Adopted at a young age by the actor Bandō Mitsugorō III, who gave him the name Tamanosuke, he made his first stage appearance in 1824, at the age of 11, taking the name Bandō Tamasaburō.

Six years later, in 1830, after performing on tour in Nagoya and the surrounding area of Kamigata with Bandō Hikosaburō IV, Tamasaburō and Hikosaburō settled in Osaka and began performing regularly at the Naka no Shibai (Central Theatre).

Over the course of his career, Shūka performed in countless plays, and was a celebrated onnagata (actor specializing in female roles) alongside his tachiyaku (actor of male roles) partner, Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII.

His final performance was as Kaoyo Gozen and Okaru in the famous Kanadehon Chūshingura, in November the following year.

As a result, drama historians now consider Shūka and his adopted son to be the fifth and sixth, respectively, to be known as Mitsugorō.