He was an influential actor during the Kaei through Meiji eras of the Japanese imperial calendar.

Bandō Kakitsu I was born in 1847, the son of kabuki actor Ichimura Takenojō V. In November 1848, Kakitsu appeared on stage for the first time under the stage name Ichimura Takematsu III.

September 1871 brought debt to the Ichimura-za too great for Kakitsu to handle, forcing him to leave the theater to Fukuchi Mohei, who changed the name to Murayama-za.

Kakitsu returned in November 1871 to perform in the classic Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura.

Kakitsu appeared on stage for the last time in March 1893 in the drama Yamabiraki Meguro Shinfuji.