BAND� SH�CH� II (original) (raw)
Stage names:
Other name: Yoshimatsu
Real name: Mizuta Yoshijir�
Nickname: Sakasa Hy�tan [1]
Guild: Yamatoya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Existence: 1848 ~ 29 September 1901
Connection:
Masters: Morita Kan'ya XII, Ichikawa Kodanji IV
Adopted son and son-in-law: Band� Sh�ch� III
Grandsons: Band� Matatar� VII, Ichikawa Komaz� X, Band� Mitsugor� IX
Great-grandsons: Band� Mitsugor� X, Band� Sh�ch� V
Great-great-grandson: Band� Minosuke II
Career:
1848: born in Nagoya. His father was a sum� wrestler.
1853: he became disciple of the actor Ichikawa Kodanji IV, who was on tour in Nagoya. He received the name of Ichikawa Yonemaru, playing the role of Goroichi in the drama "Ishikawa Goemon".
8th day of the 5th lunar month of 1866 [2]: his master Ichikawa Kodanji IV died.
1867: Yonemaru settled in �saka and took the name of Ichikawa Yonej�r� III at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai.
3rd lunar month of 1871: Yonej�r� settled in T�ky� and performed at Nakamuraza in the drama "Z�h� Senbon Zakura".
1873: Yonej�r� became disciple of the zamoto Morita Kan'ya XII, who gave him the name of Band� Sh�ch�.
January 1875: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "�gi By�shi �oka Seidan" (commonly called "Ten'ichib�"); Sh�ch� played the role of Oshimo [casting].
June 1876: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Hototogisu Date no Kikigaki"; Sh�ch� played the roles of Goheiji's musume Otsuru, the tsubone Kuretake and Yamana's okugata Sakasai [casting].
1880: tour in Nagoya with the troupe led by Ichikawa Danj�r� IX; Sh�ch� performed at the Furusode-ch� Shibai.
January 1881: Sh�ch� achieved a great success at the Shintomiza (T�ky�) by playing 9 roles in the 2 classic dramas "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" and "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
November 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono drama "Shima Chidori Tsuki no Shiranami"; Sh�ch� played the role of Shimaz�'s sister Ohama [casting].
February 1884: Band� Sh�ch� took the name of Band� Sh�ch� II at the Shintomiza.
February 1885: Sh�ch� took part in the opening ceremony of the Chitoseza [more details]. Premiere at the Chitoseza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Suiteng� Megumi no Fukagawa"; Sh�ch� played the role of Ogiwara's wife Omura [casting].
1887: tour in Nagoya.
May 1890: Sh�ch� played at the Shintomiza the roles of Oyoshi and Omine in the drama "Jitsuroku Ch�shingura".
March 1891: premiere at the Kabukiza of Fukuchi �chi's drama "Buy� no Homare Shusse Kagekiyo", a revised revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's jidaimono "Shusse Kagekiyo"; Sh�ch� played the role of Akoya [casting].
January 1892: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Shiobara Tasuke Ichidaiki"; Sh�ch� played the roles of Kakuemon's wife Osei and the goke Okame [casting].
July 1892: premiere at the Kabukiza of the drama "Kaidan Botan D�r�", adapted for Kabuki from a famous Rakugo story created by San'y�tei Ench�; Sh�ch� played the roles of Okuni and Omine [casting].
November 1893: Sh�ch� played at the Minamiza (Ky�to) the role of Masaoka in the drama "Jitsuroku Sendai Hagi".
21 August 1897: his second master Morita Kan'ya XII died.
May 1898: premiere at the Kabukiza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Edo Sodachi Omatsuri Sashichi"; Sh�ch� played the role of Kan'emon's ny�b� Otatsu [casting].
March 1901: Sh�ch� achieved a great success in �saka at the Kadoza by playing several roles in the dramas "Ura Omote Date Zome Kosode" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
April 1901: Sh�ch� appeared on stage for the last time, at the Misonoza in his hometown (Nagoya), playing the roles of Sagami and Oyumi in the dramas "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" and "Dondoro".
29 September 1901: Sh�ch� died.
Comments:
Band� Sh�ch� II was not a good-looking actor and his diction was not great but he nevertheless succeeded in making a great career as an onnagata. He excelled in the roles of sewamono house wives. His stage partners were the best Meiji tachiyaku like Ichikawa Danj�r� IX, Onoe Kikugor� V or Ichikawa Sadanji I.
[1] Literally "the upside-down gourd".
[2] The 8th day of the 5th lunar month of the 2nd year of the Kei� era was the 20th of June 1866 in the western calendar.