Changes

For a number of years after his father's death, up through [[1709]], Danjûrô suffered a slump in his career, as enemies of his father with influence among the theatre managers denied him major roles and shut him out from playing any prominent part in the kabuki world.

For a number of years after his father's death, up through [[1709]], Danjûrô suffered a slump in his career, as enemies of his father with influence among the theatre managers denied him major roles and shut him out from playing any prominent part in the kabuki world.

Danjûrô returned to prominence circa 1709, and four years later, in [[1713]]/3, played the lead role in the debut of the first [[Sukeroku]] play, ''Hana Yakata Aigo Zakura''. Over the course of his career, Danjûrô moved between the major Edo theatres, performing in many different plays, including, on occasion, prominent premieres. The first month of [[1719]] marked the kabuki debut of [[Chikamatsu Monzaemon]]'s ''[[Sonezaki Shinju]]'', in which Danjûrô played the lead role. In [[1727]]/11, Danjûrô performed in a production in which a trap door (''seri'') was used for the first time for actors' entrances. This production also marked the stage debut of Danjûrô's adopted son, then known as Ichikawa Masugorô, who would later become Danjûrô III. Just over a year later, in [[1729]]/1, Danjûrô starred in the premiere of the play ''[[Ya no ne]]''.

Danjûrô returned to prominence circa 1709, and the following year performed the lead role in ''[[Narukami]]'' (a role pioneered by his father) for the first time.<ref>Roger Keyes, ''Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan'', University of Washington Press (2006), 70.</ref> Three years later, in [[1713]]/3, played the lead role in the debut of the first [[Sukeroku]] play, ''Hana Yakata Aigo Zakura''. Over the course of his career, Danjûrô moved between the major Edo theatres, performing in many different plays, including, on occasion, prominent premieres. The first month of [[1719]] marked the kabuki debut of [[Chikamatsu Monzaemon]]'s ''[[Sonezaki Shinju]]'', in which Danjûrô played the lead role. In [[1727]]/11, Danjûrô performed in a production in which a trap door (''seri'') was used for the first time for actors' entrances. This production also marked the stage debut of Danjûrô's adopted son, then known as Ichikawa Masugorô, who would later become Danjûrô III. Just over a year later, in [[1729]]/1, Danjûrô starred in the premiere of the play ''[[Ya no ne]]''.

On key anniversaries of his father's death, Danjûrô led public performances and private ceremonies in memory of his father. As was typical, guests to these private family affairs would donate "incense money" to help support the costs of the gatherings, and the family would prepare small gifts in return. The woodblock-printed volume ''[[Chichi no on]]'' was produced in [[1730]] as one such gift, setting a precedent for memorial albums for kabuki actors. For the 50th anniversary of his father's death, Danjûrô and his son [[Ichikawa Danjuro IV|Matsumoto Kôshirô II]] commissioned a memorial stone to be erected at the entrance to [[Koyasan|Kôya-san]], the mountain temple where the first Danjûrô had been buried.

On key anniversaries of his father's death, Danjûrô led public performances and private ceremonies in memory of his father. As was typical, guests to these private family affairs would donate "incense money" to help support the costs of the gatherings, and the family would prepare small gifts in return. The woodblock-printed volume ''[[Chichi no on]]'' was produced in [[1730]] as one such gift, setting a precedent for memorial albums for kabuki actors. For the 50th anniversary of his father's death, Danjûrô and his son [[Ichikawa Danjuro IV|Matsumoto Kôshirô II]] commissioned a memorial stone to be erected at the entrance to [[Koyasan|Kôya-san]], the mountain temple where the first Danjûrô had been buried.

In [[1747]]/5, [[1748]]/5, and [[1749]]/6, Danjûrô performed in the premieres of ''[[Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami]]'', ''[[Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura]]'', and ''[[Kanadehon Chushingura|Kanadehon Chûshingura]]'', respectively, which have since become widely regarded as the three most famous, or most popular, plays in the kabuki repertoire.

In [[1747]]/5, [[1748]]/5, and [[1749]]/6, Danjûrô performed in the premieres of ''[[Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami]]'', ''[[Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura]]'', and ''[[Kanadehon Chushingura|Kanadehon Chûshingura]]'', respectively, which have since become widely regarded as the three most famous, or most popular, plays in the kabuki repertoire.

After numerous periods of illness and convalescence, Ebizô performed onstage for the final time in [[1758]]/3, in the role of [[Soga Goro|Soga Gorô]], in a production of ''Ya no ne'' at the Ichimura-za; shortly afterwards, he fell ill once more, and died roughly six months later at his home in Meguro, a village near Narita-san, his family's patron temple. He was buried at Jôshô-in, a temple in the Shiba district of Edo.  

After numerous periods of illness and convalescence, Ebizô performed onstage for the final time in [[1758]]/3, in the role of [[Soga Goro|Soga Gorô]], in a production of ''Ya no ne'' at the Ichimura-za; shortly afterwards, he fell ill once more, and died roughly six months later at his home in Meguro, a village near Narita-san, his family's patron temple. He was buried at Jôshô-in, a temple in the Shiba district of Edo.

==References==

==References==