Stage name:

Nakamura Kazuma II

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Existence: ???

Connection:

Master: Nakamura Kazuma I (?)

Son: Nakamura Kazuma III

Career:

1680: first record in the book "Yakusha Hakkei".

11th lunar month of 1682: Kazuma performed in Ôsaka for the zamoto Yamatoya Jinbê II as a wakashugata. Kazuma's wakashugata stage partners were Onoe Gentarô, Ikeda Fujinojô, Sugimura Rinzaburô, Iwai Hikotarô, Hanaoka Jônosuke, Takimoto Monnojô and Yamamoto Sagenta.

11th lunar month of 1683: Kazuma performed in Ôsaka for the zamoto Yamatoya Jinbê II as a wakashugata. Kazuma's wakashugata stage partners were Onoe Gentarô, Takenaka Hanzaburô, Uemura Sennosuke, Arakawa Sakon, Irie Hananojô and Yamashita Itsuki.

1686: Kazuma went to Kyôto.

11th lunar month of 1686: Kazuma performed in Kyôto for the zamoto Iwamoto Gonzaburô as a wakashugata. Kazuma's stage partners were Sakata Tôjûrô I, Okada Samanosuke, Uemura Kichiya II, Shiga Kichibê and Hattori Jiroza.

1st lunar month of 1687: Kazuma's rank in "Yarô Tachiyaku Butai Ôkagami" was jô (superior) [visual]. He shared this ranking with Araki Yojibê I, Yamashita Hanzaemon I, Takeshima Kôzaemon I, Suzuki Heizaemon I, Uemura Kichiya II, Takenaka Kichisaburô I, Fujita Koheiji I and Karamatsu Kasen.

1st lunar month of 1688: Kazuma's rank in an extension of the 1687 hyôbanki, wakashugata section, was naka (literally "middle"). Others actors who shared the same rank as Kazuma in the wakashugata section were Nakagawa Samon and Takigawa Naiki.

1688: Kazuma went back to Edo, became onnagata at the Nakamuraza and was considered as one of the shitennô in this theater, literally "the big four (actors)" (this expression comes from the four Deva kings in Buddhism). He surprised everybody by taking the decision to retire in order to devote all his time to his cosmetic business.

Comments:

Nakamura Kazuma II was a talented wakashugata and an outstanding dancer. He retired at the peak of his fame in Edo and spent the rest of life managing his cosmetic shop, which was so successful that it existed in Edo for several generations.

Nakamura Kazuma II as depicted in an illustration from the book "Yakusha Hakkei" (1680)

Prints & Illustrations