Stage names:

Nakamura Denkurô VI
Nakamura Shikaku I
Onoe Baikaku 0.3
Ichikawa Yoshimaru

Other name:

Nakamura Yoshimaru I

Real name: Sobue Yoshisaburô

Guild: Shinkomaya

Line number: ROKUDAIME (VI)

Poetry names: Kito, Bukaku

Existence: 14th day of the 7th lunar month of 1859 ^[1] ~ 20 July 1923

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Kanjaku III, Onoe Shôroku, Ichikawa Koinojô ^[2]

Adopted son: Nakamura Shikaku II

Career:

14th day of the 7th lunar month of 1859 ^[1]: born in Nagoya in the district of Suehiro-chô. His father Sobue Hyôe was in the money-lending business.

1869: his father became the producer of a a troupe of children-actors performing in Nagoya at the Suehiroza. Yoshisaburô became a disciple of Ichikawa Koinojô ^[2] and made his first stage appearance at the Suehiroza, playing under the name of Ichikawa Yoshimaru the roles of Sakuramaru and Shundô Genba in the classic "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami". His elder brother was also a member of this troupe (his stage name was Ichikawa Rito).

1869 ~ 1876: he moved to Ôsaka and became a disciple of Onoe Shôroku, who gave him the name of Onoe Baikaku. He performed in hama shibai theaters like the Takeda no Shibai or the Tenma no Shibai. Later on, he broke off with Onoe Shôroku and became a disciple of Nakamura Kanjaku III, who gave him the name of Nakamura Shikaku I.

January 1877: Shikaku performed at the Naka no Shibai in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi".

September 1885: Shikaku and Nakamura Umetarô went together to Tôkyô and joined the Torikuma Shibai troupe at the Harukiza.

November 1896: Shikaku took part in the opening ceremony of the Miyatoza [more details].

February/March 1904: successful premiere at the Tôkyôza of Tsubouchi Shôyô's drama "Kiri Hitoha"; Shikaku played the role of the ama Shôei [more details].

1904 ~ 1909: Shikaku worked as a producer at the Shintomiza.

October 1913: revival at the Kabukiza of the drama "Zôhiki" ^[3]; Shikaku played the role of the kôshitsu Atago-no-Mae [more details].

May 1919: Nakamura Shikaku I and his adopted son Nakamura Utanosuke III respectively took the names of Nakamura Denkurô VI and Nakamura Shikaku II at the Kabukiza; the new Denkurô played the roles of Saruwaka Denkurô and Satsuki in the dramas "Tanzen Asaina" and "Ehon Taikôki".

July 1923: he joined the touring troupe led by Ichikawa Sadanji II.

20 July 1923: Denkurô suddenly died in his inn in the city of Gifu.

Comments:

Nakamura Denkurô VI was a versatile actor, able to play a broad range of roles as a tachiyaku or an onnagata. In his latter years, he excelled in katakiyaku and fukeyaku roles.

[1] The 14th day of the 7th lunar month of the 6th year of the Ansei era was the 12th of August 1859 in the western calendar.

[2] Ichikawa Koinojô or Ichikawa Rinojô?

[3] A drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

Nakamura Denkurô VI playing the role of Nikki Danjô in the drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"

The Nakamura Shikaku line of actors

The Nakamura Denkurô line of actors