Saruwaka Kanzaburō I (猿若勘三郎) (actor 1598 – 1658)

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Biography:

Born in Kyoto Saruwaka ('Young monkey') Kanzaburō settled in Edo in 1622 and first acted at the Saruwaka-za (猿若座) in Edo in 3/1624. According to Kabuki21 his birth-father was Nakamura Kanpei, the younger brother of a daimyō. Kanzaburō I's younger brother was a kyōgen performer. His older brother, Kanjirō, trained him in acting and in dance. It was Saruwaka Kanzaburō II changed the family name back to Nakamura and hence the theater became the Nakamura-za.

The first Saruwaka studied his craft with Mikuni Hikosaku I (三國彦作: dates unknown). "In 1636, both Mikuni Hikosaku I and Saruwaka Kanzaburô were chastised by the authorities for the use of lavish costumes on stage." The two of them performed at Edo castle in 2/1651.

Iwai Kumesaburō II (岩井粂三郎) on the left and Segawa Kikunojō V (瀬川菊之丞) on the right, both portraying <i>Yamadori seirei</i> (山鳥せいれい) or female mandarin ducks in the play <i>Saruwaka's gold-crested battle fan</i> (<i>Saruwaka Hisago no gunbai</i> - 猿若瓢軍配)
Related Object: Iwai Kumesaburō II (岩井粂三郎) on the left and Segawa Kikunojō V (瀬川菊之丞) on the right, both portraying Yamadori seirei (山鳥せいれい) or female mandarin ducks in the play Saruwaka's gold-crested battle fan (Saruwaka Hisago no gunbai - 猿若瓢軍配)