Stage names:

Nakamura Baishi IV

Real name: Ogawa Yoshiharu

Guild: Yorozuya

Line number: YODAIME (IV)

Birthday: 22 November 1987

Connections:

Great-great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku I

Great-great-grandfather: Nakamura Karoku III

Great-grandfather: Nakamura Tokizô III

Grandfather: Nakamura Tokizô IV

Father: Nakamura Tokizô V

Brother: Nakamura Mantarô

Career:

June 1991: first stage appearance (omemie), at the Kabukiza where he plays the role of Tsurunosuke in the drama "Ninjô Ura Nagaya".

June 1994: debut on stage (hatsubutai) at the Kabukiza, where the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Tokizô IV is celebrated; he receives the name of Nakamura Baishi IV, playing the roles of Chôbê's son Chômatsu and a young traveller in the play "Yudono no Chôbê" and the dance "Michiyuki Tabiji no Yomeiri"; the role of Chôbê is played by Yorozuya Kinnosuke.

October 1996: Baishi plays at the Kabukiza the role of Tsuruchiyo in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; the roles of Masaoka, Yashio and Masaoka's son Senmatsu are played by Nakamura Jakuemon IV, Kataoka Takao and Nakamura Mantarô.

February 2000: special kodomo shibai dance program to end the evening program at the Kabukiza; Baishi plays the role of Maizuru in the dance "Kusazuribiki"; the role of Maizuru is played by his brother Nakamura Mantarô.

January 2008: revival at the National Theatre of Sakurada Jisuke I's kaomise drama "Komachi-mura Shibai no Shôgatsu"; Baishi plays the role of Princess Katori [more details].

September 2009: short Kabuki tour in Monaco for the Naritaya guild; Baishi plays the role of a butterfly spirit in the dance-drama "Kagami Jishi" [more details].

January 2010: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei's long-forgotten drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko", which was revised and entitled "Asahi-ni Kagayaku Kin no Shachihoko"; it was staged to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the establishment of the city of Nagoya; Baishi plays the role of Princess Ashikaga Kuni [more details | casting].

January 2014: premiere at the National Theatre of "Sanzen Ryô Haru no Komahiki", a revival of Tatsuoka Mansaku's 1794 drama "Keisei Haru no Tori"; Baishi plays the role of Tôemon's daughter Otoyo [more details].

May 2018: 16th edition of the Cocoon Kabuki [more details].

January 2019: revival at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's 1779 drama "Sode Nikki Banshû Meguri"; this Otowaya-powered revision was entitled "Himeji-jô Oto-ni Kiku Sono Ishizue"; Baishi plays the roles of Momonoi Kogajirô, Momonoi Yaegikumaru and the koshimoto Okiku (in reality Momonoi Yaegikumaru) [casting | more details].

Comments:

Nakamura Baishi IV is a promising young onnagata actor of the Yorozuya guild.

Nakamura Baishi IV playing the role of Osato in the drama "Sushiya" (illustration courtesy of RANCHUROW (2010) all rights reserved)

The Nakamura Baishi line of actors