� IV at the Shintomiza.

November 1893: Somegor� took part in the opening ceremony of the Meijiza [info].

April 1897: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi Ochi's drama "Otokodate Harusame Gasa"; Somegor� played the roles of Amano Yukie and Jih�'s half-brother �guchiya Seizabur� [more details].

September 1902: Somegor� played at the T�ky�za the roles of Tansuke, Arajishi Otokonosuke, Lady Yashio, Kurahashi Yaj�r� and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Ura Omote Kokoro no Datezome", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world; the roles of Masaoka and Nikki Danj� were played by Ichimura Kakitsu VI.

March 1903: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue", which was produced to celebrate the sh�mei of Onoe Kikugor� VI, Onoe Baik� VI and Onoe Eizabur� VI; Somegor� played the role of �mi no Kot�ta [casting].

May 1903: Ichikawa Somegor� IV took the name of Ichikawa Komaz� VIII at the Kabukiza, performing in the drama "Kasuga Tsubone".

June 1903: Komaz� played at the Kabukiza the role of the evil Lady Yashio in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Masaoka was played by Nakamura Shikan V.

13 September 1903: his master Ichikawa Danj�r� IX died.

February/March 1904: successful premiere at the T�ky�za of Tsubouchi Sh�y�'s drama "Kiri Hitoha"; Komaz� played the roles of Kimura Shigenari and Sassa Narimasa [more details].

October 1904: premiere at the T�ky�za of the Kabuki adaptation of the ky�gen "Buaku"; Komaz� played the role of Tar�kaja [casting].

June 1905: Komaz� played for the first time the prestigious role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi", which was staged at the T�ky�za; his stage partners were Sawamura Tossh� III (S�shichi) and Band� Sh�ch� III (the courtesan Kojor�).

March 1906: Tsubouchi Sh�y�'s drama "Hototogisu Koj� no Rakugetsu" was produced for the first time in T�ky�, at the T�ky�za; Komaz� played the role of Toyotomi Hideyori [casting].

November 1908: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kagekiyo" [2]; Komaz� played the role of Akushichiby�e Kagekiyo [casting].

November 1910: Komaz� played for the first time the role of Soga Gor� Tokimune in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne" [2], which was staged at the Meijiza.

March 1911: opening of the Imperial Theater. The three leading actors of the new Kabuki troupe based in this theater were Onoe Baik� VI (onnagata), Ichikawa Komaz� VIII (tachiyaku) and Sawamura S�j�r� VII (wagotoshi).

November 1911: great sh�mei at the Imperial Theater; Ichikawa Komaz� VIII took the prestigious name of Matsumoto K�shir� VII, which has not been held since 11th lunar month of 1846.

September 1914: premiere at the Imperial Theater of the dance "Onatsu Ky�ran"; the roles of Onatsu and the pack-horse driver were played by Onoe Baik� VI and K�shir�.

June 1915: K�shir� played at the Naniwaza (�saka) the roles of Lady Yashio and Nikki Danj� in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Nakamura Ganjir� I.

April 1916: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the roles of Kinugawa Taniz�, Lady Yashio and Nikki Danj� in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Onoe Baik� VI and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

1917: he became head of the Fujima dance school and took, as a dance master, the name of Fujima Kan'emon III.

April 1919: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojir�/Atsumori was played by Sawamura S�nosuke I.

November 1924: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the role of Nikki Danj� in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka and Yashio were played by Nakamura Utaemon V and Onoe Baik� VI.

December 1925: K�shir� played at the Minamiza (Ky�to) the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Kumiuchi" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the role of Kojir�/Atsumori was played by Nakamura Ganjir� I.

April 1927: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Morita Kan'ya XIII and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

June 1927: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

September 1927: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". The role of Kojir�/Atsumori was played by Onoe Kikugor� VI.

December 1927: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjir� I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

March 1928: K�shir� played at the Nakaza the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama Koky� no Nishikie"; the roles of Onoe and Ohatsu were performed by Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Sawamura S�j�r� VII. K�shir� also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjir� I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

December 1928: K�shir� played at the Minamiza (Ky�to) the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Nikki Danj� was played by Ichikawa Ch�sha VII.

June 1929: K�shir� played at the Imperial Theater the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

January 1930: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

May 1930: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza in T�ky� the role of Sukune Tar� in the "D�my�ji" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Kan Sh�j�, Kakuju and Tatsuta-no-Mae were played by Nakamura Ganjir� I, Ichikawa Ch�sha VII and Band� Sh�ch� III.

June 1930: K�shir� played at the Nakaza (�saka) the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Nikki Danj� was played by Ichikawa Ch�sha VII.

September 1930: K�shir� played at the Misonoza (Nagoya) the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Ganjir� I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

March 1931: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

October 1931: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Onoe Kikugor� VI and Nakamura Fukusuke V.

December 1931: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Fukusuke IV.

April 1932: premiere at the Kabukiza of Mayama Seika's ninj�mono drama "Edoe Ry�goku Hakkei" (commonly called "Arakawa no Sakichi"); K�shir� played the roles of Sh�ki no Nih� and Sagamiya Masagor� [casting].

June 1932: K�shir� played at the Nakaza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Ganjir� I.

November 1932: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Gedatsu" [2]; K�shir� played the role of Chichibu no Sh�ji Shigetada [more details]. K�shir� also played in the same theater the role of Iky� in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura"; the roles of Sukeroku, Agemaki and Shinb� were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Onoe Baik� VI and Onoe Kikugor� VI. K�shir� also played the role of Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

January 1933: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

March 1933: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.

May 1933: Ikeda Daigo's bakumatsumono drama "Saig� to Buta-hime" was staged for the first time in �shibai, in T�ky� at the Meijiza; K�shir� played the role of Saig� Kichinosuke [more details].

January 1934: K�shir� played the role of Ume�maru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged at the Kabukiza; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugor� VI (Sakuramaru) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Matsu�maru).

May 1934: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of Soga Gor� Tokimune in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne" [2].

November 1934: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

December 1934: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Gad� IV.

January 1935: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of Osh� Kichisa in the drama "Sannin Kichisa"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugor� VI (Oj� Kichisa) and Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Ob� Kichisa).

February 1935: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danj� in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi". The role of Arajishi Otokonosuke was played by Nakamura Kichiemon I.

March 1935: premiere at the Kabukiza of the danmari "Otowa-ga-Dake Danmari"; K�shir� played the role of the sanzoku Harimoto Kesagor� [more details]. K�shir� also played the role of Nikki Danj� in the "Yuka Shita" scene of the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the role of Arajishi Otokonosuke was played by Onoe Sh�roku II.

February 1936: K�shir� played at the Meijiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Baigyoku III.

April 1936: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojir�/Atsumori, Princess Tamaori and Hirayama were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV, Sawamura S�j�r� VII and �tani Tomoemon VI.

November 1936: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

January 1937: K�shir� played the role of Ume�maru in the "Kurumabiki" scene of the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was staged at the Kabukiza; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugor� VI (Matsu�maru), Ichimura Uzaemon XV (Sakuramaru) and Nakamura Utaemon V (Shihei).

February 1937: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

April 1937: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

December 1937: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

January 1938: K�shir� plays for the last time the role of Soga Gor� Tokimune, at the Kabukiza, in the bombastic play "Ya-no-Ne" [2].

March 1938: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojir�/Atsumori and Princess Tamaori were played by Kataoka Nizaemon XII and Nakamura Tokiz� III. K�shir� also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

November 1938: premiere at the Kabukiza of "Nanbuzaka no Yuki Wakare", the sixth play of Mayama Seika's cycle "Genroku Ch�shingura"; K�shir� played the role of Ochiai Yoemon [casting]. He also played at the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

December 1938: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichikawa Sadanji II and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

January 1940: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danj� in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Band� Mitsugor� VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV.

March 1941: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of Nikki Danj� in the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Band� Mitsugor� VII and Ichimura Uzaemon XV. K�shir� also played the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

December 1941: K�shir� played at the Minamiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

March 1942: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Nakamura Shikan VI.

April 1942: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Jinmon" and "Kumiuchi" scenes of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"; the roles of Kojir�/Atsumori and Princess Tamaori were played by Onoe Kikugor� VI and Nakamura Tokiz� III.

October 1942: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of Yuranosuke in the "Gion Ichiriki Jaya" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura"; the roles of Teraoka Heiemon and Okaru were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Kataoka Nizaemon XII.

November 1942: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the roles of K� no Moron� and Yuranosuke in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

November 1943: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

December 1943: K�shir� played at the Kabukiza the role of the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in the dance-drama "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XV and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

November 1945: K�shir� performed for the last time in the classic "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged at the T�ky� Gekij�. He played the role of the fox Tadanobu in the michiyuki "Yoshinoyama"; his stage partners were Nakamura Shikan VI (Shizuka Gozen) and Ichikawa Somegor� V (Hayami no T�ta). He also played the roles of Matsudaira Izu-no-Kami and Takebe Genz� in "Sakura Giminden" and "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" [3].

January 1946: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Fukuzawa Yukichi, Kaneko Ichinoj� and Watanabe no Tsuna in "Fukuzawa Yukichi", "Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana" and "Ibaraki".

May 1946: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Bun'ya no Yasuhide, Nippon Daemon [4] and Hanakawado Sukeroku [5] in "Bun'ya", "Benten Koz�" and "Sukeroku".

June 1946: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Nippon Daemon [4] and the warrior-monk Musashib� Benkei in "Benten Koz�" and "Kanjinch�"; the roles of Togashi and Yoshitsune in the latter drama were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

September 1946: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of the priest Takao no Hankai, Tsukioka Hakuren (in reality the thief �dera Sh�bei), the bansotsu T�nai, the carver Hidari Jingor� and the tobigashira Matsuz� in "Kasuga Ry�jin", "Izayoi Seishin", "Tsuchi-gumo", "Ky� Ningy�" and "Kagatobi".

January 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Matsunaga Hisahide [6], the saruhiki Matsuday�, Kamakura Gongor� Kagemasa and the okina in "Kinkakuji", "Utsubo Zaru", "Shibaraku" [2] and "Shiki Sanbas�".

February 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; the role of Nikki Danj� was played by Onoe Kikugor� VI. K�shir� also played the role of Kud� Saemon Suketsune [7] in "Soga no Taimen". He also played for the last time the role of the smuggler Kezori in the drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi"; his stage partners were Onoe Kikugor� VI (S�shichi) and Onoe Baik� VII (the courtesan Kojor�).

April 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of H�j� Takatoki, Tonb�, �mori Hikoshichi and K�chiyama S�shun in "Takatoki", "Tonb� Sumika", "�mori Hikoshichi" and "K�chiyama".

May 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Kan Sh�j� and Shiratay� in "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". He also played the role of the priest Ry�kai in "Heike no Kyoku".

October 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Nikki Danj� [8], Wada no Hy�e Hidemori and Kanki [9] in "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", "Moritsuna Jin'ya" and "Kokusen'ya Gassen".

November 1947: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Yuranosuke and Fuwa Kazuemon in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

January 1948: K�shir� played for the last time the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane, at the T�ky� Gekij�, in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also played the roles of Yoshioka Kiichi H�gen and Yotsuguruma Daihachi in "Kikubatake" and "Megumi no Kenka".

February 1948: K�shir� played at the �saka Kabukiza the role of �boshi Yuranosuke and Yoshida Ch�zaemon in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

March 1948: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Kumagai Jir� Naozane, Musashib� Benkei, Senoo J�r� Kaneuji and Hoshikage Doemon in "�giya Kumagai", "Funa Benkei", "Sanemori Monogatari" and "Gosho no Goroz�".

April 1948: K�shir� played at the Shinbashi Enbuj� the roles of Takechi Mitsuhide, Watanabe no Tsuna and Iky� in "Amagasaki Kankyo", "Ibaraki" and "Sukeroku".

May 1948: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Akizuki Daizen, Katsuragi Minbu and Gorob� Masamune in the classic "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

June 1948: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Teranishi Kanshin and Kakogawa Honz� in "Gozonji Manaita Ch�b�" and "Honz� Shimoyashiki".

November 1948: K�shir� played at the T�ky� Gekij� the roles of Mibumura no Jizaemon, the okina and Kud� Saemon Suketsune [10] in "Ishikawa Goemon", "Ayatsuri Sanbas�" and "Kichirei Soga no Ishizue".

December 1948: K�shir� appeared on stage for the last time, in T�ky� at the Shinbashi Enbuj�, where he played the roles of �oka Echizen-no-Kami Tadasuke and Ky�saku in the dramas "Ten'ichib� �oka Seidan" and "Nozaki-mura".

27 January 1949: K�shir� died.

Comments:

Matsumoto K�shir� VII was one of the leading tachiyaku from the end of the Meiji era to the end of the forties. Best disciple of Ichikawa Danj�r� IX, he transmitted his master's knowledge, traditions and acting methods to his three sons who became the best tachiyaku of the second half of the twentieth century.

Matsumoto K�shir� VII's best roles: Musashib� Benkei ("Kanjinch�"), Sekib�/�tomo no Kuronushi ("Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To"), �mori Hikoshichi ("�mori Hikoshichi"), Soga Gor� Tokimune ("Ya-no-Ne"), Watanabe no Tsuna ("Ibaraki"), Wat�nai ("Kokusen'ya Gassen"),Kamakura Gongor� Kagemasa ("Shibaraku"), Nikki Danj� ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Takatoki ("Takatoki").

"Without doubt K�shir� is the best-equipped yakusha in Japan. He is both a good actor and an accomplished dancer. Born in a provincial town, his father was a builder and contractor, and he might have missed his calling had not Fujima Kan'emon, the furitsuke, or dancing master of the T�ky� stage, taken such an interest in the child that he adopted him as his heir and successor. Danj�r�, the ninth, saw that the boy was better fitted to become an actor than to be an exponent of dancing, and early took him under his protection. Of all Danj�r�'s followers, K�shir� is the best qualified to carry on the Ichikawa traditions. Unfortunately, K�shir� was indiscreet in his youthful escapades, and so angered his master that he was expelled by Danj�r� from the theatre, and for a time it seemed that he might never return. When the Imperial was opened, K�shir� became attached to this theatre, and was quickly reinstated in the favour of the public. Danj�r�'s widow, however, never forgot the injunction of her husband that K�shir� was not to succeed him, and while this actor is in every respect an Ichikawa, the great name of the tenth is still going begging. In the Ichikawa aragoto r�les K�shir� is the best in Japan. Thoroughly trained in the Fujima school of dancing, he is a creative dancer, always producing new modes of expression. As a realistic actor he has few equals, and shows much cleverness in new plays. It is in making up, however, that he greatly excels, and can transform his countenance by means of strange, imaginative designs, or become a rogue, policeman, statesman, doctor, or lawyer in modern plays with surprising success." (Zo� Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 12th day of the 5th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Meiji era was the 10th of June 1870 in the western calendar.

[2] A play belonging to the Kabuki J�hachiban.

[3] "Hipp� Denju" and "Terakoya" were staged.

[4] The roles of Benten Koz�, Nang� Rikimaru, Tadanobu Rihei and Akaboshi J�zabur� were played by Onoe Kikugor� VI, Nakamura Kichiemon I, Ichikawa Omez� IV and Nakamura Tokiz� III.

[5] The roles of Iky�, Shinb� and Miuraya Agemaki were played by Nakamura Kichiemon I, Sawamura S�j�r� VII and Onoe Kikugor� VI.

[6] The roles of Princess Yuki and Konoshita T�kichi were played by Nakamura Shikan VI and Nakamura Kichiemon I.

[7] The roles of Soga Gor� Tokimune and Soga J�r� Sukenari were played by Ichimura Uzaemon XVI and Onoe Baik� VII (who celebrated his sh�mei).

[8] The roles of Arajishi Otokonosuke and Hosokawa Katsumoto were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Kichiemon I.

[9] The roles of Wat�nai and Kinsh�jo were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Nakamura Tokiz� III.

[10] The roles of Soga Gor� Tokimune and Soga J�r� Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Ennosuke II and Sawamura S�j�r� VII.