ASAO MOTOGOR� I (original) (raw)

Stage name:

Asao Motogor� I In Japanese

Other name: Izayoinosuke

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Kisui

Existence: ???

Connection:

Master: Asao J�jir� I

Brother: Asao Motoz�

Disciples: Asao Tamej�r� I, Asao Yatar�, Asao Motogor� II (?)

Career:

End of the 1710s: he started his career as a disciple of Asao J�jir� I, who gave him the name of Asao Motogor� I. He performed in Ky�to as a wakashugata/iroko in Ky�to theaters.

11th lunar month of 1727: he became wakaonnagata.

11th lunar month of 1730: Motogor� became zamoto and produced in �saka the kaomise drama "Kunkoku �e no K�bai".

1st lunar month of 1734: Motogor�'s rank in the �saka hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, was j�-j� (superior - superior) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Hanagiri Toyomatsu I and Mihogi Shichitar�.

11th lunar month of 1738: Motogor� played in Ky�to the role of Daihachi's spouse Yaseno in Tomimura Takichi's kaomise drama "Ichi no Tomi H�rai Yakata", which was produced by Nakamura Tomij�r� I at Kameya Kumenoj�'s theater; the role of Hirano Daihachi was played by Arashi Shichigor� I.

1st lunar month of 1739: Motogor�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, was j�-j�-hankichi (superior - superior - half excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1739: Motogor� performed in Ky�to in the kaomise drama "Muromachi-dono Ch�h� Denki", which was produced by Sanogawa Ichimatsu I for the nadai Miyako Manday�; his stage partners were Yamanaka Heij�r� I, �tani Hiroji I, Sawamura Otoemon I, Tamiya Shirogor�, Haruyama Genshichi II, Onoe Kikugor� I, Shinozuka Kazaemon, Matsumoto Tomoj�r� I and Arashi Sanshir� III.

1st lunar month of 1740: Motogor�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, was j�-j�-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

5th lunar month of 1742: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's play "Shinsh� Kawanakajima Kassen" was adapted for Kabuki for the first time, in Ky�to at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Motogor� played the role of Danj�'s spouse Matsushima [more details].

9th lunar month of 1746: first Kabuki adaptation of Takeda Izumo I, Miyoshi Sh�raku, Namiki Senry� I and Takeda Koizumo puppet theater drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which was produced by Kiyosabur� at Miyako Manday�'s theater (the Kitagawa no Shibai); Motogor� played the roles of Kakuju and Tonami [casting].

11th lunar month of 1746: Motogor� became zamoto and produced in Ky�to the kaomise drama "Taihei Asahi no Shirahata", in which he played the role of Okano; his stage partners were Fujioka Daikichi, Sakurayama Shirosabur� II, Shinozuka Kazaemon, Yamanaka Heij�r� I, Mihogi Shichitar� and Tatsuoka Hisagiku.

1st lunar month of 1747: Motogor�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, was j�-j�-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Nakamura Tomij�r� I.

11th lunar month of 1747: Motogor� performed in the kaomise drama "Teikin �rai Manzoku Kagami", which was produced by Nakamura Matsub� I at the Kitagawa no Shibai and celebrated the sh�mei of Sakakiyama K�shir� II and his son Sakakiyama Shirotar� II; Others stage partners were Yamashita Matatar� I, Takenaka Heikichi, Fujioka Daikichi, Nakamura Kiyosabur� I, Nakamura Shirogor� III, Kasaya Matakur� I, Fujikawa Heikur� and Sanogawa Hanazuma II.

11th lunar month of 1748: Motogor� performed at Hayagumo Ch�day�'s theater in the kaomise drama "Jidai Makie Ch�shingura", which was produced by Nakamura Matsub� I.

11th lunar month of 1749: Motogor� played at Miyako Handay�'s theater the role of Hanzaemon's spouse Oky� in the kaomise drama "Imosegura Kogane no Ishizue"; his stage partners were Ichikawa Danz� III, Yamatoya Jinb� IV, Fujikawa Heikur�, Arashi T�j�r� (he played the role of the senior retainer Nanbu Hanzaemon), Anegawa Daikichi I, Arashi San'emon IV and �tani Hirohachi I.

11th lunar month of 1750: Motogor� played at Miyako Handay�'s theater the role of Hanz�'s wife Makino in Matsuya Raisuke I's kaomise drama "Kaikei Wag� Hanayakata"; the role of Todoroki Hanz� was played by Fujioka Daikichi.

1st lunar month of 1751: First Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto", which was produced in Ky�to by Miyako Handay� at his theater; Motogor� played the roles of Michiharu's wife Hagi-no-Kata and Oyachi [casting].

6th lunar month of 1751: Motogor� played in the same theater the role of Kanbei's wife Chizato in the drama "Katakiuchi Deguchi no Yanagi"; the role of Muneta Kanbei was played by Yamashita Matatar� I.

11th lunar month of 1751: Motogor� performed in Ky�to in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Shinohara Gunki".

11th lunar month of 1752: Motogor� played at the Minamigawa no Shibai the role of the keisei Hanaura in the kaomise drama "Hatsubaika Asahi no Minato", which was produced by Yamashita Matatar� I.

1st lunar month of 1753: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5 acts puppet theater drama "Yamatogana Ariwara Keizu", which was produced as a new year drama at the Minamigawa no Shibai by Yamashita Matatar� I; Motogor� played the roles of Kingo's spouse Kaoyo and Hy�e's spouse Kishinami [casting].

11th lunar month of 1753: Motogor� performed in Ky�to at Miyako Handay�'s theater in the kaomise drama "Hade Musume Bandachi Yakata", which was produced by Yamashita Ugenta II and celebrated the sh�mei of Matsumoto Tomoj�r� II.

Fall 1755: Motogor� went to �saka.

12th lunar month of 1755: Motogor� performed at the Kado no Shibai in the drama "Hyakumanki Tsuwamono Taiheiki".

1st lunar month of 1756: Motogor�'s rank in the �saka hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, was j�-j�-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank with Arashi Koroku I and Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II.

11th lunar month of 1756: Motogor� played at the �nishi no Shibai the role of Mihara Ikkaku's ny�b� Son� in Namiki Sh�z� I's kaomise drama "Daimatsu Kyokusuke Tanzen Ropp�", which was produced by Daimatsu Kyokusuke.

1st lunar month of 1757: premiere at the �nishi no Shibai of Namiki Sh�z� I's drama "Tenjiku Tokub� Kikigaki �rai"; Motogor� played the roles of Yoshiteru's midaidokoro Asaka Gozen and Shirokur�'s ny�b� Omoto [casting].

1st lunar month of 1758: Motogor� appeared on stage most likely for the last time, in Ky�to at the Hirano no Shibai, playing the role of Harukaze in the new year drama "Kume no Sennin Yoshino Zakura", which was produced by Kameya J�jir�. No record afterwards.

Comments:

Asao Motogor� I was an important 18th century onnagata actor, who achieved fame for himself in Ky�to and in �saka in the 1740s and the 1750s. He followed in the footsteps of his master Asao J�jir� I, the founder of the Asao clan and an outstanding female roles specialist. He excelled in keisei and kar� ny�b� roles. He was the last onnagata of the Asao clan for his best disciple became one of the most talented katakiyaku actors in Kabuki history.