BAND� MITSUGOR� III (original) (raw)

3rd lunar month of 1782: Band� Mitahachi I and his brother Band� Minosuke take respectively the names of Band� Minosuke I and Band� Sanpei at the Moritaza.

10th day of the 4th lunar month of 1782 [3]: His father Band� Mitsugor� I died.

11th lunar month of 1782: he took the name of Band� Mitahachi I at the Moritaza.

9th lunar month of 1783: he was adopted by Morita Kan'ya VIII and took the name of Morita Kanjir� II at the Moritaza.

11th lunar month of 1793: he took the name of Band� Minosuke I at the Kiriza.

5th lunar month of 1794: premiere at the Kiriza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Noriai Banashi"; Minosuke played the role of Shinoda ??? [more details].

11th lunar month of 1799: Band� Minosuke I took the name of Band� Mitsugor� III at the Nakamuraza, performing in the kaomise drama "Tametomo Yumiya no Oyafune". At the same time, Band� Mitsugor� II took the name of Ogino Izabur� II at the Ichimuraza.

8th lunar month of 1803: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Banzui Ch�b� Sh�jin Manaita"; Mitsugor� played the role of Shirai Gonpachi [casting].

11th lunar month of 1806: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kawaranu Hana Yuki no Michinoku".

7th lunar month of 1807: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Rokusuke in the drama "Reigen Kanaegadake", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" world; his stage partner in the role of Osono was Iwai Hanshir� V.

11th lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Moritaza of "Yamato Gana Iro no Nana Moji". This program was made up of seven dances: "Kanjo" (the court lady), "Saru Mawashi" (le dresseur of singes), "Inaka Musume" (a country girl), "Sotoba Komachi", "Genta", "Momotar�" and "Sanbas�". All the roles were played by Mitsugor�.

1st lunar month of 1809: Mitsugor� played at the Moritaza the roles of Kud� Saemon Suketsune and Kobayashi no Asahina in the new year sogamono drama "Gohiiki Aratama Soga"; the roles of Soga Gor� Tokimune and Soga J�r� Sukenari were played by Onoe Monzabur� II and Onoe Eizabur� I.

3rd lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Fukumori Ky�suke I's drama "Sono Mukashi Koi no Edo-zome"; Mitsugor� played the roles of Dozaemon Denkichi and the white sake seller Kisuke [casting].

11th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hy�z� I and Sakurada Jisuke II kaomise drama "Misao no Hana Toba no Koizuka", which celebrated the sh�mei of Onoe Sh�roku I and Onoe Matsusuke II; Mitsugor� played the roles of the send� Tedori Yojir�, Watanabe Saemon Wataru (later the bonze J�gen), Yaheiby�e Munekiyo (Taira no Munekiyo) and Komatsu Naifu Shigemori [more details].

1st lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Kokoro no Nazo Toketa Iroito"; Mitsugor� played the role of Honj� Tsunagor� [casting].

3rd lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hy�z� I's drama "Kachi Zum� Ukina no Hanabure" (commonly called "Shirafuji Genta"); Mitsugor� played the role of the sum� wrestler Shirafuji Genta [casting]. The play ended with a Tomimoto-based dance-drama entitled "Kaze Sasou Kane mo Yotsudake", starring Mitsugor�, Iwai Hanshir� V and Matsumoto K�shir� V.

5th lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Katsu Hy�z� I and Sakurada Jisuke II drama "Ehon Gapp�-ga-Tsuji"; Mitsugor� played the roles of Takahashi Yaj�r�, Magoshichi and Gapp� [casting].

8th lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Chigusa no Hana Iro no Yozakari". Mitsugor� danced in duo with the onnagata Iwai Hanshir� V. This dance was commonly called "Yamato Dango".

9th lunar month of 1810: premiere at the Ichimuraza of the 3-role hengemono "Mata Atarashiku Mitsu no Sakazuki", which was performed by Mitsugor�. One of the roles, "Kairaishi", is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire.

3rd lunar month of 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of Sakurada Jisuke II's 7-role Tokiwazu-based hengemono "Shichimai Tsuzuki Hana no Sugatae", a program made up of seven dances: "Nyo San no Miya", "Kajiwara Genta", "Shiokumi" (the salt-making girl), "Sarumawashi" (a monkey showman), "Gannin B�zu" (a bonze), "R�jo" (an old woman) and "Kan U" (a Chinese warlord). All the roles were played by Mitsugor�. The dances "Gannin B�zu" and "Shiokumi" are still part of the current repertoire; the former is nowadays staged as "Ukare B�zu".

7th lunar month of 1811: premiere at the Ichimuraza of "Tamamo-no-Mae Obana no Nishiki", the Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto"; Mitsugor� played the role of Kazusanosuke Tsunehiro [more details]. It was followed by the premiere at the Ichimuraza of the drama "Nazo no Obi Chotto Tokub�"; Mitsugor� played the role of Issun Tokub� [more details].

5th lunar month of 1812: Mitsugor� played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi and Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

9th lunar month of 1812: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Kakuju and Takebe Genz� in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

3rd lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 12-role hengemono "Shiki no Nagame Yosete Mitsudaiji", made up of twelve dances, one for each month of the lunar calendar. All the roles were played by Mitsugor�, including the Bonito seller, which is still part of the current Kabuki repertoire under the title "Katsuo Uri".

11th lunar month of 1813: Mitsugor� was zagashira for the first time in his career; he played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Abe no Munet�, Arakawa Samon and the old woman Iwate in the kaomise drama "Okud�sha Band� Junrei", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Nakamura Matsue III.

3rd lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater all the roles of a 12-roles dance program called "Osete Mitsu Matamo J�niji". Just like in the 3rd lunar month of 1813, this great program was made up of twelve dances, one for each month of the lunar calendar:

Month	Role
SHI (month of the Mouse)	Komatsu Biki
CH� (month of the Cow)	Oharame (the woman from Ohara)
IN (month of the Tiger)	Uir� Uri (the medecine-seller)
B� (month of the Rabbit)	Kachikachi Yama
SHIN (month of the Dragon)	Otohime (Princess Oto)
SHI (month of the Snake)	Enoshima Zat�
GO (month of the Horse)	�ji Mairi
BI (month of the Sheep)	Kami Ginuta
SHIN (month of the Monkey)	Saru Tahiko
Y� (month of the Rooster)	Niwatori Musume (the Rooster Daughter)
JIYUTSU (month of the Dog)	Yotsudake Bushi
GAI (month of the Wild Boar)	Nitta no Shir�

4th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of �boshi Yuranosuke and Tonase in the drama "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

5th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Danshichi Kurob� in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Onoe Matsusuke II (Issun Tokub�) and Suketakaya Takasuke II (Tsuribune Sabu).

6th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of the sum� wrestler Nuregami Ch�gor� in the drama "Futatsu Ch�ch� Kuruwa Nikki"; his stage partner in the role of the rival sum� wrestler Hanaregoma Ch�kichi was Nakamura Utaemon III.

7th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of the cook Kisuke in "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba"; the roles of Okon and Mitsugi were played by Fujikawa Tomokichi II and Onoe Matsusuke II.

8th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Karaki Masaemon and Uematsu Unai in the drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa".

9th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Shigetada in the drama Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki; his stage partners in the roles of Akoya and Iwanaga Saemon were Nakamura Matsue III and Nakamura Utaemon III.

11th lunar month of 1814: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Ninin Muko Mikurai Sadame".

4th lunar month of 1815: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Kajiwara Genta in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".

6th lunar month of 1815: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Gengob� in the drama "Godairiki Iro no Minato", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Godairiki Koi no F�jime" world; his stage partners in the roles of Koman and Sangob� were Nakamura Matsue III and Ichikawa Ichiz� I.

7th lunar month of 1815: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Danshichi Kurob� in the drama "Otokodate Iro-mo Yoshiwara" (very similar to "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"); his stage partners were Onoe Baik� III (Issun Tokub�) and Ichikawa Ichiz� I (Tsuribune Sabu).

9th lunar month of 1815: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Sait� Bett� Sanemori in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

11th lunar month of 1815: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in Fukumori Ky�suke I's kaomise drama "Shitenn� Oedo no Kaburaya", which celebrated the sh�mei of Onoe Kikugor� III and Kataoka Gach� and welcomed in Edo the actor Sawamura Tanosuke II.

1st lunar month of 1816: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the new year sogamono drama "Hiyoku no Ch� Haru no Soga Giku". This new year drama mixed two sekai: it was a sogamono and a gonpachi-komurasakimono. The sogamono fell into oblivion and the gonpachi-komurasakimono was staged independently under the title "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara" ("Gonge" and "Gonj�"); Mitsugor� played the roles of Yawata no Sabur�, Oni� Shinzaemon, Kaji no Ch�b� and Funakoshi J�emon [more details].

7th lunar month of 1816: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Teraoka Heiemon, Kakogawa Honz� and Kazuemon in the drama "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

9th lunar month of 1816: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Sait� Bett� Sanemori in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

11th lunar month of 1816: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Fuwa Nagoya Yuki no Dategasa", playing among others the role of Nagoya Sanza; his stage partner in the role of Fuwa Banzaemon was Matsumoto K�shir� V.

4th lunar month of 1817: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Abe no Munet� in the drama "�sh� Adachi-ga-Hara".

8th lunar month of 1817: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Haniu Yoemon in the drama "Tsuizen Kasane �gi".

9th lunar month of 1817: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Naruto Ginj�r� in the drama "Manma to Sh�bi Naruto no Shiranami".

11th lunar month of 1817: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Hana to Yuki Wag� Taiheiki", which celebrated the sh�mei of Band� Mitsuemon I, Matsumoto Goroichi and Band� Hidesuke.

4th lunar month of 1818: premiere at the Nakamuraza of Sakurada Jisuke II's Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Sono Sugata Hana no Utsushie", commonly called "Mitsu Ningy�" (literally "The Three Puppets") and ending a program entitled "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku" (nibanme); Mitsugor� played the role of the young tanzen samurai [casting].

5th lunar month of 1818: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Motome and Daihanji no Kiyosumi in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

8th lunar month of 1818: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Kinugawa Taniz� and Yoemon in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki"; the role of Kasane was played by Iwai Hanshir� V.

11th lunar month of 1818: Mitsugor� performed at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Higashiyama Dono Kabuki no Danmaku"; he also played the roles of Miuranosuke, Kumasaka Tar� and Tamaya Shinb� in the play "Ise Heiji Hiiki no Kaomise".

3rd lunar month of 1819: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of the vile Iwafuji in the drama "Yayoi no Hana Onna Hinagata", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Kagamiyama" world; his stage partners were Nakamura Shikan I (Ohatsu) and Nakamura Daikichi I (Onoe).

4th lunar month of 1819: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Matsu�maru and Kakuju in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

5th lunar month of 1819: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Issun Tokub� in "Natsu Matsuri Yomiya no Tateire", whose plot and characters belonged to the "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" world; his stage partners were Nakamura Shikan I (Danshichi Kurob�) and Seki Sanj�r� II (Tsuribune Sabu).

7th lunar month of 1819: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Sonobe Hy�e in the drama "Shin Usuyuki Monogatari".

9th lunar month of 1819: first adaptation to Kabuki (in �shibai!) of the drama "Seish� Akogi-ga-Ura"; Mitsugor� played the role of Akogi no Heiji [casting].

9th lunar month of 1820: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the 7-role hengemono "Setsugekka Nagori no Bundai". All the seven dances were played by Mitsugor�. Three dances ("Asazuma Bune", "Makasho" and "Tama Usagi") are still part of the current Kabuki repertoire. He also played the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". All these items were in fact his onagori ky�gen for he was about to depart from Edo to perform in �saka.

11th lunar month of 1820: premiere at the Tamagawaza of the dance "Fumi Uri", which was performed in the dance program "Hana Momiji Shin� K�sh�". The main role was played by Mitsugor�.

12th lunar month of 1820: Mitsugor� settled in �saka.

1st lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� played the roles of Oda Harunaga, Sanemori and Iwafuji in the dramas "Ehon Taik�ki", "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki" and "Keisei Kagamiyama", which were produced by Nakamura Matsuyo at the Kado no Shibai. His main stage partner was his Kamigata rival Nakamura Utaemon III.

3rd lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Iruka and Fujiwara no Tankai in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin"; his stage partners were Arashi Koroku IV (Omiwa, Koganosuke), Nakamura Utaemon III (Fukashichi, Sadaka) and Nakamura Matsue III (Hinadori).

5th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Yuranosuke, En'ya Hangan and J�tar� in the drama "Taiheiki Ch�shin K�shaku". He also played the role of Shunkan in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", which was staged at the end of the program.

6th lunar month of 1821: Katsu Hy�z� I's drama "Kachi Zum� Ukina no Hanabure", commonly called "Shirafuji Genta", was revived for the first time, 11 years and 3 months after its premiere in Edo, in Ky�to at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Mitsugor� played the role of the sum� wrestler Shirafuji Genta [casting]. He also played the role of Sait� Bett� Sanemori in the drama "Genpei Nunobiki no Taki".

7th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� played in Nagoya at the Tachibana no Shibai. He played among others the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" act of the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

8th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� performed in the same theater several roles in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

9th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� performed in the same theater in the dramas "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", "Awa no Naruto no Shiranami" and "Kuruwa Bunsh�".

10th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� performed in the same theater in the dramas "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" and "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

11th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� moved to Ky�to and played the role of Yuranosuke in the drama "Taiheiki Ch�shin K�shaku", which was staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

12th lunar month of 1821: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of Iwafuji in the drama "Kagamiyama"; his stage partners were Nakamura Karoku I (Onoe) and Band� J�tar� (Ohatsu).

1st lunar month of 1822: Mitsugor�'s rank in the Kamigata hy�banki was goku-j�-j�-kichi (extreme - superior - superior - excellent). He played at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Matsu�maru, Terukuni, Kakuju and Kan Sh�j� in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was produced by Nakamura Kanesuke.

2nd lunar month of 1822: the rivalry between Mitsugor� and Nakamura Utaemon III reached its climax when both actors played simultaneously the prestigious larger-than-life role of Ishikawa Goemon in the drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri". Nakamura Utaemon III performed it at the Naka no Shibai and Mitsugor� at the Kado no Shibai. Mitsugor�'s stage partners were Ichikawa Danz� V (Hisayoshi) and Arashi Koroku IV (Sonoo no Kata). Mitsugor� also played the role of Kago no Jinb� in the drama "Tsuyu no Ch� Kuruwa no Meigetsu". This great performance ended his successful 13-months stay in Kamigata.

3rd lunar month of 1822: Mitsugor� was back in Edo. He played 3 roles in the drama "Yorimasa Yumiya no Ie Zakura", which was staged at the Nakamuraza.

5th lunar month of 1823: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Ume�maru, Kan Sh�j�, Kakuju and Takebe Genz� in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

8th lunar month of 1823: premiere at the Moritaza of the dance "Yamagaeri", in which Mitsugor� played the main role.

8th lunar month of 1824: Mitsugor� played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Daihanji no Kiyosumi, Fukashichi and Motome in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

9th lunar month of 1824: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of the sum� wrestler Nuregami Ch�gor� in the drama "Futatsu Ch�ch� Kuruwa Nikki"; his stage partner in the role of the rival sum� wrestler Hanaregoma Ch�kichi was Ichikawa Danj�r� VII.

11th lunar month of 1824: Mitsugor� performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Yamatogana Heike Monogatari".

1st lunar month of 1825: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Kud� Saemon Suketsune, Soga J�r�, Gorohachi and Kurofune Ch�emon in the new year sogamono drama "Satsuki no Fuji Soga Hatsuyume"; his stage partners in the roles of Kud� Suketsune's wife Nagi no Ha and Soga Gor� were Iwai Hanshir� V and Seki Sanj�r� II.

3rd lunar month of 1825: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the eponymous role of the drama "Monogusa Tar�". He also plays the role of Hanb� in the love story "Shiikake no Sode Ukina no Kaemon", in duo with Iwai Hanshir� V in the role of Hanb�'s lover Kohina.

5th lunar month of 1825: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the roles of Yasuke, Tadanobu, the fox Genkur�, Suke-no-Tsubone and Yokawa no Zenji Kakuhan in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

7th lunar month of 1825: Mitsugor� played in the same theater the role of the warrior Kumagai Jir� Naozane in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

11th lunar month of 1825: Mitsugor� performed at the Ichimuraza in the kaomise drama "Azuma Dairi Kabuki no Sh�gatsu".

6th lunar month of 1826: Mitsugor� performed in the same theater in a 3-role Kiyomoto-based hengemono entitled "Mata Koko-ni Kabuki no Hanadashi". The 3 roles were Take-no-Uchi no Sukeneya (a legendary character famous for his extraordinary long life), a fisherman fighting a giant octopus and a tekomai festival dancer. The fisherman and the dancer are nowadays independent dances, which were are under the respective titles of "Amiuchi" and "Omatsuri".

6th lunar month of 1827: premiere at the Kawarasakiza of Tsuruya Nanboku IV's drama "Hitori Tabi Goj�san Tsugi"; Mitsugor� played the roles of Teranishi Kanshin (in reality Date no Yosaku, later Nippon Daemon), Honj� Sukeichi, the fisherman Mihoshichi and Hokke Ch�b� [casting].

5th lunar month of 1828: Mitsugor� played at the Ichimuraza the roles of Shiratay�, Kakuju and Takebe Genz� in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".

8th lunar month of 1831: Mitsugor� triumphed at the Ichimuraza by performing in "T�kaid� Yotsuya Kaidan" and "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

11th lunar month of 1831: Mitsugor� appeared on stage for the last time, at the Kawarasakiza, performing in "Matsu o Chikara Tomoe no Fujinami", which celebrated the sh�mei of Sawamura Tossh� I. He fell seriously ill and died in the 12th lunar month.

Comments:

Band� Mitsugor� III was one of the best tachiyaku of the Bunka (1804~1818) and Bunsei (1818~1830) eras and a great dancer who was excellent in the quick-changes multi-roles dances. He was also famous for his acting rivalry with the Kamigata actor Nakamura Utaemon III (street-fights between groups of fans were not unusual according to the chronicles).

Band� Mitsugor� III's best roles: Kumagai Jir� Naozane ("Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki"), Sait� Bett� Sanemori ("Genpei Nunobiki no Taki"), Nuregami Ch�gor� ("Futatsu Ch�ch� Kuruwa Nikki"),Matsu�maru ("Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"), Fujiya Izaemon ("Yoshidaya"), Hayano Kanpei ("Kanadehon Ch�shingura"), Miyagi Asojir� ("Asagao Nikki"),Kinugawa Taniz�/Arajishi Otokonosuke ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi"), Kameya Ch�b� ("Koi Bikyaku Yamato �rai"), Tomomori/Tadanobu ("Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura").

[1] Literally the Boss of the Eiki district.

[2] The 27th day of the 12th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Tenp� era was the 29th of January 1832 in the western calendar.

[3] The 10th day of the 4th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Tenmei era was the 21st of May 1782 in the western calendar.