Original Chanbara (Sword Fighting) Archives

Tsumasaburo Bando

Stage name

Tsumasaburo Bando
Real name

Denkichi Tamura
Nickname

Bantsuma, Tsuma-san
Date of birth

December 14, 1901
Date of death

Died on July 7, 1953, at age 51
Debut starring work

October 17, 1923
Senketsu no Tegata, Part 1 and Part 2 – filmed by Tojiin Studio, Makino Film Productions
Best works
  • Heizaburo Kuritomi in Orochi (1925, Bando Tsumasaburo Production, Makino)
  • Shunsaku Ryuzoji and his younger brother Hayato in Sonnou (1926, Bando Tsumasaburo Production, Shochiku)
  • Jushiro Morio in Sunae Jubaku (1927, Bando Tsumasaburo Production, Shochiku)
  • Ukon Ibara and Kyonosuke Kamio in Mazo (1936, Bando Tsumasaburo Production, Shinko Kinema)
  • Yasube Nakayama in Chikemuri Takadanobaba (1937, Nikkatsu)
  • Ryoma Sakamoto in Ishin no Kyoku (1942, Daiei)
  • Matsugoro Tomishima in Muhomatsu no Issho (1943, Daiei)
  • Sankichi Sakata in Osho (1948, Daiei)
  • Chobei Banzuiin in Oedo Gonin Otoko (1951, Shochiku)
History
  • 1916: Introduced to Nizaemon Kataoka XI.
  • 1919: Joined Kokusai Katsuei, giving his stage name as Tousuke Bando around March.
  • 1920: Joined Shochiku Kinema Kamata Studio in June. In July, changed his stage name to Yojiro Bando and appeared as an extra in Kokusai Katsuei's Shima no Tsuka.
  • In 1921: Changed his stage name to Tsumasaburo Bando and founded Tokyo Grand Kabuki: Tsumasaburo Bando Troupe.
  • 1923: Joined Makino Film Production, founded by Shozo Makino in April, and became popular for his fiery sword fights in Senketsu no Tegata in October.
  • July 1924: Toa Kinema absorbed Makino Film Production and expanded popularity of hit films starring Tsumasaburo Bando.
  • September 1925: Became independent from Toa Kinema and established Bando Tsumasaburo Production.
  • 1926: In May, completed construction of the Bando Tsumasaburo Production Studio in Uzumasa, and in September, formed a distribution partnership with Universal Pictures of the U.S.
  • May 1927: Dissolution of partnership with Universal Pictures, investment tie-up with Shochiku Co.
  • June 1930: The Shochiku partnership was dissolved, and the company left Uzumasa.
  • 1931: A film studio was built in Yatsuyuen, Chiba. Formed a distribution partnership with Shinko Kinema.
  • 1932: Established Dainippon Jiyu Eiga Productions. Formed a distribution partnership with Paramount Pictures Corporation in the U.S.; dissolved after one production.
  • December 1936: Bando Tsumasaburo Production disbanded.
  • May 1937: Dissolved the Yatsu Studio and joined Nikkatsu Uzumasa.
  • 1942: Nikkatsu merged with Daiei through wartime integration.
  • 1949: Left Daiei and went freelance.

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