1848 – Otomo born, according to 1868 Otago passenger list for Lenton & Smith section of Great Dragon Troupe.
1867 March – Tomo/登茂, daughter of Isokichi of Yokohama, the leader and daikagura exponent in the Lenton & Smith section of the Great Dragon Troupe’s passport records. 1 year passport for 9 performers, all House of Shōgorō, to tour Hong Kong, Philippines, Java, Singapore, Penang and Calcutta. Isokichi and Mitarō’s passports are only for 1 month. Contract with troupe is for two years.
Otomo is not mentioned in any of the advertising or reviews April-December 1867. Advertising sometimes mentions 2, sometimes 3 women – Ohatsu, Katsujiro (who is a male dressed as a woman) by name.
1867 April – Lenton and troupe leave Yokohama for Shanghai on the Ganges, with Phil Kirby. Then on to Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Java, Rangoon
1867 April – As we understand it, during their trip to China and Japan, Mr. Smith and Mr. Lenton engaged a Japanese acrobat and magician troupe, consisting of 1 men, 1 woman and 2 boys, who will come to Java under the direction of Mr. Lenton and will perform never seen before tricks here, including the Topspinner and the Butterfly, which at the moment arouse the enthusiasm of London. The Japanese troupe is currently performing in Hong Kong. (Batavian Trade Journal 3 April)
1867 May – John Washington Smith with Lenton & Smith troupe in Java and Singapore. Advertised as 14 in number with two Japanese women.
1867 July LENTON & SMITH’S GREAT IMPERIAL DRAGON TROUPE Japanese Artists, of JEDDO, including Twelve Men and Three Women, co-opted for the enormous cost of $12,000 – Samarang, Java Bode
The photo below on the right has “Moto” on the shamisen of the female on the left and “Katsu” on the shamisen of the female on the right. Right hand side of the photos was taken in Surabaya. Great Dragon Troupe (Lenton & Smith) were in Java in April/May 1867. Similar clothing of younger female and boy but rug and furniture is different.
1867 September – Lenton arrives in Calcutta. October/November – Lenton & Smith troupe in Calcutta – do not get good audiences. Times of India – Friday 08 November 1867
1867 October – Lenton & Smith troupe in Penang with Gengero and his magic bottle, Cho-nos-kee, Gen-ge-ro playing flute while Chie okit-chie balances on bamboo and Cutswho-gero – Genjirō, Chōnosuke, Katsujirō and Chiyokichi. Omoto would have become pregnant around this time.
1867 November 25th Avoca leaves Galle for Melbourne
1867 December 16th – arrive in Melbourne on the Avoca – 11 Japanese, Mr & Mrs Smith, Mr & Mrs Lenton, Mr Ferrari, Mr Kirby and Mr Herbert
1867 December – combined Great Dragon Troupe arrive in Australia. Omato – pointed bamboo walking, Japanese paper etc in advertising. Metaro also mentioned.
1868 January – Omato perch and bamboo swinging
(no mention of Omato in Australia February and March until appear in Sydney in April)
1868 May – Tasmanian Times says troupe is 11 people, 8 males and three females, two of whom are married women, the youngest of them being a very nice looking girl of 14 or 15, who has been a matron [ie married woman] for upwards of three years.
Passengers on Union to Hobart: Mr. Lenton, Mrs. Lenton, Mr. Herbert, Master Frank, Master John, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Ferrare, Mr. Murray, Mr. Westbrook, Mr. Holmes, and the following members of the Japanese troop -Eso-kitchie, director ; Che-o kitchie, Metaro, Sagero, Yaske, Cho-nos-kee, Bungero, Gengero; females-Cuts-who-gero, Omato, Oh-hatsne; P. Kirby, Interpreter
1868 July 23rd – Omato gives birth to a baby boy Ivanim/Iranim on board the Penola, during the troupe’s passage to Adelaide. His birth is recorded under the name of Penola Inimee Metaro in Australia.
1868 August 1 – appeared during Cuts-who-gero’s
rope-walking, and sang the Japanese legend, of
The Prince and the Milkmaid.
1868 August 21 – Omato and her baby, Iranum Penola – Adelaide. Photographs distributed of the Japanese.
1868 September 2nd – Ballarat – this evening Omato and her baby are to appear – advertised throughout September – no mention in reviews.
Below are possible photos of Omoto on the right (looks similar to photo above) with Isokichi and Mitaro from Sisson’s papers. Osawa or Katsujiro, Chiyokichi or Kinjuro, Isokichi and Mitaro and unidentified Western male from Robert Sayers’ collection, taken in Bardwell’s studio, Ballarat, Australia. Great Dragon Troupe were in Ballarat Jan-Feb and Sep 1868. Tannaker’s troupe were in Ballarat Aug-Sep but the line up does not match his troupe of 3 men, 3 women. Were photos taken in the same session? Left hand photo the women are wearing geta.
1868 October – Lenton & Smith troupe depart Victoria on the Otago for New Zealand with Mr & Master Kitchie aged 30 and 10, Mr Mitaro aged 19, Mr Bungero aged 21, Mr Sagero 18, Miss Cutswhogero 17, Mr Narshee 22, Ms Omoto 20, Ms Ohatsue 21, Mr Gingero 19, Mr Chonosuke 24.
1868 November – New Zealand – dance Cuts-who-gero, Mitaro and Omato. Bungero, Gengero, Sagero and the Cicerone Eso Kitchie
1868 November – and January 1869 appears in advertising as a dancer Omato
1869 January – Omoto appears in line up in advertising (no baby)
1869 February – Great Dragon Troupe finish tour of Australasia.
1869 March 9th – Lenton & Smith troupe leave Sydney for Shanghai on Huntly Castle – Eso Vitchie (Isokichi), Che O. Vitchie (Chiyokichi), Metaro, Sagero, Cho Nos Kee, Beenyero (Bungero), Yas Kee, Emato, Ohatsue, Cuts-Who-Gero, Gingero, P. Kirby.
Ninjin 