Stage names:
Nakamura Noshio II
Ikushima Kinzô
Guild: Tennôjiya
Line number: NIDAIME (II)
Crest: Yattsu Yaguruma
Poetry name: Rankô
Existence: 1759 ~ 20th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1800
Connection:
Adoptive father: Nakamura Tomijûrô I
Master: Ikushima Jûshirô
Brother: Ikushima Ginzô (Nakamura Kahoyo)
Sons: Nakamura Noshio III, Nakamura Kyôjûrô III
Disciple: Nakamura Daikichi I
Career:
Before 1775: he starts his career at an early age with his brother as disciples of the actor Ikushima Jûshirô, who gives them the names of Ikushima Kinzô and Ikushima Ginzô.
1775 ~ 1777: Kinzô works as a zamoto for two seasons at the Kadomaruza, a hama shibai venue.
19th day of the 11th lunar month of 1777: Nakamura Noshio I dies in Edo.
Fall 1779: he is adopted by Nakamura Tomijûrô I.
11th lunar month of 1779: Ikushima Kinzô takes the name of Nakamura Noshio II at the Kado no Shibai; he performs as a wakaonnagata the role of Princess Suminoe in the kaomise drama "Senshû Banzei Chibako no Tamamono", which is produced by Yoshizawa Iroha I.
7th lunar month of 1780: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Kyô-no-Kimi in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
1st lunar month of 1782: the play "Tengajaya-Mura" is staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Kitagawa no Shibai; Noshio plays the role of Hayase Genjirô [casting]
1st lunar month of 1784: Noshio's rank in the Kyôto hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)hankichi (superior - superior - (white) half excellent).
11th lunar month of 1784: Noshio takes part in the Kado no Shibai kaomise, playing the roles of Haru and Tatsuta-no-Mae in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", which is produced by Onoe Ushinosuke I.
11th lunar month of 1785: Noshio becomes zamoto in Ôsaka.
3rd day of the 8th lunar month of 1786: his adoptive father Nakamura Tomijûrô I dies.
2nd lunar month of 1787: Noshio plays at the Ônishi no Shibai the roles of Kyô-no-Kimi and Osato in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
4th lunar month of 1787: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Konami in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
10th lunar month of 1787: Noshio plays at the Kitagawa no Shibai the role of Suke-no-Tsubone in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
4th lunar month of 1788: Noshio plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Katsuyori and Minosaku in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô". He also plays the leading role of the shirabyôshi in the dance "Musume Dôjôji".
1st lunar month of 1789: Noshio's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent).
8th lunar month of 1792: Noshio plays at the Kado no Shibai the roles of Shizuka Gozen and Osato in the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
9th lunar month of 1794: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Kamakura Sandaiki"; Noshio plays the role of Princess Toki [casting].
Fall 1794: Kataoka Nizaemon VII, the playwright Namiki Gohei I and Noshio go together to Edo.
11th lunar month of 1794: Noshio takes part in the kaomise "Uruô Tosshi Meika no Homare", which is staged at the Miyakoza.
1st lunar month of 1795: Namiki Gohei I's drama "Godairiki Koi no Fûjime" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Miyakoza; Noshio plays the role of Masuya Okono [casting].
4th lunar month of 1795: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Tonase and Okaru in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".
9th lunar month of 1795: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Sakaki-no-Mae, Kuzu-no-Ha and the fox Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; the role of Abe no Yasuna is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô III.
11th lunar month of 1795: Noshio plays at the Miyakoza in the kaomise drama "Kaeribana Yuki no Yoshitsune".
2nd lunar month of 1796: Noshio plays in the same theater the leading role of the dance "Musume Dôjôji"; his performance is extremely successful and becomes a long run (100 days up to the 5th lunar month).
4th lunar month of 1796: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Princess Yuki in the drama "Gion Sairei Shinkôki"; the roles of Matsunaga Daizen and Konoshita Tôkichi are played by Kataoka Nizaemon VII and Ichikawa Yaozô III.
7th lunar month of 1796: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Sakuramaru and Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the roles of Matsuômaru and Umeômaru are played by Nakamura Nakazô I and Ichikawa Yaozô III.
9th lunar month of 1796: the play "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi" is staged for the first time in Edo, simultaneously at the Kiriza and the Miyakoza; Noshio plays the role of Ichimisai's elder daughter Osono in the latter theater [casting].
11th lunar month of 1796: third kaomise at the Miyakoza; Noshio performs in the drama "Seiwa Nidai Ôyose Genji".
3rd lunar month of 1797: Noshio plays in the same theater the leading role of the dance "Hanabusa Shûjaku no Shishi".
5th lunar month of 1797: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Oyoshi and Chidori in the drama "Hirakana Seisuiki".
6th lunar month of 1797: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Hanazono in the drama "Ôtô-no-Miya Asahi no Yoroi"; he also plays the role of Shizuka Gozen in the 4th act of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".
8th lunar month of 1797: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Uji-no-Kata and Kagaribi in the drama "Ômi Genji Senjin Yakata".
Fall 1797: the Nakamuraza is back in business, receiving the license used by the Miyakoza.
11th lunar month of 1797: Noshio plays at the Nakamuraza in the kaomise drama "Kaikei Kokyô no Nishikigi".
1st lunar month of 1798: Noshio's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, is jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent).
4th lunar month of 1798: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles of Omiwa and Sadaka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".
9th lunar month of 1798: Noshio plays in the same theater the roles Kuzu-no-Ha and the fox Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami"; the role of Abe no Yasuna is played by Bandô Minosuke I.
11th lunar month of 1798: Noshio moves to the Moritaza and plays in the kaomise drama "Taiheiki Mitsugi no Funauta", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Aragorô I.
1st lunar month of 1799: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Osono in the drama "Hikosan Gongen Chikai no Sukedachi"; the role of Rokusuke is played by Ichikawa Danzô IV.
5th lunar month of 1799: Noshio plays in the same theater the leading role of the dance "Musume Dôjôji".
5th lunar month of 1799: Noshio plays in the same theater the role of Chiyo in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami".
Fall 1799: Noshio goes back to Ôsaka after 5 seasons spent in Edo.
11th lunar month of 1799: Noshio plays at the Kado no Shibai the role of Kyô-no-Kimi in the kaomise drama "Yunzei Tôri Yaguruma", which is produced by Fujikawa Katsujirô. He also plays the role of Kuzu-no-Ha in the drama "Ashiya Dôman Ôuchi Kagami". His stage partners are Asao Tamejûrô I, Arashi Kichisaburô II, Nakayama Ittoku I and Seki Sanjûrô I.
12th lunar month of 1799: the troupe moves from the Kado no Shibai to the Kitagawa no Shibai in Kyôto to perform in a similar program.
1st lunar month of 1800: Noshio appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, playing in the new year drama "Keisei Hana no Yamazaki". He suddenly falls ill and has to retire.
20th day of the 3rd lunar month of 1800: Noshio dies in Ôsaka; his tombstone is located in the precinct of the Yakuôji temple in Ôsaka.
Comments:
Nakamura Noshio II was a talented and popular wakaonnagata actor, who made most of his career in Kamigata but ended it with an extremely successful 5-year stay in Edo, where he was called Edo kusshi no wakaonnagata in 1798 ("the leading wakaonnagata in Edo"). He excelled in budôgoto and keisei roles. He unfortunately died too young, at the very beginning of his 40s; if he had lived longer, he most likely would have taken the name of Nakamura Tomijûrô II.
Nakamura Noshio II playing the role of Tonase in the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" (print made by Katsukawa Shunshô)