Stage names:

Nakamura Jiroza II
Arashi Sankichi I

Guild: Echizen'ya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Ganshi

Existence: ??? ~ 2nd lunar month of 1790

Connection:

Masters: Nakamura Jiroza I, Arashi Sangorô II

Disciple: Nakamura Tomosa I

Career:

Before 1748: he starts his career as a disciple of the young actor Arashi Sangorô II and performs in koshibai or miyaji shibai under the name of Arashi Sankichi I. He becomes at an unknown date the disciple of Nakamura Jiroza I but keeps the name of Arashi Sankichi.

1748: his second master Nakamura Jiroza I dies.

1759: Arashi Sankichi I takes the name of Nakamura Jiroza II.

11th lunar month of 1769: Jiroza appears in ôshibai for the first time, performing as a katakiyaku in Kyôto in the kaomise drama "Asahimaru Genji Kagami", which is produced by Onoe Kumesuke, welcomes in the Imperial City the actor Sawamura Sôjûrô II and his son Sawamura Tanosuke I and celebrates the shûmei of Nakamura Shingorô II.

9th lunar month of 1770: premiere at the Kitagawa no Shibai of the drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto", a revision of Chikamatsu Hanji's 1768 puppet drama "Keisei Awa no Naruto"; Jiroza plays the role of Kizaemon [more details].

11th lunar month of 1771: Jiroza plays at the Minamigawa no Shibai the roles of Mononobe Heima, in reality Ibuki Tokiaki, and the hunter Tôsaku in the kaomise drama "Bandai Isaoshi Genji", which is produced by Arashi Sanjûrô II.

Fall 1772: Jiroza goes to Ôsaka.

11th lunar month of 1772: Jiroza plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Hi-no-Moto Banzei no Hôrai".

1st lunar month of 1773: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1774: Jiroza plays at the Kado no Shibai in the kaomise drama "Isagiyoshi Kusunoki Banashi".

1st lunar month of 1775: Jiroza is the kanjiku for katakiyaku actors in the Ôsaka hyôbanki.

8th lunar month of 1775: the play "Sekitori Senryô Nobori" is staged for the first time in Ôsaka, at the Kado no Shibai; Jiroza plays the role of the sumôtori Tetsugadake [more details].

1st lunar month of 1776: Jiroza's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, katakiyaku section, is jô-jô-(shiro)kichi (superior - superior - (white) excellent) [visual].

12th lunar month of 1776: premiere at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Igagoe Norikake Gappa"; Jiroza plays the roles of Kondô Nomorinosuke and Sakurada Rinzaemon [casting].

4th lunar month of 1777: premiere in Ôsaka at the Naka no Shibai of Nagawa Kamesuke I's drama "Meiboku Sendai Hagi"; Jiroza plays the roles of Sakae Gozen, Aranami Kishiemon and Nishikido Gyôbu Tarô [casting].

9th lunar month of 1778: Jiroza plays at the Naka no Shibai the roles of Mareyo and Hyôei in the drama "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami"; the role of Kan Shôjô is played by Mimasu Tokujirô I.

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

12th lunar month of 1782: premiere in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohê's drama "Keisei Kogane no Shachihoko"; Jiroza plays the roles of the karô Yamagata Dôkan and Nanazato Ujiemon [more details].

4th lunar month of 1784: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage"; Jiroza plays the role of Yamazakiya Kanjûrô [casting].

5th lunar month of 1784: première in ôshibai, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, of the gidayû kyôgen "Yura no Minato Sengen Chôja"; Jiroza plays the role of Ôe Gunryô Tokikado [casting].

5th lunar month of 1785: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Hanji's puppet theater drama "Shinpan Utazaimon", which is staged at the Naka no Shibai; Jiroza plays the role of Kyûbê [casting].

7th lunar month of 1789: premiere at the Kado no Shibai of Namiki Gohei I and Chikamatsu Tokusô drama "Kanjin Kanmon Tekuda no Hajimari"; Jiroza plays the roles of Saiten Sôkurô and Gotô Daigaku [more details].

12th lunar month of 1789: Jiroza appears on stage for the last time, in Ôsaka at the Kado no Shibai, where he plays the roles of the pawnbroker Zen'emon and Miura Danjô in the drama "Kamakura Hiji Aoto Zeni".

2nd lunar month of 1790: Jiroza dies in Ôsaka.

Comments:

Nakamura Jiroza II was a 18th century katakiyaku actor, who spent all his career in Kamigata. His acting style and diction were both good and his popularity was high. He was said to be katakiyaku no itsuzai (a katakiyaku of exceptional talent).

Nakamura Jiroza II playing the role of Yakushiji Jirozaemon in the "Hangan Seppuku" scene of the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura" in a caricature from the book "Ehon Mizu ya Sora", which was drawn by Matsuya Nichôsai and published in Ôsaka in 1780 by Hachimonjiya Hachizaemon

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Jiroza line of actors