NAKA NO SHIBAI - NAKAZA
   
Noms Nakaza
Naka no Shibai
City Ôsaka
History

1652: a theater is built by Shioya Kuroemon in Ôsaka in the Dôtonbori district. Its name is Naka no Shibai ("The central stage").

1st lunar month of 1720: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's puppet theater drama "Heike Nyogo no Shima", which was written in 1719. The play is produced by Takeshima Kôzaemon II in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai and staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Shunkan Anegawa Shinshirô I
Chidori Matsushima Hyôtarô
Tanzaemon Motoyasu, Ariômaru Ichiyama Sukegorô I
Senoo Tarô Nakamura Jôemon
Tokiwa Gozen Sodeshima Genji
The priest Mongaku, Noto-no-Kami Takeshima Kôzaemon II
Tanba no Shôshô Naritsune Hyakunin'isshu Genzaburô
Hei Hangan Yasuyori Daimatsu Hyakusuke
Taira no Kiyomori Ôtori Michiemon
Azumaya Yamashita Kamenojô I

1st lunar month of 1743: the star Anegawa Shinshirô I, who became zamoto at the Naka no Shibai in the 11th lunar month of 1742, produces Namiki Jôsuke and Sawamura Bunji drama "Kurofune Isse Ichidai Otoko". Some features used on stage become the latest fashion in the city of Ôsaka, like the anegawa zukin (Anegawa's turban) or the anegawa geta (Anegawa's wooden clogs). Here is the casting:

Roles Actors
Kurofune Chûemon, Ageya Rokuroemon Anegawa Shinshirô I
Otome Yoshizawa Ayame II
Osan Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II
Kihei Bandô Toyosaburô I
Yagi Gonroku Arashi Sanjûrô II

12th lunar month of 1745: the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami" is staged at the Naka no Shibai for the first time, produced by Ichiyama Sukegorô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Danshichi Kurobê Arashi Shichigorô I
Issun Tokubê Ichiyama Sukegorô I
Tsuribune Sabu Sakakiyama Koshirô I
Otatsu Iwata Somematsu I
Okaji Sanjô Namie I
Mikawaya Giheiji Nakamura Jiroza I

The same play is simultaneously produced at the Ônishi no Shibai [casting], Kado no Shibai [casting] and Naka no Shibai.

8th lunar month of 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" is performed for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Naka no Shibai. It is produced by Ichikawa Ryûzô with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Benkei, Igami no Gonta Nakamura Utaemon I
Yazaemon, Noritsune Anegawa Shinshirô I
Ginpei, Hôgen Ichikawa Danzô III
Shizuka Gozen Yoshizawa Sakinosuke II

12th lunar month of 1750: the drama "Keisei Hangonkô" is produced at the Naka no Shibai for the first time. The zamoto is Nakamura Jûzô I, who works for the nadai Shioya Kuroemon. It is staged under a different title, "Keisei Tôyama Zakura", with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Matahei, Nagoya Sanza Mimasu Daigorô I
Fuwa Banzaemon Nakamura Utaemon I
Okichi Sanjô Namie I
Shôgen Kiriyama Monji I
Utanosuke Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Tôyama Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Shirojirô Iwai Hanshirô III

11th lunar month of 1752: the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Naka no Shibai as a kaomise drama produced by Nakamura Jûzô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Kumagai Jirô Naozane Ichikawa Danzô III
Midaroku, Taira no Tsunemori Iwai Hanshirô III
Okabe Rokuyata Nakamura Jûzô I
The yakko Tagohei Nakamura Utaemon I
Sagami (Kumagai's wife) Sanjô Namie I
Sugawaradayû Nakamura Kiyosaburô I
Taira no Atsumori, Kojirô Sanogawa Sôkichi
Kiku-no-Mae Anegawa Daikichi I
Princess Tamaori Nakamura Chônosuke
Hirayama no Mushadokoro Yamashita Jirôsa I
Satsuma-no-Kami Tadanori Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Hayashi Someyama Sôjûrô

1st lunar month of 1758: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act maruhonmono drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi", which was premiered for the puppet theater at the Takemotoza in the 2nd lunar month of 1757. The play was produced at the Naka no Shibai by Anegawa Shinshirô II with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Shunkan, Gankutsu no Raigen Nakayama Shinkurô I
Shunkan's nyôbô Azumaya, Kameômaru's nyôbô Oyasu Anegawa Daikichi I
Taira no Shigemori, Kameômaru Nakayama Bunshichi I
Fujiwara no Naritsune, Narame no Hyô Nakayama Raisuke I
Taira no Kiyomori Bandô Kunigorô I
Azumaya's mother Matsushima Hyôtarô
Makiya Jirokurô Yamamoto Kyôshirô I
Miyamatsu Kizô, Osada no Shôji Bandô Iwagorô
Gake no Dôroku, Hida no Saemon Ôtani Hirohachi I
Tanzaemon Motoyasu Takenaka Heikichi
Taira no Yasuyori, Haenuki no Iwa Matsuya Monjûrô
Tsuru-no-Mae, Tokiwa Gozen Yamashita Ugenta II
Matsu-no-Mae, Yuya Nakamura Koisa
Kogô, Shigemori's midaidokoro Minakawa Saizô

12th lunar month of 1761: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Takeda Haruzô's drama "Akiba Gongen Kaisen Banashi", the first drama in Kabuki history using gandô-gaeshi on stage, which was staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Nippon Daemon, Tsukimoto Yûmei Nakamura Utaemon I
Tamashima Ittô, Tamashima Kôbê Mimasu Daigorô I
Tsukimoto Hajimenosuke Arashi Sangorô II
Matsukura Genmotsu Takenaka Heikichi
The wakatô Gohei Fujikawa Hachizô I
Princess Mitsu, Enshû's wife Misao Nakamura Kumetarô I
The keisei Kagetsu Arashi Hinasuke I
Kiba no Osai Arashi Koroku I
Ittô's nyôbô Matsueda Iwata Somematsu I
Gonda Rokunoshin, Kawagoshi Chôroku Yamashita Jirosa I
Tsukimoto Enshû Nakamura Shirogorô III
Iizuka Matakurô, the yakko Gonnai Somekawa Konohê I

4th lunar month of 1762: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act puppet theater drama "Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi", which was originally written by Matsuda Bunkôdô and Miyoshi Shôraku and Takeda Inaba and performed at the Takemotoza in the 1st lunar month of 1737. The play is produced at the Naka no Shibai by Mimasu Daigorô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Benkei Nakamura Utaemon I
Owasa Arashi Koroku I
Shizuka Gozen Nakamura Kumetarô I
Yoshitsune, Ike-no-Hata Hariemon Arashi Sangorô II
Shinobu Arashi Hinasuke I
Genhachibê-jô Hirotsuna, Jijû Tarô Morikuni, Iso no Tôyata Yoshiharu Fujikawa Hachizô I
Ise no Saburô Mimasu Daigorô I
Shibuya Tosa-no-Bô Shôshun Nakamura Shirogorô III

11th lunar month of 1763: the play "Suma no Miyako Genpei Tsutsuji", which was originally written by Hasegawa Senshi and Matsuda Bunkôdô for the puppet theater in 1730, is adapted for Kabuki 33 years later by the playwright Namiki Eisuke I. It is entitled "Sakigake Genpei Tsutsuji" (the second drama of an unusual 3-part kaomise program) and staged at the Naka no Shibai, starring Nakamura Kichiemon I and Arashi Hinasuke I in the roles of Kumagai Jirô Naozane and Taira no Atsumori.

9th lunar month of 1764: première in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of "Hare Kosode Tsuzure no Nishiki", based on the puppet drama "Katakiuchi Tsuzure no Nishiki", which is revised by Namiki Eisuke I. A similar play was staged one day before under a different title, "Oriawase Tsuzure no Nishiki", at the Kado no Shibai [casting]. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up is open between the 2 theaters. The performance at the Kado no Shibai is more successful than the one at the Naka no Shibai. "Tsuzure no Nishiki" is produced at the Naka no Shibai by Mimasu Daigorô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Shundô Jirôemon Mimasu Daigorô I
Takaichi Buemon Nakamura Kichiemon I
Togiyaru Gonpachi, Kamura Utaemon Bandô Iwagorô
The wakatô Ihê, Shundô Jihê Arashi Sangorô II
The wakatô Sahê Arashi Shichigorô II
Sahê's nyôbô Nakamura Kumetarô I
Jirôemon's nyôbô Oharu Arashi Koroku I
Oroku Arashi Hinasuke I
Ihê's nyôbô Yamashita Kinsaku II
Tanabe Shichirôzaemon, Hikosaka Jinroku Somekawa Konohê I
Ohari Okichi Kirinoya Hidematsu

5th lunar month of 1766: first Kabuki adaptation of the 5-act puppet theater drama "Honchô Nijûshikô", which was originally written by Chikamatsu Hanji, Miyoshi Shôraku and Takeda Inaba and performed at the Takemotoza in the 1st lunar month of 1766. The play is produced at the Naka no Shibai by both Nakamura Utaemon I and Mimasu Daigorô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Princess Yaegaki Arashi Hinasuke I
Katsuyori, Minosaku Arashi Sangorô II
Sekibê Nakamura Utaemon I
Jihizô Arashi Kichisaburô I
Nureginu, Karaori Yamashita Kinsaku II
Takasaka Danjô, Yokozô Mimasu Daigorô I
The nyûdô Nagao Kenshin, Kansuke's mother Bandô Toyosaburô I
Otane Anegawa Daikichi I

12th lunar month of 1768: the play "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" is simultaneously staged at the Naka no Shibai and the Ônishi no Shibai. The actors Nakayama Bunshichi I and Arashi Hinasuke I compete for the best performance in the role of Nuregami Chôgorô and the title of Ôsaka best tachiyaku. "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki" is produced at the Naka no Shibai by Mimasu Tanin I for the nadai Shioya Kuroemon with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The sumôtori Nuregami Chôgorô Nakayama Bunshichi I
The sumôtori Hanaregoma Chôkichi Mimasu Daigorô I
Hashimoto Jibuemon, Okô Nakayama Shinkurô I
Jûjibê Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Fujiya Azuma Yamashita Kinsaku II
Oseki Yoshizawa Ayame III

5th lunar month of 1770: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's gidayû kyôgen "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata". The play is staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai, produced by the zamoto Nakayama Yosaburô II with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Sasaki Moritsuna Mimasu Daigorô I
Wada no Hyôe Hidemori Fujikawa Hachizô I
Mimyô Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Kagaribi Sawamura Kunitarô I
Hayase Hanagiri Toyomatsu III
Minamoto no Yoriie, Miuranosuke, Bonta Ogawa Kichitarô I

1st lunar month of 1771 (the premiere was the 27th day of the 12th lunar month of the previous year, which was the 11th February of 1771 in the western calendar): premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Shôzô I's drama "Kuwanaya Tokuzô Irifune Monogatari", which is produced by Ogawa Kichitarô I and staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Kuwanaya Tokuzô Nakamura Utaemon I
Takamaru Kamejirô Ogawa Kichitarô I
Tadotsu Ikkaku, Tadotsu Shinzô Mimasu Daigorô I
The keisei Higaki Nakamura Kumetarô I
Ishidô Tatewaki Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Yamana Tomoenojô Bandô Iwagorô
Princess Toyo Hanagiri Toyomatsu III
Tokuzô's spouse Koshio Anegawa Daikichi I

8th lunar month of 1771: the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" is staged at the Naka no Shibai. This is the first-known casting of "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" in Ôsaka history:

Roles Actors
Hinadori, Omiwa Nakamura Kumetarô I
Daihanji, Iruka Nakamura Utaemon I
Fukashichi Mimasu Daigorô I
Sadaka Ichinokawa Hikoshirô II
Koganosuke Ichikawa Kichitarô

4th lunar month of 1775: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari", which is produced by Arashi Matsujirô I with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Wadasaku, Koyoshi Mimasu Daigorô I
Ki no Aritsune, Natora's ghost Nakamura Utaemon I
Ariwara no Narihira, Arakawa's wife, Isonokami Mameshirô, Murasame Mimasu Tokujirô I
Kujaku Saburô Fujikawa Hachizô I
Ariwara no Yukihira Nakamura Jûzô II
Arakawa Sukune Fujikawa Ryûzô
The imperial prince Koretaka Bandô Iwagorô
Dainagon Muneoka, Takayasu Saemon Michitoshi, Agata Hirosane Ichikawa Sôzaburô II
Ikaruga Tôta, Nyôhachi Mimasu Tanin II
Tsunokuni no Onami Nakamura Kiyosaburô I
Princess Izutsu, Shinobu, Ikaruga's wife Onoe Kumesuke
The imperial prince Korehito Ichikawa Kichitarô

12th lunar month of 1776: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa", which is produced by Arashi Shichisaburô II with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Karaki Masaemon Nakayama Bunshichi I
Honda Dainaiki, Sasaki Tan'emon, Arao Shuzen, Matsuno Kinsuke Nakayama Raisuke I
Sawai Matagorô, Matagorô's mother Narumi, the doctor Sanai Asao Tamejûrô I
Wada Shizuma Sawamura Sôjûrô III
Sawai Jôgorô, Daihachi Nakamura Utaemon I
Kondô Nomorinosuke, Sakurada Rinzaemon Nakamura Jiroza II
Wada Yukie, Ishidome Busuke Arashi Bungorô I
Matagorô's sister Sasao Anegawa Daikichi I
Otane, Yodomachi Gozen Hanagiri Toyomatsu III
Osono, Busuke's wife Onoe Kumesuke
Uesugi Unai Akisada, Ikezoe Magohachi Arashi Sanjûrô IV

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi", which is produced by Arashi Shichisaburô II with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Masaoka, Date Jirô Nakayama Raisuke I
Gantsubô, Hitachinosuke Kaizon, Suganuma Kosuke Asao Tamejûrô I
Nagoya Jûzô Sawamura Sôjûrô III
Kajiwara Kagetoki Nakamura Utaemon I
Matsugae Fushinosuke, Chichibu no Shôji Shigetada, Izumi no Kojirô Sadakura Nakayama Bunshichi I
Sakae Gozen, Aranami Kishiemon, Nishikido Gyôbu Tarô Nakamura Jiroza II
Izumi Kojirô's wife Hanafusa Anegawa Daikichi I
Okinoi Hanagiri Toyomatsu III
Ôba Michitô, Ukiyo Tohei, Yashio, the rônin Satô no Hyôe, Yôsen, Samegai Hyôta Kiriyama Monji II
The courtesan Takao Onoe Kumesuke
Shikata Geki Arashi Sanjûrô IV
The courtesan Michinoku Ichikawa Kichitarô
Tsurukiyo Ichikawa Taijirô

12th lunar month of 1781: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Tengajaya-mura" [casting]. A similar play is staged a few days later under a different title, "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai", at the Naka no Shibai. The competition for the best performance and the best line-up is open between the 2 theaters. "Renga Chaya Homare no Bundai" is produced by Yamashita Kinsaku II with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Satô Motoemon Bandô Iwagorô
Sôma Saburôemon Arashi Shichigorô II
Hayase Iori Somematsu Shichisaburô II
Hayase Senjirô, Someginu Yamashita Yasaburô
Adachi Yasuke, Kyôya Mansuke Arashi Bungorô I
Ningyôya Kôemon Mihogi Gizaemon II
Kakogawa Kyûbê, Kataoka Miki-no-Kami Nakamura Utaemon I
Kôemon's wife Osumi, Kataoka Miki-no-Kami's wife Takanoha Yamashita Kinsaku II

4th lunar month of 1782: first Kabuki adaptation of Suga Sensuke's 1767 puppet theater drama "Some Moyô Imose no Kadomatsu"; it is produced by Yamashita Kinsaku II at the Naka no Shibai (unknown casting).

9th lunar month of 1783: the play "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku", which was originally written for the puppet theater and staged for the first time in the 4th lunar month of 1783 in Ôsaka at the Takemotoza, is adapted for Kabuki for the first time, produced by Arashi Tanin at the Naka no Shibai with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The dry goods merchant Jûbê, Yamada Kôbê Onoe Kikugorô I
Karaki Masaemon, Wada Yukie Mihogi Gizaemon II
Sawai Matagorô, Matagorô's mother Narumi, Usami Goemon Arashi Shichigorô II
Sasaki Tan'emon, Honda Dainaiki, Ikezoe Magohachi Arashi Sangorô II
Nomorinosuke, Ishidome Busuke, Ja-no-Me no Ganpachi Arashi Sanpachi I
Otani Mimasu Tokujirô I
Sawai Jôgorô, Heisaku, the doctor Takenaka Zeitaku Kagaya Kashichi I
Wada Shizuma Nakamura Kyôjûrô II
The keisei Segawa, Hisakata Gozen, Osode Yamashita Yaozô I
The yakko Sukehei, Sakurada Rinzaemon Bandô Iwagorô
Yukie's wife Shibagaki, Kôbê's wife Oyoshi Anegawa Daikichi I

1st lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Yamato Zôshi", which is produced by Arashi Tanin with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Kitabatake Yukienosuke, Gunjibê's son Kondô Sukekuni Arashi Sangorô II
Princess Yayoi, Kanzaemon's sister Komaki, Osai Sawamura Kunitarô I
Kitabatake Kazue-no-Kami, Koshino Kanzaemon, the rônin Yôsuke Onoe Shinshichi I
Kondô Gunjibê, Wada Raihachi Asao Tamejûrô I
Momonoi Shuridayû, Kanzaemon's mother Higaki, Daiba no Niza Arashi Shichigorô II
The keisei Kachô, Kitabatake Hamaogi Yamashita Yaozô I
The keisei Konohana, the koshimoto Matsugae Arashi San'emon VI
Kikyôya Saibê, Hayashi Kenmotsu Bandô Iwagorô
Futami Sehei Mimasu Daigorô II
Kanzaemon's daughter Oume Onoe Ushinosuke I
Momonoi Senjirô, the servent Tôroku Nakamura Kyôjûrô II
Natsume Tôzaemon, the oshô of the Daianji Temple Arashi Shinpei II

5th lunar month of 1784: the play "Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami", which was originally written by Suga Sensuke for the puppet theater and staged for the first time in the 10th lunar month of 1776 in Ôsaka, is adapted by Namiki Gohê to Kabuki, and staged in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Obiya Chôemon Onoe Shinshichi I
Imadegawa Raisaku Arashi Sangorô II
Saijirô Nakamura Kyôjûrô II
Sôbê, Hansai Bandô Iwagorô
Chôemon's spouse Okinu Yamashita Yaozô I
The decchi Chôkichi Arashi Sanpachi I

5th lunar month of 1785: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Shinpan Utazaimon", which was written in the 9th lunar month of 1780. The play is produced in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Osome Ichiyama Tajirô
Hisamatsu Nakamura Kumetarô II
Kyûbê Nakamura Jiroza II
Omitsu Iwai Hanshirô IV

3rd lunar month of 1787: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Taikô Shinkenki", a play similar to "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; it is produced by Bandô Iwagorô and staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Rokusuke, Okô, Mashiba Hisayoshi Kanô Hinasuke I
Ichimisai's elder daughter Osono Yamashita Kinsaku II
Kyôgoku no Takumi Asao Tamejûrô I
Mokusokan Kagaya Kashichi I
Ichimisai's younger daughter Okiku, Dengoemon's wife Otsuki Hanagiri Tsuruzô
Kinugawa Yasaburô Nakayama Hyôtarô I
Yoshioka Ichimisai, Sagohei Nakayama Tazô
Harukaze Tôzô Asao Nakazô
Todoroki Dengoemon, the yakko Tomohei Mihogi Gizaemon II
Mayumi-no-Kata, Otake Nakamura Kumenosuke
Yasaburô's son Yasomatsu Asao Okujirô I
Onoemon Bandô Iwagorô

1st lunar month of 1793: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of the ni-no-kawari drama "Keisei Yanagi Zakura", the first yanagisawa-sôdômono in Kabuki history, written by Tatsuoka Mansaku and Chikamatsu Tokusô, which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Ashikaga Yoshinori, Yodoya Tatsugorô, a shiokumi dancer looking like Minamoto no Tôru (there is a shiokumi dance at the end of the play) Arashi Sangorô II
Isshiki Yûki-no-Kami, the old woman Yagumo, Watanabe Yôsuke Onoe Shinshichi I
The Uesugi kerai Kizu Sekibê, the nakama Sakusuke Mimasu Daigorô II
Masaki Chikara, the yakko Nunohei Arashi Kichisaburô II
Sakai Hida-no-Kami, the Yodoya tedai Sôbê Yamamura Giemon II
Okamoto Hyôgo, Okamoto Gunzô, Echigo no Tasuke, the Yodoya kôshitsu Koyasu Arashi Sanpachi I
Isshiki's okugata Nezame, Kohagi Yamashita Kinsaku II
The keisei Azuma, Yoshinori's kôshitsu Yoshizawa Iroha I
The nakai Ofuji, the Yodoya beautiful woman Azuma Tôzô III
Yamana Kumatarô Nakayama Bungorô I
The wakadono Uesugi Mishimanosuke Nakayama Hyôtarô I
The keisei Hinaji, Isshiki's daughter (disguised as the page Ukon), the koshimoto Otsugi Asao Yatarô

2nd lunar month of 1794: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Shima Meguri Uso no Kikigaki"; the last scenes are a sewamono drama, which will be staged independently in the 5th lunar month of 1794 under the title "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime"; these final scenes are staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Sasano Sangobei Kataoka Nizaemon VII
Katsuma Gengobê Onoe Shinshichi I
The courtesan Kikuno Yoshizawa Iroha I
Yasuke Nakayama Bungorô I
Tomitaya Oichi Mimasu Tokujirô I
Chishima Mantarô Bandô Jûtarô

11th lunar month of 1807: Seki Sanjûrô I and Seki Utasuke I respectively take the names of Seki San'emon and Seki Sanjûrô II at the Naka no Shibai.

1st lunar month of 1808: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Tokusuke I's ni-no-kawari new year drama "Keisei Shina Sadame", which was staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Nagoya Sanza, Sasaki Kurando, Matahei Nakamura Utaemon III
Fuwa Banzaemon, Chishima no Kanja Nakayama Shinkurô III
The keisei Katsuragi, Kaide Nakayama Yoshio I
Sasaki Katsuranosuke, the yakko Shikazô Arashi Sangorô III
Umezu Kamon, Sanpachi Kataoka Nizaemon VII
Fujinami, Sanpachi's wife Isogiku Yoshizawa Ayame V
Matahei's wife, Ichiha-no-Mae Kanô Minshi I
Kamon's mother Mimasu Tokujirô I
Fujinami Yoshizawa Sakinosuke IV

2nd day of the 9th lunar month of 1813: a fire breaks out in Ôsaka in a chaya near the Naka no Shibai; it partially destroys this theater.

9th lunar month of 1824: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of the drama "Banshû Sarayashiki", a revision of the puppet play by Nakawa Harusuke I; it stars Ôtani Tomoemon II and Arashi Koroku IV in the roles of Aoyama Daihachi and Okiku.

1st lunar month of 1836: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nishizawa Ippô's drama "Hana no Ani Tsubomi no Yatsufusa", which is produced by Arashi Kitsuzô and staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Kanamari Daisuke Takanori, Inuzuka Shino Moritaka Arashi Rikan II
Ôtsuka Bansaku Kazunari, Horiuchi Kurando Sadayuki, Inugawa Gakuzô Seki Sanjûrô II
Inuyama Dôsetsu Tadatomo Bandô Jutarô I
Yamanouchi Akisada Kataoka Nizaemon VII
Yamashita Sakuzaemon Sadakane, Nukasuke, Aboshi Samojirô Kataoka Ichizô I
Princess Fuse, Hamaji Nakamura Tomijûrô II
Somaki Bokuhei, Kamezasa Ôtani Tomoemon III
Satomi Jibudayû Suemoto Nakayama Bunshichi III
Tamazusa, Bansaku's wife, the servant Onaka Nakayama Nanshi II
Hikute, Isarago Gozen Yamashita Kinsaku IV

The actors Seki Sanjûrô II and Arashi Rikan II fall ill and have to be replaced by Ichikawa Ebijûrô III and Arashi Rikaku II.

5th lunar month of 1838: the great Kamigata star Nakamura Tamasuke I appears on stage for the last time, at the Naka no Shibai, playing the roles of Kajiwara Heizô Kagetoki and Tatara Shindôzaemon in the dramas "Kajiwara Heizô Kôbai Tazuna" and "Karukaya Dôshin Tsukushi no Iezuto".

1876: the Naka no Shibai is destroyed by a fire.

January 1877: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of "Shunshoku Ume Goyomi", an adaptation to Kabuki by the playwright Katsu Genzô II of Tamenaga Shunsui's 1833 novel, which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Karakotoya Tanjirô Jitsukawa Enzaburô III
The geisha Yonehachi Arashi Rishô II
The geisha Adahachi Nakamura Hikaku

1884: the Naka no Shibai is destroyed by a fire, a few days before the first stage appearance of a new troupe led by Nakamura Ganjirô I. The theater is rebuilt and equipped with a modern electric installation.

April 1887: premiere at the Nakaza of Katsu Genzô III's drama "Nikaigasa Yagyû Jikki", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Yagyû Matajûrô Arashi Kichisaburô V
Ôkubo Hikozaemon Arashi Rikan IV

1920: the Shôchiku takes over the management of the theater, rebuilds it and names it Nakaza.

1922: the two rival Kamigata stars Nakamura Ganjirô I and Kataoka Nizaemon XI become reconciled and perform together at the Nakaza.

November 1927: the actor Nakamura Jakuemon III collapses and dies on stage at the Nakaza, while playing the role of Princess Michitose in the drama "Honzô Shimoyashiki".

January 1934: Kataoka Tsuchinosuke II takes the name of Kataoka Gadô IV at the Nakaza.

1934: The Nakaza is rebuilt and becomes the most important theater in Ôsaka, supplanting its main rival, the Naniwaza.

January 1935: Nakamura Fukusuke IV and Nakamura Masajirô III respectively take the names of Nakamura Baigyoku III and Nakamura Fukusuke V in Ôsaka at the Nakaza.

13 March 1945: US Army B29 bombers completely destroy Ôsaka in a horrible air raid; the Nakaza is burnt to ashes.

January 1948: reopening of the theater.

April 1954: revival (the 1st since the end of WW2) at the Nakaza of Katsu Genzô III's drama "Ogasawara Sôdô", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
Okada Ryôsuke, Ogasawara Tôtômi-no-Kami Kataoka Nizaemon XIII
Ogasawara Haito, the yakko Kikuhei (in reality the fox of Mt. Myôjin), Koheiji Jitsukawa Enjirô II
Inugami Hyôbu Arashi Kichisaburô VII
Odai-no-Kata, Ryôsuke's wife Okano Arashi Hinasuke X
Ohaya Nakamura Tomijûrô IV
Ogasawara Buzen-no-Kami, Hayashi Kazuma Ichikawa Raizô VIII

January 1965: premiere at the Nakaza of the spectacular hengemono "Ôtsue Dôjôji", which is staged with the following casting:

Roles Actors
The wisteria maiden, a falcon-handler, a zatô, a boatman and the ôtsue demon Jitsukawa Enjaku III
Ya-no-Ne no Gorô Nakamura Fukusuke V
Benkei Arashi Rikaku V

January 1991: Nakamura Ganjirô III celebrates his first month of shûmei in Ôsaka at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Tsuchiya Chikara, the spirit of the Lion and Kamiya Jihê in the drama "Tsuchiya Chikara", the dance "Kagami Jishi" and Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Shinjû Ten no Amijima" (the "Kawashô" scene).

February 1991: Nakamura Ganjirô III celebrates his second month of shûmei at the Nakaza, playing the roles of Kameya Chûbê, the snake disguised as the dancing girl Hanako and the hair-dresser Sanni no goroshichi (in fact Asaka Yoichirô Haruyoshi) in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece "Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai" (the "Fûin Giri" scene), the dance "Musume Dôjôji" and the drama "Kari no Tayori".

January 1995: Nakamura Tomotarô and Nakamura Hirotarô respectively take the names of Nakamura Kanjaku V and Nakamura Senjaku III at the Nakaza.

August 1999: final Kabuki performance at the Nakaza, about to be closed by the Shôchiku. The drama "Natsu Sugata Naniwa Goyomi" is staged, starring the Kamigata actors Kataoka Hidetarô II, Arashi Tokusaburô VII, Bandô Takesaburô V, Kataoka Ainosuke VI and Kamimura Kichiya VI.

Comments

Nakaza Theater in Ôsaka closes

Another piece of Japan's rich theater history came to an end in October 1999 with the closing of the 350-year old Nakaza Theater in Ôsaka. The sagging economy has claimed one more victim, for despite being taken over by giant entertainment conglomerate Shôchiku, the theater failed to draw in the crowds. It has not yet been decided whether to pull the theater down or to reopen it in some other incarnation.

The 802-seat theater was built in 1652 in the theater district of Shibaimachi, on Dôtonbori street, and became the most influential of the theaters. However the final death knell seemed to have tolled when the Shôchikuza Theater was rebuilt in March 1997, and the Nakaza was changed into a rental hall. The patrons and actors are not the only ones to suffer by the closure. The nearby okonomiyaki restaurant which had taken care of the actors' culinary needs for years, also allowiing them to use the upper floor as a rehearsal room, has lost the heart of its business. Likewise the private ticket sales company which specialized in selling Nakaza's tickets has been wiped out by the closure.

Even though Kabuki started in the Kansai area, it has struggled for popularity in the post-WWII era, and in the 1950's many of the famous Kansai Kabuki actors moved to the Tôkyô area. Various attempts were made to revive Kabuki in Ôsaka, and for a while in the early 1960's, thanks partly to the efforts of Nizaemon XIII (father of the present Nizaemon), it made a comeback. In fact, the present Nizaemon, then called Takao, played his first principal role at the age of 20 at the Asahiza (now the Bunrakuza). A year later, in 1965, the Nakaza also staged Kabuki, but it was short-lived. The next Kabuki performance there was in 1974, but is has only been performed sporadically since then. Even the Shinkabukiza Theater (the "New Kabukiza"), which was built to be Ôsaka's answer to Tôkyô's Kabukiza, failed to make an impression on the populace and nowadays Kabuki is never performed there. The Shôchikuza seems to be Shôchiku Company's last ditch effort to make Kabuki a viable proposition in Ôsaka.

So although the last play has been staged at the theater, let's hope that at least the beautiful and distinctive Nakaza building will be spared the wrecker's ball.

Jean Wilson (1999)

P.S. It did indeed escape the wrecker's ball. It burned to the ground on the night of 8th Sept. 2002, from a supposed gas explosion, and has now been replaced with a concrete and glass office building, leaving no trace that it ever existed.

The Nakaza (Summer 1954)
 
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