Sawamura Sojuro

Japanese: 沢村宗十郎 - さわむらそうじゅうろう

A Kabuki actor. His stage name has been Kinokuniya for generations.

[Yukio Hattori]

First World

(1685-1756) was born into a samurai family, but in his youth he aspired to be an actor, starting out as a minor travelling actor. He first trained in Osaka, then moved to Edo, where in 1718 (Kyoho 3) he changed his name to Sawamura Sojuro and eventually became one of the leading actors in Edo Kabuki. He later changed his name to Sawamura Chojuro III, and then to Suketakaya Takasuke I. He was good-looking and had a refreshing eloquence. He incorporated the strengths of Kamigata to make up for the shortcomings of the Edo style, and built his own unique style of acting in both wagoto and jitsugoto. He was praised as the "two great flowers" alongside the immensely popular Ichikawa Danjuro II.

[Yukio Hattori]

II

(1713-1770) The adopted son of the first head actor. He played a variety of roles, from young female actors to leading actors and then to villains, but he excelled in the latter. He had good looks and dignity.

[Yukio Hattori]

III

(1753-1801) The second son of the second. He made a name for himself as a child actor under the name Sawamura Tanosuke, and progressed to the leading male roles before assuming the name of the third in 1771 (Meiwa 8). His popularity further increased as the first Namiki Gohei wrote many masterpieces for him, and he was highly esteemed as a great Edo male actor. He was good-looking, skilled in harmony, and known as the best seducer. Ooshi Yuranosuke was highly praised as unparalleled in history.

[Yukio Hattori]

IV

(1784-1812) The eldest son of the 3rd. Along with the 1st Onoe Eizaburo (later the 3rd Kikugorou) and the 7th Ichikawa Danjūrō, he was called one of the three great Edo young actors and was highly anticipated, but he died of illness at the young age of 29.

[Yukio Hattori]

5th

(1802-53) was a disciple of the 4th. In July 1844 (Tenpo 15), he assumed the stage name of the 5th. He later took the stage names of the 5th Sawamura Chojuro and the 3rd Suketakaya Takasuke. He was a man of good looks and dignity, and showed particular skill in the family art of wagoto.

[Yukio Hattori]

VI

(1838-86) The eldest son of the 5th generation. A famous Meiji era actor who took on the stage name of the 4th generation Sukeya Takaya Takasuke in 1879 (Meiji 12) after passing through the ranks of the 2nd generation Sawamura Genpei and the 2nd generation Tossho. Although he did not actually use the name Sawamura Sojuro, he is counted as the 6th generation in the Sawamura family.

[Yukio Hattori]

7th

(1875-1949) Adopted son of the 4th Suke Takaya Takasuke. Succeeded to the 7th Suke Takaya Takasuke in 1908 (Meiji 41). He also played female roles, and was called the last Japanese actor to carry on the traditions of Edo actors. His specialties included Jujiro in "Taikoki," Yogoro in "Futatsuchocho," Izaemon in "Yoshidaya," and as a female actor, he also played young girls such as Ofune in "Yaguchi no Watashi" and Omiwa in "Imoseyama," and in his later years he also showed excellence in difficult roles such as old women, such as Mimyo and Kakuju. A collection of his best roles is available as "Kouga Jushu."

[Yukio Hattori]

8th

(1908-1975) The third son of the 7th Ichikawa. He was adopted by the 2nd Ichikawa Sadanji and took the name Ichikawa Shoen for a time, but in 1933 (Showa 8) he returned to his parents' home and worked as a leading female actor under the name of the 4th Ichikawa Natsumasu during the time of the Shin Kabukiza in Shinjuku. In 1953 (Showa 28), he took on the name of the 8th Ichikawa.

[Yukio Hattori]

IX

(1933-2001) The eldest son of the 8th generation. His real name was Sawamura Juichi. He took the name from the 5th generation Sawamura Natsumasu in 1976 (Showa 51). He is a rare actor who can bring a humorous flavor to old-fashioned Kyogen, and he is both a leading actor and a female actor, and he also shows enthusiasm for playing evil women. He holds the "Sojuro Association" every year. His younger brother is the 2nd generation Sawamura Tojuro (1943- ), a female actor.

[Yukio Hattori]

Sawamura Sojuro (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
From top to bottom, the first, second and third generations. "Portraits of Actors of All Ages" by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), published in 1862 (Bunkyu 2), owned by the National Diet Library .

Sawamura Sojuro (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

Sawamura Sojuro (4th, 5th, and 6th generations)
From the top, the 4th, 5th, and 6th generations. Painting by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), "Portraits of Actors of All Ages," published in 1862 (Bunkyu 2), owned by the National Diet Library .

Sawamura Sojuro (4th, 5th, and 6th generations)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

歌舞伎(かぶき)俳優。屋号は代々紀伊国屋(きのくにや)。

［服部幸雄］

初世

（1685―1756）武士の家に生まれたが、青年時代に俳優を志し、旅回りの端役(はやく)から出発。初め大坂で修業したが、のち江戸に下り、1718年（享保3）沢村宗十郎と改め、やがて江戸歌舞伎を代表する名優になる。のちに3世沢村長十郎、さらに初世助高屋高助(すけたかやたかすけ)と名を改めた。容姿に優れ、口跡(こうせき)はさわやかであった。上方(かみがた)の長所を取り入れて江戸風の欠点を補い、和事(わごと)・実事(じつごと)の演技に独自の芸風を築き上げた。人気抜群であった2世市川団十郎と並んで「両輪の名花」とたたえられた。

［服部幸雄］

2世

（1713―70）初世の養子。若女方(わかおんながた)から立役(たちやく)に、さらに実悪(じつあく)に転じたが、実悪にもっとも優れた。風姿がよく、品格があった。

［服部幸雄］

3世

（1753―1801）2世の次男。沢村田之助を名のり子役で名をあげ、立役に進んで1771年（明和8）3世を襲名。初世並木五瓶(ごへい)が彼のために多くの名作を書いたので、人気はいよいよ高まり、江戸立役の名優として重んじられた。容姿に優れて、和事が得意で、色事師の随一と称された。大星由良之助(ゆらのすけ)は古今無比と絶賛された。

［服部幸雄］

4世

（1784―1812）3世の長男。初世尾上(おのえ)栄三郎（後の3世菊五郎）・7世市川団十郎と並び、江戸若手の三幅対(さんぶくつい)と称されて期待されたが、29歳の若さで病死した。

［服部幸雄］

5世

（1802―53）4世の門弟。1844年（天保15）7月5世を襲名。後に5世沢村長十郎、3世助高屋高助を襲名した。容姿に優れ、品位があり、とくに家の芸である和事に技量を示した。

［服部幸雄］

6世

（1838―86）5世の長男。2世沢村源平(げんぺい)、2世訥升(とっしょう)を経て、1879年（明治12）4世助高屋高助を襲名した明治の名優。この人は実際には沢村宗十郎を名のらなかったが、沢村家では6世に数えている。

［服部幸雄］

7世

（1875―1949）4世助高屋高助の養子。1908年（明治41）7世を襲名。女方(おんながた)をも兼ね、江戸役者の伝統を継ぐ最後の和事師と称された。『太功記』の十次郎、『双蝶々(ふたつちょうちょう)』の与五郎、『吉田屋』の伊左衛門などを当り芸とし、女方では『矢口渡(やぐちのわたし)』のお舟、『妹背山(いもせやま)』のお三輪(みわ)などの娘役のほか、晩年には微妙(みみょう)・覚寿(かくじゅ)など老婆役の難役にも優れた味をみせた。当り役を集めた「高賀(こうが)十種」がある。

［服部幸雄］