Stage names:

Nakajima Mihoemon I	|
Nakajima Kanshirô
Nakajima Kamenosuke I [1]

Guild: Nakajimaya

Line number: SHODAI (I)

Poetry names: Jûryû, Ryûshi

Existence: ??? ~ 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month of 1762 ^[2]

Connection:

Master: Nakajima Kanzaemon I

Sons: Nakajima Mihoemon II, Nakajima Kamenosuke II

Disciples: Nakajima Kunishirô, Nakajima Kameroku, Nakajima Torazô

Career:

Before 1713: according to one source, he was born in Edo in 1702 but it was unlikely for one simple reason: he would still be a child in 1713 and therefore unable to become katakiyaku in 1713. He started his career as a disciple of Nakajima Kanzaemon I, who gave him the name of Nakajima Kamenosuke ^[1]. Later, at an unknown date, he became Nakajima Kanshirô.

11th lunar month of 1713: first stage appearance in ôshibai; he took the name of Nakajima Mihoemon, became katakiyaku and played at the Yamamuraza the role of Taira no Masamori in the kaomise drama "Sazare Ishi Nasu no Futahashira".

22nd day of the 4th lunar month of 1716 ^[3]: his master Nakajima Kanzaemon I died in Edo.

11th lunar month of 1717: Mihoemon played at the Ichimuraza the role of Abe no Munetô in the kaomise drama "Kinkazan Yoroi Biraki"; he changed the writing of his first name:

11th lunar month of 1718: Mihoemon became jitsuaku and played at the Ichimuraza the role of Daruma Masamune in the kaomise drama "Gozen Nô Mitsu Uroko", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Onoe Samon.

11th lunar month of 1719: Mihoemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Katagiri Yashichi in the kaomise drama "Nyohitsu Taiheiki", which commemorated the 6th anniversary (7th memorial service) of the passing away of Nakamura Denkurô I and celebrated the shûmei of Tamazawa Kôjûrô.

1st lunar month of 1720: Mihoemon played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Ichi Fuji Raihai Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Ichikawa Kuzô and Tamazawa Kôjûrô.

2nd lunar month of 1720: Mihoemon's rank in the Edo hyôbanki, jitsuaku section, was jô-jô-kichi (superior - superior - excellent) [visual].

11th lunar month of 1722: Mihoemon played at the Moritaza the role of Tametomo in the kaomise drama "Yoshitomo Fukujukai".

1st lunar month of 1723: Mihoemon played in the same theater the role of Kudô Saemon Suketsune in the new year sogamono drama "Suiryô Soga"; the roles of Soga Gorô Tokimune and Soga Jûrô Sukenari were played by Sakata Hangorô I and Morita Kan'ya IV.

11th lunar month of 1723: Mihoemon played at the Ichimuraza the role of Sôma Tarô Yoshikado in the kaomise drama "Hinagata Shuten Dôji", which celebrated the arrival in Edo of the Kamigata actor Ogino Izaburô I.

11th lunar month of 1724: Mihoemon played at the Ichimuraza the role of Kô no Moronô in the kaomise drama "Bankoku Taiheiki", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Hyôtarô.

1st lunar month of 1731: Mihoemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Nikki Danjô Saemon in the new year drama "Keisei Fukubiki Nagoya" [casting].

11th lunar month of 1735: Mihoemon played at the Nakamuraza the role of Hakamadare Tojibê (in reality Hirai no Yasusuke) in the kaomise drama "Tono Zukuri Shinoda-zuma".

11th lunar month of 1740: Mihoemon played at the Ichimuraza the role of Yamana Hisakuni in the kaomise drama "Kichirei Imagawajô", which welcomed in Edo the Kamigata actor Matsushima Moheiji.

3rd lunar month of 1747: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was performed for the first time in Edo, at the Ichimuraza; Mihoemon played the role of Fujiwara no Shihei [casting].

1st lunar month of 1748: Mihoemon played at the Nakamuraza the roles of Dainichibô and Kajiwara Genta in the new year sogamono drama "Kazari Ebi Yoroi Soga".

5th lunar month of 1748: the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" was performed for the first time in Edo, at the Nakamuraza; Mihoemon played the role of Benkei [casting].

6th lunar month of 1749: the play "Kanadehon Chûshingura" was produced at the Nakamuraza for the first time; Mihoemon played the role of Kô no Moronô [casting].

4th lunar month of 1750: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" was produced at the Moritaza for the first time; Mihoemon played the roles of Fujiwara no Shihei and Shiratayû [casting].

11th lunar month of 1759: Mihoemon took part in his last kaomise program, performing at the Moritaza in the drama "Toki Tsukaze Heike Monogatari".

23rd day of the 3rd lunar month of 1762 ^[2]: Mihoemon died in Edo.

Comments:

Nakajima Mihoemon I was the first great Edo kugeaku, excelling with his powerful voice in the role of the evil aristocrat of the "Shibaraku" scene in Edo kaomise programs. He was the one who invented the special beard and wig used for this role.

[1] This name was not reported in Nojima Jusaburô's book "Kabuki Jinmei Jiten".

[2] The 23rd day of the 3rd lunar month of the 12th year of the Hôreki era was the 17th of April 1762 in the western calendar.

[3] The 22nd day of the 4th lunar month of the 6th year of the Shôtoku era was the 11th of June 1716 in the western calendar.

Nakajima Mihoemon I playing the role of Benkei in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura", which was staged in the 5th lunar month of 1748 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Torii Kiyomasu II)

Print made by Torii Kiyomasu in 1748

The Nakajima Mihoemon line of actors