Stage names:

Nakamura Kumetarô II
Arashi Fusajirô

Guild: Daikokuya

Line number: NIDAIME (II)

Poetry name: Richô

Existence: 1763 ~ 9th day of the 7th lunar month of 1808 ^[1]

Connection:

Master: Arashi Sangorô II

Career:

15th day of the 7th lunar month of 1777 ^[2]: Nakamura Kumetarô I died.

11th lunar month of 1784: Arashi Fusajirô took the name of Nakamura Kumetarô II, became zamoto and produced at the Naka no Shibai the kaomise drama "Naka ni Môketa Otogo Kaomise", which welcomed in Ôsaka the Edo stars Matsumoto Kôshirô IV and Iwai Hanshirô IV.

1st lunar month of 1785: Kumetarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki was the very unusual hakujô-hakujô-hakukichi; he shares the same rank with late Onoe Kikugorô I's son Onoe Ushinosuke I, who worked as a zamoto at the Kado no Shibai, the rival theater.

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

2nd lunar month of 1787: Kumetarô's rank in the Ôsaka hyôbanki, wakaonnagata section, was jô-jô (superior - superior) [visual].

Fall 1790: Ichikawa Yaozô III, Tanimura Torazô and Kumetarô went together to Edo.

11th lunar month of 1790: Kumetarô played at the Nakamuraza the role of the keisei Naniwazu in the kaomise drama "Sayo no Nakayama Hiiki no Tsurigane".

5th lunar month of 1794: premiere at the Kiriza of Sakurada Jisuke I's drama "Katakiuchi Noriai Banashi"; Kumetarô played the role of Ganryû's daughter Naminoto [more details].

8th lunar month of 1794: Kumetarô played at the Kiriza the role of Oyasu in the drama "Hime Komatsu Ne-no-Hi no Asobi"; the role of Shunkan was played by Ichikawa Komazô III.

Fall 1794: Kumetarô went back to Ôsaka.

2nd day of the 5th lunar month of 1803 ^[3]: his master Arashi Raishi I died.

5th lunar month of 1806: tour in Nagoya.

9th day of the 7th lunar month of 1808 ^[1]: Kumetarô died.

Comments:

Nakamura Kumetarô II was a Kamigata onnagata actor, who was active from the beginning of the Tenmei era to the beginning of the Bunka era. The roles of onna budô or karô's wives were his forte. He was said to be a good actor but failed to achieve the same level of fame as Nakamura Kumetarô I. His final ranking in the Kamigata hyôbanki was only one little stroke below jô-jô-hankichi.

[1] The 9th day of the 7th lunar month of the 5th year of the Bunka era was the 30th of August 1808 in the western calendar.

[2] The 15th day of the 7th lunar month of the 6th year of the An'ei era was the 17th of August 1777 in the western calendar.

[3] The 2nd day of the 5th lunar month of the 3rd year of the Kyôwa era was the 20th of June 1803 in the western calendar.

Nakamura Kumetarô II on the stage of the Nakamuraza in the 11th lunar month of 1790 (print made by Katsukawa Shun'ei)

The Nakamura Kumetarô line of actors