NAKAMURA TOMIJ�R� II (original) (raw)

Stage names:

Nakamura Tomij�r� II
Nakamura Matsue III
Nakamura Sank� I
Nakamura Matsue III
Nakamura Matsue
Nakamura Sank� I
Nakamura Matsue III
Nakamura Sank� I
Ichikawa Kumatar�

Guild: Tenn�jiya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry names: Keishi [4], Baika [3], Sank� [2]

Blazon: Yattsu Yaguruma

Existence: 1786 ~ 13th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1855 [1]

Connections:

Masters: Nakamura Utaemon III, Ichikawa Jinnosuke

Adopted son: Nakamura Daikichi III

Disciples: Nakamura Keijo, Nakamura Kamon 0.1, Nakamura Kikuj�r�, Nakamura Noshio IV

Career:

1786 ~ 1808: born in �saka. He starts his career as a disciple of Ichikawa Jinnosuke, who gives him the name of Ichikawa Kumatar� and lets him play in his troupe of children actors (Kodomo Shibai).

7th lunar month of 1808: his master Ichikawa Jinnosuke dies.

Fall 1812: he becomes disciple of the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon III.

11th lunar month of 1812: he receives the name of Nakamura Sank� I at the Naka no Shibai, playing the role of Konami in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

9th lunar month of 1813: Sank� plays for the first time the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is performed in �saka at the Kado no Shibai; his stage partners in the roles of Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon areNakayama Hyakka and Nakamura Utaemon III.

11th lunar month of 1813: he settles in Edo and takes the name of Nakamura Matsue III at the Nakamuraza, playing 3 roles in the drama "Okud�sha Band� Junrei".

9th lunar month of 1814: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; his stage partners in the roles of Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon are Band� Mitsugor� III and Nakamura Utaemon III.

1st lunar month of 1816: premiere at the Nakamuraza of the new year sogamono drama "Hiyoku no Ch� Haru no Soga Giku". This new year drama mixed two sekai: it was a sogamono and a gonpachi-komurasakimono. The sogamono fell into oblivion and the gonpachi-komurasakimono was staged independently under the title "Sono Kouta Yume mo Yoshiwara" ("Gonge" and "Gonj�"); Matsue plays the roles of Princess Maizuru, Tsukisayo, Ch�b�'s ny�b� and Kashiku [more details].

1816: Matsue goes back to Kamigata and performs at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Ky�to.

1st lunar month of 1819: Matsue plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki"; his stage partners in the roles of Shigetada and Iwanaga Saemon are Ichikawa Ebij�r� I and Asao Kuzaemon I.

3rd lunar month of 1821: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of the drama "Kajiwara Heiz� K�bai Tazuna", a new version of the third act of "Miura no �suke K�bai Tazuna", revised by Kanazawa Ry�goku I; Matsue plays the role of Kozue [casting]. He also plays the role of Hinadori in the drama "Imoseyma Onna Teikin"; his stage partners are Arashi Koroku IV (Omiwa, Koganosuke), Band� Mitsugor� III (Daihanji, Iruka, Fujiwara no Tankai) and Nakamura Utaemon III (Fukashichi, Sadaka).

5th lunar month of 1821: Matsue plays in the same theater the roles of Kaoyo and Okita in the drama "Taiheiki Ch�shin K�shaku".

7th lunar month of 1821: Matsue moves to the Naka no Shibai, playing the role of Masaoka in the play "Hagi ha Sendai Na ha Matsumoto", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world.

9th lunar month of 1821: Matsue is back at the Kado no Shibai, playing in the drama "Taiheiki Kikusui no Maki" but the performance is not a success because of a quarrel between Nakamura Utaemon III and Ichikawa Danz� V.

11th lunar month of 1821: he takes back the name of Nakamura Sank� I at the Naka no Shibai, where he plays the roles of Saemon's okugata and the nakai Ofune in the drama "Sanjikkoku Yofune no Hajimari".

Fall 1822: Sank� goes to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1822: Sank� performs at the Nakamuraza in the drama "Gohiiki Azuma Hyakkan", which celebrates the sh�mei of Mimasu Gennosuke I and Sakata Hangor� IV; his stage partners are Matsumoto K�shir� V, Band� Mitsugor� III, Iwai Kumesabur� II, Arashi Kanj�r� I and Yamashina Jinkichi III.

1st lunar month of 1823: he takes the name of Nakamura Matsue, using a different way to write Matsue.

3rd lunar month of 1823: Matsue plays the role of Masaoka in the drama "Kaeri Kuruwa Hana no Date Zome", whose plot and characters belong to the "Meiboku Sendai Hagi" world and which is staged at the Nakamuraza.

Fall 1823: Matsue goes back to Kamigata.

11th lunar month of 1823: he takes back the name of Nakamura Matsue III and triumphes at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Ky�to by playing the roles of Oritsu and Omatsu in the drama "Keisei Chigo no Fuchi". He also plays the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", sharing the stage with the stars Ichikawa Ebij�r� I (Shigetada) and Nakamura Utaemon III (Iwanaga Saemon).

1st lunar month of 1824: he takes back the name of Nakamura Sank� I.

Spring 1825: he takes back the name of Nakamura Matsue III.

1st lunar month of 1827: Matsue's rank in the Kamigata hy�banki, wakaonnagata section, is j�-j�-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual]. He is with Sawamura Kunitar� II the kanjiku for the onnagata actors.

5th lunar month of 1827: Matsue plays for the first time the role of Osono in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is performed at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai in �saka. His stage partner in the role of Rokusuke is Seki Sanj�r� II. The same play is performed with the same casting in the 6th lunar month at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai.

7th lunar month of 1827: Matsue plays the roles of Miyako and Ohaya in the drama "Futatsu Ch�ch� Kuruwa Nikki", which is performed at the Kado no Shibai.

6th lunar month of 1828: tour in Miyajima. Matsue plays among others the prestigious role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki".

9th lunar month of 1829: Matsue plays the role of Otoku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonk�", which is produced at the Kado no Shibai by the zamoto Nakamura Umematsu. His stage partners are Nakamura Utaemon III (Matahei), Arashi Rikan II (Utanosuke) and Kataoka Nizaemon VII (Sh�gen). The same play is performed with the same casting in November at the Kitagawa no Shibai in Ky�to.

3rd lunar month of 1830: At the beginning of the month, Matsue plays the roles of Osono, Tonase and Okaru in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura", which is performed in �saka at the Kado no Shibai. He also plays the role of the courtesan Agemaki in the drama "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura". His stage partners in the roles of Sukeroku and Soga J�r� are Ichikawa Hakuen II and Nakamura Utaemon III. In the middle of March, Matsue plays the roles of Ohatsu and Okon in the dramas "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Omokage" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He also performs the main role of the dance "Keisei D�j�ji", which commemorates the first anniversary of the death of Nakamura Noshio II and belongs to the "Musume D�j�ji" world, a role popularized by Nakamura Tomij�r� I.

4th lunar month of 1830: Matsue plays 2 roles in the same theater in the drama "�t�-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi".

6th lunar month of 1830: tour in Miyajima in the company of Nakamura Utaemon III. They perform in "Hirakana Seisuiki".

11th lunar month of 1830: Matsue plays the roles of Yae, Tonami and Kakuju in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is performed in Ky�to at the Kitagawa no Shibai. He also plays the role of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of the play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

1st lunar month of 1831: Matsue is back in �saka, playing 3 roles in the drama "Keisei Shigeshige Yawa", produced by Nakamura Baika I at the Naka no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1831: the troupe performing at the Naka no Shibai moves to the Kado no Shibai. Matsue plays the roles of Shinobu and Okoma in the dramas "Onna Setsuy� Emon Kagami" and "Koi Musume Mukashi Hachij�".

5th lunar month of 1831: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Itotaki in the drama "Musume Kagekiyo". The role of Kagekiyo is played by Nakamura Utaemon III.

7th lunar month of 1831: the troupe performing at the Kado no Shibai moves to the Naka no Shibai. Matsue plays the roles of the Kiku-no-Mae and Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also plays the role of the courtesan Umegawa in "Koi Bikyaku Yamato �rai", sharing the stage with Nakamura Utaemon III in the role of Kameya Ch�b�.

9th lunar month of 1831: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Namiji in the drama "Takane no Nami".

11th lunar month of 1831: Matsue, following his master and his troupe, moves to Ky�to, performing for the Kitagawa no Shibai kaomise program. He plays the roles of Okaru, Tonase and Osono in the classic "Kanadehon Ch�shingura".

1st lunar month of 1832: Matsue, Utaemon and his troupe are back in �saka, playing in the drama "Keisei Hana no Yamazaki", which is produced by Nakamura Tamanosuke II at the Naka no Shibai.

2nd lunar month of 1832: the troupe moves to the Kado no Shibai. Matsue plays the role of Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is produced by Sawamura Montar�.

9th lunar month of 1832: Matsue plays in the same theater the role of Shigenoi in the drama "Koi Ny�b� Somewake Tazuna".

11th lunar month of 1832: Matsue takes part in the kaomise program of the Kado no Shibai, playing in the dramas "Nichiren Sh�nin Minori no Umi" and "Suda no Haru Geisha Katagi" and the dance "Tokiwa Akizuki no Aki", which are produced by Nakamura Umematsu.

1st lunar month of 1833: Nakamura Matsue III takes the prestigious name of Nakamura Tomij�r� II, which has not been held since 8th lunar month of 1786, at the Kado no Shibai, playing in the new year drama "Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi". This is also the premiere of "Chichi Morai", staged as the second part of "Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi", in which Tomij�r� plays the role of Koyuki [casting].

2nd lunar month of 1833: tour in the province of Bizen.

3rd lunar month of 1833: Tomij�r� is back in Ky�to and plays the roles of Sadaka and Omiwa in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai. Premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of "Hana Fubuki Koi no Tekagami", in which Tomij�r� plays the role of Koyuki [casting].

5th lunar month of 1833: Tomij�r� is back in �saka and plays the role of Kinsh�jo in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen", which is produced by Nakamura Tamanosuke at the Kado no Shibai. The role of Wat�nai is played by Arashi Rikan II.

7th lunar month of 1833: Tomij�r� moves to Ky�to, performing in the drama "Kokusen'ya Gassen" and "Gokusaishiki Musume �gi", which are staged at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

12th lunar month of 1833: Tomij�r� is back in �saka, playing the role of Sagami in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which is produced by Nakamura Tsurunosuke at the Kado no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1834: his rank in the Kamigata hy�banki is �-j�-j�-kichi (grand - superior - superior - excellent).

3rd lunar month of 1834: Tomij�r� plays the role of princess Taema in the drama "Narukami Zakura", produced by Nakamura Tsurunosuke at the Kado no Shibai. The role of the wicked priest Narukami is played by Ichikawa Ebiz� V.

10th lunar month of 1834: Tomij�r� plays the role of Otoku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Keisei Hangonk�", which is performed in the same theater. The role of Matahei, Otoku's husband, is played by Nakamura Shikan II.

11th lunar month of 1834: Tomij�r� stays a few weeks in Ky�to, participating in the kaomise of the Kitagawa no Shibai. He plays the role of Sagami in the "Kumagai Jin'ya" scene of the classic "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki". He also plays the role of Sekijo, Gotob�'s wife, in "Yoshitsune Koshigoej�". The role of Gotob� is played by Nakamura Utaemon III.

1st lunar month of 1835: Tomij�r� plays in �saka in the drama "Keisei Iriai Zakura", which is produced by Nakamura Tsurunosuke at the Kado no Shibai. This is also the premiere of the dance "Wake Futatsu Ninin D�j�ji", which stars Tomij�r� and Nakamura Shikan II.

4th lunar month of 1835: Tomij�r� moves to the Naka no Shibai, playing the role of Okon in the drama "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". His stage partner in the role of Fukuoka Mitsugi is Nakamura Shikan II.

6th lunar month of 1835: Tomij�r� and Nakamura Shikan II settle in Ky�to.

9th lunar month of 1835: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Ohaya, Oyasu and Oseki in the dramas "Hikimado", "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi" and "Kiyomizu Seigen", which are performed at the Kitagawa no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1836: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nishizawa Ipp�'s drama "Hana no Ani Tsubomi no Yatsufusa" Tomij�r� plays the roles of Princess Fuse and Hamaji [casting].

8th lunar month of 1836: Tomij�r� plays 2 roles in the drama "Yorimasa Nue Monogatari", which is performed in the same theater. He also plays the role of the courtesan Fujiya Azuma in the drama "Abura Uri Kuruwa Banashi".

10th lunar month of 1836: Tomij�r� plays in the dramas "Mai �gi" and "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi", which are performed at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai in �saka.

2nd lunar month of 1837: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Shigenoi, Osan and Koman in the drama "Keisei Tamate Zuna", which is produced by Nakamura Umetar� at the Naka no Shibai.

7th lunar month of 1837: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Sadaka and Omiwa in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which is produced by Arashi Kitsuz� at the Kita-Horie Ichi-no-Gawa Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1837: Tomij�r� plays the role of Princess Toki in the drama "Kamakura Sandaiki", which is performed at the Kita-Shinchi no Shibai.

9th lunar month of 1837: Tomij�r� plays the role of Princess Minazuru in the classic "Kiichi H�gen Sanryaku no Maki", which is performed at theNaka no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1837: Tomij�r� takes part in the kaomise of the Minamigawa no Shibai in Ky�to. He plays the roles of Masaoka and the courtesan Takao in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

1st lunar month of 1838: Tomij�r� is back in �saka, playing in the drama "Keisei Sato no Funauta", which is staged at the Kado no Shibai and celebrates the sh�mei of Nakayama Ittoku III and Nakayama Yoshio III.

5th lunar month of 1838: Tomij�r� moves to the Naka no Shibai, playing the roles of Y�shide and Kozue in the dramas "Karukaya D�shin Tsukushi no Iezuto" and "Kajiwara Heiz� K�bai Tazuna".

9th lunar month of 1838: Tomij�r� plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya D�man �uchi Kagami", which is performed in the same theater.

11th lunar month of 1838: Tomij�r� takes part in the kaomise of the Kitagawa no Shibai in Ky�to. He plays the roles of Sagami and Otani in the dramas "Kumagai Jin'ya" and "Igagoe D�ch� Sugoroku".

1st lunar month of 1839: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nishizawa Ipp�'s drama "Keisei Hama no Masago"; Tomij�r� plays the roles of Gion-no-Okaji, the keisei Ishikawaya Masagoji and Otaki [casting]. He also plays the role of Masaoka in "Chiyo no Haru Hagi no Wakabae", a play with a script similar to the classic "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

3rd lunar month of 1839: the play "Sessh� Gapp�-ga-Tsuji" is staged for the first time in �saka, at the Kado no Shibai; Tomij�r� plays the roles of Tamate Gozen and Irihei's wife Osode [casting]. He also plays the roles of Hinadori and Omiwa in the great drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

8th lunar month of 1839: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Shimabara Koch� and Kozue in the dramas "Shimabara Zome Nanagusa Moy�" and "Kajiwara Heiz� K�bai Tazuna", which are produced in the same theater.

9th lunar month of 1839: Tomij�r� moves to the Naka no Shibai and plays 3 roles, including the famous role of Hangaku, in the drama "Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru".

11th lunar month of 1839: Tomij�r� and all the actors playing at the Naka no Shibai move to Ky�to. They perform at the Kitagawa no Shibai in the dramas "Keisei Sato no Funauta", "Wada Gassen Onna Maizuru", "Hirai Gonpachi", "Honch� Nij�shik�" and "Kuruwa Bunsh�".

1st lunar month of 1840: Tomij�r� is back in �saka, playing 4 roles in the drama "Keisei Setsugekka", which is produced by his disciple Nakamura Tomisuke at theNaka no Shibai.

3rd lunar month of 1840: Tomij�r� plays 4 roles in the drama "Futatsu Ch�ch� Kuruwa Nikki", which is performed in the same theater.

4th lunar month of 1841: Tomij�r� plays the role of the courtesan Y�giri in the drama "Y�giri Kuruwa Bunsh�", which is performed at the Naka no Shibai. His stage partner in the role of Fujiya Izaemon is Ichikawa Danz� V.

1st lunar month of 1842: Tomij�r� performs in the same theater in the drama "Keisei Tsukushi no Tsumagoto" and the dance "Keisei D�j�ji".

3rd ~ 4th lunar months of 1842: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Ohatsu and Okon in the dramas "Kagamiyama Gonichi no Omokage" and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba". He also performs the main role of the dance "Keisei D�j�ji".

1843: Tomij�r� is victim of the repressive sumptuary laws which are directed at the Kabuki actors. He is expelled from �saka and has to settle for a while in the port of Sakai.

11th lunar month of 1845: Tomij�r� is back in Ky�to and takes part in thekaomise of the Kitagawa no Shibai. He plays 5 roles in the drama "Ashiya D�man �uchi Kagami". He also plays the roles of Sagami and Kiku-no-Mae in the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki".

5th lunar month of 1846: Tomij�r� play the role of Oginoya Yaegiri in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Komochi Yamanba", which is performed in the same Theater.

Spring 1847: tour in Ise (Furuichi Shibai).

Summer 1847: tour in Nagoya (Tachibana no Shibai).

1st lunar month of 1849: his rank in the Kamigata hy�banki is �-goku-j�-j�-kichi (grand - extreme - superior - superior - excellent) [Visual].

11th lunar month of 1849: Tomij�r� plays the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Osato in the michiyuki and the "Sushiya" scene of the play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which is performed at the Tachibana no Shibai in Nagoya. The roles of Yasuke and Tadanobu are played by Arashi Rikaku II. Tomij�r� also plays the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki".

1st lunar month of 1850: Tomij�r� plays for the last time the role of the courtesan Akoya in the drama "Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki", which is performed in Sakai at the Minami no Shibai.

11th lunar month of 1851: Tomij�r� plays the role of Sodehagi in the drama "�sh� Adachi-ga-Hara", which is produced in Ky�to at the Kitagawa no Shibai by the nadai Kameya Kumenoj� and Hayagumo Ch�day�. His stage partners are Arashi Rikaku II (Abe no Munet�), Kataoka Ichiz� I (Abe no Sadat�) and Jitsukawa Enzabur� I (Hachiman Tar�).

9th lunar month of 1853: Tomij�r� returns in Edo in the company of the tachiyaku Nakamura Nakaz� III. He plays for the last time the role of Osono in the drama "Kana Kyodai Musume no Adachi", whose plot and structure are very similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi", which is performed at the Ichimuraza. His stage partners in the roles of Rokusuke and Ky�goku no Takumi are Arashi Kichisabur� III and �tani Tomoemon IV.

11th lunar month of 1853: Tomij�r� takes part in the Ichimuraza's kaomise, playing the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Owasa in the drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi".

11th lunar month of 1854: Tomij�r� plays the prestigious roles of Sodehagi and Omiwa in the dramas "�sh� Adachi-ga-Hara" and "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which are performed at the Ichimuraza.

1st lunar month of 1855: Tomij�r� returns in Kamigata but falls seriously ill.

13th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1855 [1]: Tomij�r� dies.

Comments:

Great onnagata trained in the Kamigata acting traditions, Nakamura Tomij�r� II was also an excellent dancer and a renowned musician. His best roles were Omiwa ("Imoseyama Onna Teikin"), Masaoka ("Meiboku Sendai Hagi") Osono ("Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi") and Akoya ("Dan no Ura Kabuto Gunki").

"In the Bunka and Bunsei period the representative onnagata in �saka and Ky�to was Nakamura Tomij�r�. He was exiled by the authorities from �saka for extravagance. He tried to have his sentence revoked, and travelled up to Edo to appeal to the authorities, but in vain. Although he had been at the top of his profession, with no other onnagata to rival him, yet he was unable to return home, and spent his life in Sakai, the port near �saka, where he was obliged to play in country theatres with inferior players. This must have been severe punishment for an actor of genius, who lived to be 70 years of age." (Zo� Kincaid in "Kabuki, the Popular Stage of Japan")

[1] The 13th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 2nd year of the Ansei era was the 30th of March 1855 in the western calendar.

[2] Used when he was called Nakamura Sank� I or Nakamura Matsue III.

[3] Used when he was called Nakamura Matsue III.

[4] Used when he was called Nakamura Tomij�r� II.

Nakamura Tomij�r� II playing the role of the courtesan Y�giri in the drama "Kuruwa Bunsh�" (commonly called "Yoshidaya") in a print made by Utagawa Sadamasu (1840~1842)