Stage names:

Nakamura Matagorô I
Nakamura Shôtarô

Real name: Nakamura Shôjirô

Guild: Harimaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry name: Shikin

Existence: 1885 ~ 19 March 1920

Connection:

Adoptive father: Nakamura Shikin

Son: Nakamura Matagorô II

Disciple: Nakamura Shijaku I

Career:

1885: born in Kyôto in the pleasure quarter of Ponto-chô.

1890: he was adopted by the onnagata actor Nakamura Shikin, who gave him the name of Nakamura Shôtarô.

January 1898: he went to Tôkyô and took the name of Nakamura Matagorô I at the Shintomiza.

Fall 1909: Matagorô joins the Jiyû Gekijô troupe.

September 1909: revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Kenuki", a long-forgotten play belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Matagorô played the role of Ono no Harukaze [casting].

January 1912: revival at the Meijiza of the drama "Fudô" ^[1]; Matagorô played the role of Abe no Kiyotsura [more details].

January 1914: revival at the Hongôza of the drama "Gedatsu" ^[1]; Matagorô played the role of the yakko Yamahei, in reality Tomo no Rokurô [more details].

September 1915: premiere at the Hongôza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Toribeyama Shinjû"; Matagorô played the role of Sakata Ichinosuke [casting].

1917: Matagorô became the leading star of the Kôen Gekijô, a koshibai venue in the district of Asakusa.

19 March 1920: Matagorô died in Tôkyô.

Comments:

Nakamura Matagorô I was a promising actor, who was extremely popular when he was in kodomo shibai. He spent most of his adult career either in koshibai or as a member of the troupe led by Ichikawa Sadanji II. He was a nimaime and a wagotoshi.

[1] A long-forgotten drama belonging to the Kabuki Jûhachiban.

Nakamura Matagorô I portraying Fujiya Izaemon in the drama "Kuruwa Bunshô"

The Nakamura Matagorô line of actors