Stage names:

Nakamura Kaisha
Nakamura Naritarô I

Real name: Katsura Eitarô

Guild: Shinkomaya

Existence: 21 December 1875 ~ 13 March 1945

Connections:

Master: Nakamura Ganjirô I

Adopted son: Nakamura Naritarô II

Disciple: Nakamura Komajaku

Career:

21 December 1875: born in Ôsaka.

1880: he became a disciple of Nakamura Ganjirô I.

October 1881: he took the name of Nakamura Naritarô I in Ôsaka at the Ebisuza.

1899: Naritarô went to Tôkyô and joined the troupe led by Ichikawa Sadanji I.

November 1909: revival of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku", in Ôsaka at the Asahiza, which was based on a new script written by Watanabe Katei; Naritarô played the role of Okichi [casting].

January 1910: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku" was staged for the first time in Kyôto, at the Minamiza; Naritarô played the role of Okichi [casting].

July 1911: Naritarô played at the Asahiza (Ôsaka) the roles of Issun Tokubê and Otatsu in the drama "Natsu Matsuri Naniwa Kagami"; his stage partners were Jitsukawa Enjirô I (Danshichi) and Arashi Kitsusaburô IV (Tsuribune Sabu).

November 1911: Naritarô played at the Nakaza (Ôsaka) the roles of Nureginu and Jihizô in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; his stage partners were Jitsukawa Enjaku II (Yokozô, Katsuyori) and Arashi Tokusaburô V (Princess Yaegaki).

January 1914: Nakamura Naritarô I took the name of Nakamura Kaisha in Ôsaka at the Naniwaza.

May 1919: Kaisha played at the Naniwaza the role of Nureginu in the drama "Honchô Nijûshikô"; the roles of Princess Yaegaki and Katsuyori were played by Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Ganjirô I.

October 1919: premiere at the Naniwaza (Ôsaka) of the drama "Tôjûrô no Koi", a drama inspired by the life of the actor Sakata Tôjûrô I; Kaisha played the role of the Kabuki actor Kirinami Senju I [more details].

13 March 1945: Kaisha was killed in the bombing of Ôsaka by the US Army.

Comments:

Nakamura Kaisha was a leading pre-WW2 Kamigata actor, able to perform both onnagata and tachiyaku roles, who costarred Nakamura Ganjirô I, Nakamura Jakuemon III and Nakamura Baigyoku III.

Nakamura Kaisha's best roles: Koharu (the "Kawashô" of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima"), Ohaya (the Hikimado scene of "Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki"), Umegawa ("Koi Bikyaku Yamato Ôrai") and Takebe Genzô (the "Terakoya" scene of "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami").

Nakamura Kaisha playing the role of Okaru in the drama "Yoi Kôshin" (print made by Natori Shunsen in 1928)

Prints & Illustrations

The Nakamura Naritarô line of actors