IMAMURA SHICHISABUR� II (original) (raw)

Stage names:

Poetry name: Riko

Existence: 1720 ~ 29th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1762 [1]

Connection:

Career:

1720~1743: born in Kamigata. He started his career as a disciple of Mihogi Shichitar�, performing in kodomo shibai under the name of Mihogi Shichisabur�. He spent some times in travelling troupes and took the name of Imamura Shichisabur� II [2] at an unknown date (middle of the 1730s?).

11th lunar month of 1743: Shichisabur� played in Ky�to the role of Taema Tsunaemon in the kaomise drama "Wakamidori Hatsumenbako", which was produced by Arashi Matsunoj� at Ebisuya Kichir�b�'s theater.

1st lunar month of 1744: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, tachiyaku section, was j�-j� (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1744: Shichisabur� became katakiyaku and played at Hoteiya Umenoj�'s theater the role of Sekiguchi Kanz� in the kaomise drama "Tanba Yosaku Kameyama Kayoi", which was produced by Nakamura Kumetar� I.

1st lunar month of 1745: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, katakiyaku section, was j�-j�-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank as Nakamura Danz�.

11th lunar month of 1745: Shichisabur� played at Hoteiya Umenoj�'s theater in the kaomise drama "Toragoyomi Hoteibukuro", which was produced by Nakamura Kumetar� I.

1st lunar month of 1746: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, katakiyaku section, was j�-j�-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1748: Shichisabur� played in Ky�to in the kaomise drama "Sugomori Hiru-ga-Kojima", which was produced by Arashi San'emon IV; his stage partners were Fujikawa Heikur�, Yamashita Matatar� I, Sakurayama Shirosabur� II, Hanakawa Ichinoj�, Sanogawa Hanazuma II and Nakamura Tomij�r� I.

11th lunar month of 1749: Shichisabur� played at Ebisuya Kichir�b�'s theater the role of Sanj� Sagoemon in the kaomise drama "Tokitsukazeyasu Keizu", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotar� II.

1st lunar month of 1750: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, katakiyaku section, was j�-j�-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1750: Shichisabur� played in Ky�to at Ebisuya Kichir�b�'s theater the role of Kurimoto Datenoj� in Fujikawa Sakoku's kaomise drama "Taira no Miyako Onna Ez�shi", which was produced by Sakakiyama Shirotar� II.

1st lunar month of 1751: Shichisabur� played in the same theater the role of the farmer Yogob� in Fujikawa Sakoku's ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Kane-ga-Fuchi".

11th lunar month of 1751: Shichisabur� became jitsuaku and played in Ky�to in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Shinohara Gunki".

1st lunar month of 1752: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, jitsuaku section, was j�-j�-(hanshiro)kichi (superior - superior - (half-white) excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1753: Shichisabur� played at Hoteiya Umenoj�'s theater the role of Mogami Manz� in the kaomise drama "Futaba no Nishiki Midori no Onikage"; his stage partners were Somematsu Shichisabur� I, Fujioka Daikichi, Sakata T�j�r� III, Sawamura Kunitar� I, Arashi Tominosuke I, Onoe Montar� and Band� Sukesabur� I.

1st lunar month of 1754: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, jitsuaku section, was j�-j�-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1754: Shichisabur� played at Hoteiya Umenoj�'s theater in Ky�to the roles of Nejigane Monpachi and Togashi no Samon in the kaomise drama "F�kigusa Aioi Genji", which was produced by Somematsu Matsujir�. This drama was in fact the first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet drama "Yoshitsune Koshigoej�" [more details].

11th lunar month of 1757: Shichisabur� became tachiyaku and performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Tsunomoji Keman no Yurai".

1st lunar month of 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Gion Sairei Shink�ki", which was simultaneously produced at the Minamigawa no Shibai [casting] and the Kitagawa no Shibai [casting]. It used its real title at the former theater but it was entitled "Keisei Niwatoriyama" at the latter theater; Shichisabur� played in the latter theater the role of Oda Nobunaga. Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, tachiyaku section, was two black strokes below j�-j�-kichi [visual].

11th lunar month of 1760: Shichisabur� played at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Kusunoki Masatsura in the kaomise drama "Kiku Nagashi Kokka Taiheiki", which was produced by Nakamura Senz� and celebrated the sh�mei of Nakamura Manb�.

1st lunar month of 1761: Shichisabur�'s rank in the Ky�to hy�banki, tachiyaku section, was j�-j�-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He shared the same rank as Ichikawa Danz� III.

12th lunar month of 1761: Shichisabur� appeared on stage for the last time, in Ky�to at the Kitagawa no Shibai, playing the role of Ayaha Chichibunosuke in the kaomise drama "Karanishiki Miyako no Hinagata", which celebrated the sh�mei of Takeshima K�zaemon IV.

2nd lunar month of 1762: Shichisabur� was expected to perform in the same theater but he suddenly fell ill and had to retire.

29th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1762 [1]: Shichisabur� died in Ky�to.

Comments:

Imamura Shichisabur� II was an important 18th century Ky�to actor, who achieved fame for himself in the Imperial City as a katakiyaku/jitsuaku (j�-j�-kichi in 1754) and as a tachiyaku at the end of his career (j�-j�-kichi in 1761). He was short-sized but had a powerful voice, which helped him being without rival in villain roles.

[1] The 29th day of the 3rd lunar month of the 12th year of the H�reki era was the 23rd of April 1762 in the western calendar.

[2] Unknown relationship to Imamura Motoj�r� (who was also Imamura Shichisabur� I).